"Tears are words
The heart can't
Say"
_______________________________
Song name: Count On Me
Artist(s): Bruno Mars
"Ari, please come to my office now," Weston said as soon as I came from school. I looked at Preston who just shrugged in response, not saying anything as well. Well, hello to you too brother.
I nervously went upstairs, thinking about anything that I may have done in the past 24 hours. Nothing other than what I said to Catrina though she is the one to start it. I reached the pitch-black painted door and shakily took a breath out. I knocked on the door and heard a 'come in' so I opened it and saw Weston looking at some papers while signing them as well. I sighed and took a seat then looked at Weston, waiting for him to look at me.
At last, he looked at me, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath – as if preparing for something – before saying, "How was school Ari?" I just looked at him, baffled. He never, and I mean never, called me all the way to his office just to ask how school was.
Quietly cleared my throat before saying, "It was good. How was your day?"
Weston hummed at my response before replying, "It was good as well."
There was silence before I decided to be a brave girl and break it. "Why did you actually call me here, in your office?" I asked, wanting to get straight to the point.
Weston sighed, and took a sip of water from his glass, before saying, "Are you fine?" My head shot up from my lap – where I was looking – and stared at him, shock most probably written all over my face.
"What do you mean? Of course, I am!" I said defensively. He just looked at me as if saying 'Are you serious' which made me nod dumbly mumbling, "I am fine, just fine, nothing wrong." As is I was trying to convince myself more than the person in front of me.
He just continued to look at me before slowly nodding. "You can tell me anything you know that?" he asked – and to my surprise – in a soft voice. I nodded and said, "Of course, but why did you ask all of a sudden?" He sighed before saying, "I-em- after youR... past, I know that you might be suffering. I just wanted to know." I smiled and said, "I'll tell you when I am comfortable." He looked at me and asked – well more like said, "So, that means you are not alright." I didn't say anything which gave him the answer. I simply looked down at my lap as if it is the most important thing in the world. I heard a sigh, again, before I felt a presence in front of me as Weston put his hand under my chin making me slightly flinch, on extinct, but I soon leaned into the warm, my eyes reaching to his soft electric blue eyes, somewhat similar to mine.
"I know you are not fine Ana, but please come to me or any of your trusted persons when you feel down or comfortable to tell," he softly spoke as I tear fell from my eye and I hugged Weston tightly as I felt him stiffen but relaxing instantly, hugging me back. "Thank you, Wes," I whispered as I felt his hug tighten into a protective one. I sighed in contentment as closed my eyes to feel the warmth of the hug.
He defiantly has the best hugs in the world. Sorry mom.
"Now let's go to dinner, shall we?" he asked as I nodded then both of us went to the dining room where everyone was waiting. We all sat as the food was served. I thanked the maid before digging into my food which happened to be some lasagne. "Want some?" River asked, offering some strawberries. "No Riv, I am allergic to them," I said sadly, always wanting to try one. Everyone but my parents and brother looked surprised. "So, I will no longer be making a strawberry cake!" Grandma declared making everyone's head nod in agreement. I honestly thought for a second that everyone will protest but surprisingly it was the exact opposite.
"So..." Dad said, clearing his throat. We all turned out heads to him, making it known that we are listening. Dad then said, "We are having a ball for the um... family business." Everyone nodded as I narrowed my eyes to the person beside me. "So, what's the family business?" I asked suspiciously. Everyone did this weird eye contact thing, even Mom, before Preston said, "Just some restaurants, clubs, hotels, hospitals, you know, the norms," Preston said.
They all say that.
"Uh-huh, and I am Taylor Swift," I said sarcastically earning disapproving looks from everyone, but I just shook my head at this.
"No, don't give that look. You guys are defiantly hiding something. This is not what I like. I don't care what you are working at but I do care if you are hiding something," I said strictly, making everyone a tiny but impressed and surprised.
"Wow, lei è intelligent. Dovremmo dirglielo?" Alexander said making me smile and say,
"Sono lusingato dal complimento fratello, ma dovresti sapere qualcosa di meglio se non nascondermi qualcosa," Everyone, but mom, looked very shocked at what I had just said.
These people. I literally told my brothers that I fluently speak and know seven languages.
"Che cosa? Sorpreso? Ti ho detto letteralmente che parlo sette lingue. Ora dimmi cosa sta succedendo!" I kinda shouted, getting agitated.
(Wow, she is intelligent. Should we tell her?) (I am flattered by the compliment brother, but you should know anything better than to hide something from me.) (What? Surprised? I literally told you that I speak seven languages. Now tell me what is going on!")
Weston sighed then asked, "You really want to know what we work as?" I nodded confidently, already having a 98% idea of what it is. "Well don't be a crybaby when we tell you?" Troy said, scoffing. I just shrugged off his comment, my eyes not leaving Weston's.
"To be completely blunt with you Ana, we are in the Italian Mafia, which is the strongest mafia in the entire world. Dad is the don of the mafia while Zoe is the donna. But we still have legal businesses as Preston had mentioned earlier," Weston explained as I calmly sighed and leaned back into the chair, my arms crossing over. "Finally, you guys told. I have been waiting from the day I met you," I said, shocking everyone.
"You knew!" Alessandro shouted in shock. I simply shrugged and said, "I am 16, not six years old. Now Mom, did you know this?" I asked. Mom had never hidden anything from me, so I wanted to know, though I was already sure of the answer. She kept quiet, avoiding eye contact with me at all costs, giving me my answer.
"Please speak Mum," I said pleadingly, ignoring everyone looking into the conversation.
She sighed and said, "Yes darling. I am also an assassin." I kept quiet, slowly nodding before going out of the door to think for a moment. I heard someone coming and knew who it was. "I am sorry Ari," Mom said, tears building in her eyes.
"Mom, you know I won't judge you no matter what you are. But hiding something this big is not what I love and you – over everyone – knows that" I said softly.
"I know baby and I am so sorry," she said, shedding a few tears.
Don't forgive.
Don't forgive.
Don't Forgive.
Crap but I do not want to lose her.
I wiped them and hugged her softly then whispered, "I know Mama and I forgive you,"
After a few minutes, we headed towards the dining room and continued eating our dinner, in an awkward silence. "So, I have this chemistry project with a partner, and I have to go to the library after school with him tomorrow," I said, breaking the silence. Everyone looked at me.
"Him?" Alexander clarified.
"No Alex. It is her since most boys are referred to her/she," I said sarcastically.
"Nope."
"No."
"Nah."
"Never in a million years."
"Under no circumstances, are you going."
"Nope."
"Sorry but no."
"Hell no."
"Fuck no."
"Hell to the no."
"O-fucking-course not!"
"No, Nope, and never"
"God no!"
"Never, no"
"What they all said"
All of my brothers said. "Why?" I asked, getting confused. I then turned to Dad, to see what he thinks.
"Nope. Sorry darling," he told making me huff and turn to my aunts, grandma, and mom pleadingly, knowing full way that they will allow me.
"Sebastian Carlos Kingston, you better let her go," Mom said, warningly making Dad sigh and agree. After a whole lot of arguments, everyone eventually agreed.
"By the way, where is Weston's best friend? I thought he was coming," I said to no one in particular.
"He got stuck in Italy therefore will be a little delayed," Weston said. I nodded and drank the last of my water.
"By the way, what are the languages that you can speak?" Rocco asked as I looked at him and answered, "Italian, German, Russian, French, Latin, Hindi, English, and Spanish. I can also 80% understand Dutch and Mandarin. I can speak and understand the language, but reading is a bit rough although I am almost there." "Nice," Romeo said.
Did he just–
"Did you just compliment me?"
"Did you just compliment her?"
Samuel and I slowly looked at each other and sighed. We then both said as nearly everyone laughed:
"Not this again!"
Word Count: 1608 words. EDITED
Publish date: 4th/October/2022
A/N:
Hello guys, just wanted to tell you some things and I would like to say sorry about these things in advance.
I have changed some of the ages seeing as I realised that the ages of some of the characters is not right so I changed it. PLEASE CHECK THE CHARACTERS TO SEE THE NEW VERSION.
and to those who do not know, check the high school grade (in MY book) below:
14 turning 15 - FRESHMEN
15, turning 16 - SOPHEMORE.
16, turning 17 - JUNIOR
17, turning 18- SENIOR
*Personally in Australia, in the school I study, the years play out like this.
Anyways, that's all.
Have a lovely day and happy reading!
Ojasvi