"You are the last thought in my mind before I drift off to sleep and the first thought when I wake up each morning."

Noah

The door opens and Lotte stood there in a white knee-length skirt, a light pink tee tucked in and a chunky black belt to finish the look. With her wavy brunette hair just past her shoulders, she looked beautiful as ever just like Mum.

Lexy smiled at me hoping for some indication as to who this is. I remember telling her before but I guess she forgot so I mouth, "My sister."

I could see her nod in realisation and then greeted, "Hey. I'm Lexy."

Lotte was as rude as ever, "Hi, I'm Lotte to my friends and family but you," she glares at Lexy and continues, "Can call me Charlotte." With that, she turns around and calls out, "Mum! They are here."

I take a quick look at Lexy and gave her a look which meant I-am-really-sorry-that-my-sister-said-that. She didn't look too bothered and smiled nervously as she fiddled with her fingers. Lotte needs to be killed right now because this whole plan will shatter if this is the way she's going to treat Lexy. I'm at fault too, I guess. Elle wasn't the best person and I think Lotte is just being careful.

I show Lexy inside when Mum comes running, "Oh my Goodness. You are finally here." She hugs me so tightly as if she doesn't see me every few weeks. She pulls away to look at Lexy. Mum is shorter than Lexy and today she was wearing a caramel coloured dress that goes just beneath her knees. The dress compliments her eyes and hair perfectly with them all being around the same shade.

Lexy gives a small smile, "Hello Mrs Adler, I'm Lexy."

My Mum gushes, "Noah didn't tell me that you were this pretty and call me Grace." Lexy blushes and I couldn't help but agree at the statement just a little.

"Um, this is for you Mrs Ad- I mean Grace," she gives the bouquet of flowers to Mum and instantly her cheeks were tinted light pink and I could just tell that my Mum loves her already.

"Oh, these are so beautiful. You didn't have to," Mum admires the bouquet but Lotte who was carefully observing this whole interaction points out, "Can you stop with all these lovey-dovey things? Can we eat lunch already?"

We all laugh at that and walk into the dining hall. There was a big photo hung up there with a brunette couple. The woman was holding a baby and below them stood two boys almost identical with their brown hair and eyes. They all smiled as if that moment was the happiest in their lives. And I think it was. That was our family photo.

Lexy was already walking over and she looked at it. She was pacing towards me looking confused when dad opened the door right at that moment, "Ciao! The old man is here," he chuckled. I know this may take you by surprise but my Dad is half Italian hence the 'ciao'. Lexy didn't give it a second thought though.

I remember going to Gran's house in Italy during one vacation. I learnt and became really fluent in Italian after that trip. The food there made it that much more memorable. I remember Dad's eyes going wide when I came back here saying sentences, which were most likely broken, in Italian. He was so proud of me and after years of frowning, I finally saw him smile.

She stuttered out, "Hello, I'm Lexy." I could see Dad grinning at Lexy and looking towards me and giving me a knowing smile though to say you-made-a-good-choice.

We all sat down and Lexy took a seat beside me. I could see her eyebrows furrowed as she intensely thought about something. But all was forgotten when Mum brought the pizza to the table.

The pizza was the Italian kind or should I say the best kind. Maybe I'm biased but this pizza is absolute perfection. How could it be anything else from Mum? She could make bread like no-one else. Dad taught her well. There were even herbs in the dough. Like all her other home-baking it was mostly whole wheat, yet still so light. The sauce had chunks of tomato and the topping was three kinds of cheese. There was nowhere in the world that sold pizza like this, and even if they did it wouldn't be as good. This pizza is made with so much love, could it get any better than this?

I could see Lexy licking every last crumb of the pizza and that confirmed that this pizza is one of a kind.

Lexy quickly went into the kitchen which took me aback at first but when I saw her coming with the cake she made, I grinned. Everyone took a bite into their slice and I could hear a mix of, 'That's so delicious', 'Wow', 'Mmm' but the funniest one was from Lotte, "Nevermind, you can call me Lotte if you can make me this every day."

"I have a surprise for you both," Mum announces as we are watching TV.

She goes upstairs and comes back a few minutes later with a box. "Go on. Open it."

I open it while Lexy watched me right beside me. As soon as I see plane tickets I turn around and ask, "What are these for?"

"Gran wanted to see you since its been years since the last time. I thought it would be a great trip if you two can go there for a week or two. What do you think?"

I visibly pale as all the blood drains from my face. No, I can't go to Gran. I just can't. "I... We... We can't go. Lexy has to go to school after these two weeks."

Mum tries again, "I can talk to the principal and see if you can extend your break."

"No, Mum." Lexy looks at me as though wondering what had gotten into me but she'll never know. She'll never understand. "Can I talk to you for a moment?" I ask Lexy and I stood up before she answered and walked upstairs into my room. Or is it 'our' room now?

"What was going on down there?" Lexy questions.

"I just don't want to go to Italy."

"Wait your grandma lives in Italy?" She gasps and I realise that she doesn't even know I'm a little Italian.

"My dad is half Italian," I state and hoped she could figure the rest out on her own. "Just tell Mum that you can't extend your break or something and try to cancel it."

"Why?"

"I have my reasons."

She looks into my eyes as if it will give away something but it won't. "Okay. Whatever," she gives up and leaves the room.

By the time I went downstairs, Lexy has already convinced them to cancel it. Thank God.

"Noah, we were wondering if you want to go out? Lexy has never been here. Why don't we show her around?" Dad shouts and I nod.

We get our winter coats because it's already November.

Bitterly cold and humid - such an enchanting combination. Mum decides that she wants to stay back because she doesn't like winter and I quote, "This cold weather is not for me."

As we walk out Lexy hums, "It's the most beautiful time of the year."

I look over and continue, "Lights fill the streets, spreading so much cheer." She turns red when she realises that I heard her and I smirk to increase her embarrassment.

Dad said that we should walk over to the mall. It's a short walk so I agreed but when I look beside me, Lexy, with purple lips tinged with blue and gently chattering teeth, wraps her thin coat around her tighter, I quickly remove my coat and hand it over. I mean she did convince my parents to cancel the trip. This is the least I could do.

"No I'm fine," she tries.

"But, I'm not fine seeing you freeze to death. I have many layers inside this anyways." She decides it's not worth the argument or she really thought about it and chose to not die, either way, it's fine with me, and took the coat.

"Thank you."

"Welkie," I grin and I could see her smile too.

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Hey readers! Why do you think Noah doesn't want to go to his Gran? I want to know your assumptions. And thank you so much for 1k reads! Vote, comment and share if you enjoyed this chapter ♡