Hey,

So that last chapter huh? Hehehehehehe >:)

I realised something recently when I was reading someone else's book, they were apologising about having a lot of dialogue in that particular chapter and I thought 'but my books are probably something like 70% dialogue. And I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing :P.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy! Sorry it took so long!

-Lx
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~Clara~

I sigh, curling my fist and knocking on the door. The sound echoes throughout the empty corridors, I yawn, covering my mouth with my hand and rock on my heels as I wait for him to answer. I glance down the corridor at the concrete walls and many doors that line the wall. I watch a few men

Including Vince, Marco and Junior enter the room where the muffled chatter of what sounds like quite a big crowd of people comes from. Vince notices me and smiles hurriedly before rushing into the room.

"Come in" his voice, gruff and tired voice sounds from the other side. I snap back to face the door I take a deep breath, push against the wood and step in, closing it carefully behind me. The room is silent, cold almost, odd for it to contain such a warm and loving guy. You'd thought he'd maybe add a photo or something to brighten up the place.

He continues to write without looking up, his eyebrows creasing in concentration, a few lines dented into the bronzed skin of his forehead. He glances up at me and suddenly his whole face converts into a smile, there's the warmth. I sigh in relief, it can't be too serious then.

"Clara! Tesoro, you didn't have to knock to come in, I've always got time for you" his eyes seem to have lit up just at the sight of his only daughter. I nod in response.

"I just thought I'd be polite Dad" I shrug, stepping forward slightly. "You can sit, please do!" he motions to the plush cushioned chair in front of his desk. I go-ahead and slump into it, crossing my legs as he intertwines his hands.

"So, you wanted to see me Dad? I heard from Marco earlier"

"Oh right! Yes! Just wanted to have a little catch up" he grins wide and folds his letter up away from my eyes and shoves it into a drawer. His eyes flicker across my face and his smile falters slightly, he seems guilty, worried maybe even slightly anxious.

"You seem...different" he observes. Hazel eyes fixed on mine as he leans forward towards me, idly resting his head onto his right palm.

"Different...how?" I ask slightly confused, tilting my head to try and figure him out. What's he getting at?

"Well...I mean, your hair hasn't got blue in it anymore" he nods to the colourless brunette strands of wavy hair on my hair. I slightly consciously, twist my finger around a front section of it. Looking away from him for a few seconds before looking back.

"I took it out, but I'm kind of liking this new all natural thing. Don't you like it?"

"Oh no, I do! It's just um...familiare how is that said in English?"

"Familiar. Familiar how?" I question, Dad seems to be at the beginning of listing other things he's noticed about me and how I've changed.

"I mean. It makes you look so much like your Mother"

I don't reply. His words leaving a deadly silence, the recent words that Milo and Nona spoke of her linger in my head and i feel nothing but pity for him. I reach across the wood and place my hand on his. He looks up and the small smiles reappears.

"Also, uh what was it?... Oh yes! Your accent seems to be fading"

"Really?" first my hair, now my voice. I can't tell the difference, but I guess I wouldn't would I?

"Yes and it's actually really frightening" he looks down again, this time at my hand. He seems at a lost, this job has always been rather draining for him. But it's hard for us both to be apart, especially since Mum left, our bond was so strong and I just had to get up and leave in such a hurry. It must have hurt him more than it hurt me, sending me off to a country all alone.

At least I am staying with someone I know.

"What, losing my accent frightens you?" You'd think the Mafia Boss would be scared of other things, or maybe even fearless.

"No" he sighs "You're growing up, and I'm not there to see it" he sighs sadly. I frown, feeling my lip quiver, I'm not used to him getting like this.

"You're growing up on the other side of Europe, in an English town, surrounded by people I don't know. You've grown into this independent and mature girl, so different to the girl I said goodbye too. And I love that. I just wish I was there to see it all happen. I am so sorry"

I gulp, his eyes search mine soothingly as he grasps my hands over the desk. I blink my eyes, don't cry, Clara for god's sake don't cry.

I get up quickly and rush to his side of the desk, he swivels his chair round and looks up to face me, smiling sadly for a moment. He then stands up to join me and wraps his arms around me tightly around me. My head lowers onto his chest and he rests his chin on the top of my head. We just stay there for a while, absorbing each other's heat and comfort.

"I just wish maybe we were a...normal family, with maybe your Mum still with us too, cause Clara she was so afraid Clara, so afraid" he breathes deeply and I sniff closing my eyes more shut than they already are.

"Then I could witness every second of you growing. Which is why I want you to move back home" my eyes open in shock and I gasp, but it's muffled by his shirt. Wait what?

"Stay here in Italy, Nona can too don't worry. Stay with me, Clara, sweetheart. Please, just...just move back home"

***

~Elliot~

If there's one thing I'm not made for its having crushes. Especially on an Italian certain girl currently miles away in another country. Whom I haven't spoken to for at least a week.

It's a few days past Christmas now and I walk down alone through the cobbled square of town. I stare over at the chocolate shop, preparing their valentines display early. I falter in my steps, but I clear my throat. I've got to stop thinking about her, its driving me slightly crazy and without Hugo's help, I don't really know where to turn.

Oh yeah. Hugh's not taking to me and I have absolutely no idea why because I 'm not exactly sure what I did wrong. Nothing as fast as I can remember, but I suppose if I ask him about it he will be able to tell me what it is exactly that I've done so wrong. Maybe it isn't even something I've done, just a lack of communication. God, I really hope so.

I cross the zebra crossing and the line of shops, bakeries, restaurants, cafés etc. slowly begin to disappear and now it's mainly houses and greenery, I cross into one road and walk past several more houses. I turn left and walk down to the end of the street, pulling my coat further around me if possible as an icy wind blows. I shiver and watch the water vapour disappear in front of me as I breathe. I've got to say, even though I'm not keen on the rich lifestyle my family leads, the clothes I get out of it is pretty nice. Fancy though, made of the finest fabric in some shop in Moscow, but as Olga said it is probably one of the purest and if I went to Moscow I would probably get a lot of jealous stares.

My phone in my pocket buzzes and I shove my gloved hand into the grey pocket. I wrap my hand around it and pull out to look at the screen which fogs up from my breathing. I wipe my glove over it, taking it off so I can reply to Mum's message.

From Mum:

Hi sweetie, where are you? Ed's whining on and on about breakfast and I think it's driving Jane crazy. Come home soon? xx

To Mum:

See Mum, told you having Ed over for breakfast might be risky. But yes Mum, sorry I'll be home soon, I've got something to sort.

From Mum:

Okay :) ly xx

I glance up at the house before me sighing, I've come for answers, I can't take this ignorance that's going on and well...I just can't take it anymore. Hugh needs to come out of his shell eventually.

I knock on the door once, then ring the doorbell. I take a few steps back from the large green door and I shuffle my boots as I look down at them. Puffing out more water vapour purposely and impatiently.

A blurred figure appears in the door way, its Mary, Hugo's Mother. She smiles at me, I glance down at the shining cross evident on her green cardigan and back up at her.

"Lovely necklace Mrs Sullivan, I would you get it for Christmas?"

"I did indeed, thank you very much for noticing. How may I help you El?" she grins and I roll my eyes at the nickname. Hugh's family is rather religious, I mean not so religious that they don't eat for lead or they visit the Pope all the time. But it's very important to their parents, but they are also really funny. So although Hugh isn't keen on the religion thing, I see where he gets his humour from.

"I'm looking for Hugh? I haven't seen him for a while"

"Oh" she glances up at the floor above him where he most probably is hiding out. "I'm sorry Elliot, but he's very ill, he hasn't spoken to any of us since Christmas, even then it was just thank you's. He's been surprisingly quiet"

"Oh right okay. Sorry for bothering you"

Very ill? Hugh's not like this. When he had his appendix out, he was really ill but he escaped the hospital just to come and watch me say the opening line in the Christmas play. Then he fainted, my Mum drove him back to the hospital, the play was put on hold and was postponed for another week. All because Hugh fainted. Hugh puts everybody before himself and even when proven ill he is always there"

"I'll let you know he stopped by. Bye my love"

I retreat from the door and up the path. My mind preoccupied and confused. I sigh and begin my journey home, ringing Chloe along the way. She picks up on the fourth ring.

"Hey Elly Kins!"

"Please don't say that, hi Chloe, how are you?" I smile, at least I can hear someone's voice around here. God I've missed them all so much.

"I'm good thank you El, how are you doing? Heard from Clara?"

"Good. Wait. Clara?"

"Mhmm" I can hear the smirk in her voice oh I swear to god if Hugh told her...

"Anyway, no I haven't. So have you spoken to Clara recently, or more importantly Hugh?"

"No I haven't. Why? I texted them both happy Christmas, I think I texted you too. But other than that not a peep, I get that Clara is in Italy and probably can't text back anyway but Hugh..."

"I had the same thought! So I visited him and he's ill apparently"

"But what about that time he came to see you in that Christmas play? He was majorly ill and that didn't stop him!" her confused tone is probably as confused as me right now, I can't get my head around this.

"I think something's not right. But...what can I do?"

"Not a lot"

"Yeah" I sigh "Alright then Clo, I'll see you later"

"Alright then" I got to end the call when she says "Oh El! Before I forget!"

"Yeah?" I stop at the bus stop, maybe this will be quicker than walking, I fumble around for my bus pass and signal and upcoming bus.

"Happy Birthday!"

I smile wide and laugh slightly, at least one of my friends (minus the girls in my year that flooded my Facebook wall this morning) remembered "Thanks Chloe"

---

A/N

Aww Elliot :')

Clara moving back to Italy? What's up with Hugh? LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS THINK :D

I have ideas for this book on where it is going, but I need a few other ideas before I can write about them, let me know if you have any ideas, your help is always appreciated! :)

Oh and if you're interested, my new book 'Let's Just Go' has now began and the first chapter is now up :) no pressure though.

If you weren't already aware...
My twitter - campervan_girl
And my instagram - campervangirl2000 (same way it's spelt here just lower case) go give them both some love aha.

Thanks for your support and for reading of course.

Much Love <3

-Lx