[Beautiful cover made by @ocean_in_moon thank you darling. I love fanart ]

|22|

•Charlotte•

The rumours were true. 

"Every senior will be going on this trip." Mr Walter said as he walked past everyone's desk placing a permission slip on it. "I've chosen to take you all somewhere different this year so I need you all to work with me. Not like last year." He chuckled as he placed a paper on my desk. "A couple of teachers will be going with us as well. I need this done by tomorrow because Saturday we will be setting off."

I picked up the piece of paper, as Lizzie glanced at me. "It could be fun." 

I told her everything last night, ranting how much of a jerk Ramon was. She said she didn't think it was true and he didn't know it was her because if he did and this was a genuine feud, Ramon would be questioning her. Asking her. 

She told me not to jump to conclusions but I was seething last night. Every part of me felt betrayed by him. Yes, I lied as well but my lies weren't big lies. They were little white lies. 

I had seen him this morning and I smiled, pretending nothing had happened. That I didn't know. We laughed and joked and when there came a point where I couldn't look at them all, I said I was going to the bathroom. Lunch had been normal. I listened to music on my phone, shutting out the world and calming my heart. 

History class had started off normal, with us answering the questions from the textbook. A few minutes were left until school ended for the day when Mr Walter decided to address the rumours. 

"I need them by tomorrow. Everything is explained on the sheet so make sure you tell your parents that it's a safe trip." He chuckled just as the bell blared throughout the school. "I want to see them on my desk." He said and dismissed everyone. 

Immediately, everyone started talking, excitement filled their voices as they walked out of the class. I picked up my bag and the paper and headed towards his desk. Lizzie waited for me outside the class. 

"Sir." I called out to grab his attention. He turned to look at me. "I won't be able to go this year as well. Can I do something else instead please?" I asked him, placing the paper on the desk. 

He sighed. "Charlotte, I can't allow that anymore. Someone complained last year, saying I was picking favourites and I can't do it again. It's either go with us, or work extra hard to pass with an A in this class." He explained to me, pushing the piece of paper back towards me.

I watched him turn away and face his computer as I picked up the paper. I walked out of the class. I had no chance of passing History with A. I barely scraped a grade B. 

"He said no?" Lizzie asked as she walked besides me in the hall. I nodded. "Maybe just ask Mary if she can stay over for a few days." She glanced at the paper in her hand. "It's for five days. You can spend your birthday in Italy." She smiled at me as we walked out of the school. 

I saw Ramon waiting besides his car. He noticed me and smirked as he walked towards me.  He smiled, stopping in front of me. 

I returned the smile as he asked. "Are you going to Italy?" 

It was such a basic question, a smile on his face as he waited for an answer. I couldn't give it to him, knowing who he was and he was looking for me. I tried all day today to be normal, to move past it. He would tell me himself but being part of the Mafia wasn't something you could go around blabbering to someone. 

"Did I do something wrong?" Ramon asked, confusion in his eyes as he saw me lost in thought. 

"I'll go sit in the car." Lizzie said to me and I nodded, as I stayed standing on the last step. 

"Tell me what I did." Ramon asked, running a hand through his hair. 

I let out a sigh. "I just felt weird yesterday with Alex showing up behind me and saying he had an interview at the diner. Mandy doesn't employ people anymore." 

It was the truth. The best truth I could give him without giving away too much. The line between a lie and the truth could blur sometimes. I've been lying to so many people that saying anything truthful made me nervous. I could feel my palms sweating, as he stared at me. 

"He was doing some work for his dad and it was private so he couldn't tell you. I apologise if that freaked you out. I promise he wasn't stalking you." Ramon smiled as I let out a breath and nodded. 

I was stressing out. A few more days and my dad would get the help he deserved. Logan hadn't made a move. Cameron had disappeared. There was a guy connected to the Mafia standing right in front of me. I was stressed. 

"Hey." He titled my chin up with his finger and smirked at me. "How about I take you out on a date and push this stupid friendship out the window?" He grinned as I chuckled and shook my head. 

I took a step back. "Not looking for a relationship, Ramon." 

"I can provide something else as well." His eyes darkened as he took a step closer to me. He stood on the step, as I took a step back, a grin on my face. 

"No." I said to him and he chucked, nodding and taking a step back. 

"Are you coming?" He asked, pointing to the paper in my hands. 

I shook my head. "I can't. I'm going to stay home with my dad." I told him, since he already knew my dad was ill. 

He frowned. "I can get someone to help take care of your dad. You shouldn't miss out on a senior trip. It's Italy. You will love it." He said to me. "It's a beautiful place." 

"No." I smiled but shook my head. "Maybe one day in the future I'll go to Italy, but not this year." I said to him and he nodded, not pushing me further. 

"Do you want a ride home?" He asked, pointing behind him. 

I pointed to Lizzie's car. "Lizzie is going to take me home." 

Ramon nodded and took a step towards me. I watched as he leaned down and kissed my cheek softly. "See you tomorrow, amore." He walked away from me as I smiled to myself. 

I walked towards Lizzie's car and sat inside, ignoring her laughter. "I recorded it." She grinned at me as she hid her phone from me. 

"One day I'm going to kill you." I said to her while laughing. 

She started driving out of the school. "My ghost will haunt you." She smiled at me sweetly. 

I chuckled as I started to read the paper. We needed to bring a suitcase with our clothes and money with us for the trip. The school would provide the hotel and the transport but we would need to pay for half of it. It was an early end of school present for the seniors along with being our coursework. They just wanted our money. 

Lizzie dropped me off home and I got out of the car waving at her as she drove off. I walked inside the house, hanging my bag on the hooks as Mary called out my name from the kitchen. 

I peeked in through the living room that we had changed to my dad's room but he wasn't here. The bed was pushed against the wall furthest from the window. We had moved the tv opposite the bed so it would be easy for him to watch it. The couch was pushed next to the window to give some space in the room for walking. 

I walked towards the kitchen as I shrugged my jacket off and threw it on the stairs, so I could remember to take it upstairs with me. Mary and dad were sitting in the kitchen, drinking tea and having biscuits. 

"Hey." I said to them as I leaned down and kissed dad on the cheek before pulling out a chair for myself so I could join them. 

"What's that?" Mary asked me as she held her hand out for the paper. 

"Oh. It's just a trip letter." I said as I handed her it and picked up a biscuit. Dad smiled at me as he leaned against his chair. "I'm not going to it though. It's in Italy." 

Taking a bite out of my biscuit, I watched Mary pick up her glasses from the table and wear them. She started reading the paper, a smile growing on her face. 

"You should go. It's Italy. Back in my day, we weren't allowed to do this." She placed the paper down on the table and turned to look at dad. "Don't you think so, Steve? She could have a lovely birthday with her friends in a beautiful country. She deserves a nice week." 

Dad smiled at me and nodded. He was having one of his good moods today and I was happy with it. "You should go. Take a week and enjoy yourself." He glanced at Mary. "Plus Mary doesn't let me breathe in a room alone anyway so I'm going to be okay." 

"It's going to cost too much and I don't want to go. I want to spend my birthday with you guys." I said to them and watched Mary frown at me. 

I could afford it and still pay for Dad's treatment for a year. I was saving every penny though and could only concentrate on myself once I knew he was getting his help. 

"It's your senior year, darling. This doesn't happen much. Go spend some time with Lizzie, you're boring me at home." She chuckled at me. "Let your hair down and enjoy life. You're going to turn 18." She grinned at me as I laughed. 

"Give me a pen, Mary. I'll sign it for her." Dad stretched his hand out to her. 

"Dad." I tried to protest as Mary quickly got up and walked out of the kitchen to find a pen. "I want to stay with you." 

"You've been taking care of me and you need to have a week to yourself. Enjoy it." He smiled at me. "You're in senior year. I don't want you to miss any part of it. Your mother and I had the best senior year ever." He said just as Mary walked into the room with a pen in her hands. She handed it to dad who smiled and started doing his signature. 

He smiled at the paper as he pushed it towards me. "Time for you to enjoy your birthday."

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It is definitely time for her to enjoy her birthday...

No question today.

Since I have no self control, and I'm going to tease the next chapter on instagram so keep a look out for that.

Not to put a pause on it, but the sequel of this book isn't getting written anytime soon. I've changed the plan of that book so many times because nothing just fits or goes well in my mind so instead forcing it to happen, I'm just going to let it come to me instead. I'll whip out the sequel in two weeks but I'm letting it hit me in the face first.

(Instead I'm writing other mafia stories)