Giulia returned to consciousness with a pang. Her eyes still closed she made her way out of her four poster bed.

"Time for school!" said a loud, yet musical voice, that Giulia recognized as her mother's.

"Coming!" Giulia heard herself say, with a drowsy voise.

Giulia pulled her light brown hair away form her face and started walking aimlessly towards the bathroom.

She opened her mesmerizing blue eyes to stare at her own reflection in the mirror.

She turned and found herself looking at the wall clock on her wall. It took her a few seconds to register the time showing on the clock. Realizing how late it was, Giulia finally woke up.

She dressed at top speed and left her bedroom, jumping down the stairs two at a time.

"Goodmorning, darling!" said the same musical voice as before, when Giulia entered the kitchen.

"Morning, Mum." said Giulia, allowing her mother to kiss her on the cheek.

Giulia sat down on the kitchen table, across from her mother, the only other occupant of the kitchen.

"Ready for your first day at school?" said Matilda Cair-Harfang, piling toast and fruit on the table in front of Giulia.

"Ready!" said Giulia only half paying attention, and begining to eat.

"Your father had to leave early, he just got a serious new cliant. They're evaluating this will, from a case that was closed a long time ago. I think they're thinking of reopening it." said Matilda casually, eating her own breakfast.

"They've opened a new case?" said Giulia quickly, her attention now on her mother only. "What case was this?"

"Oh, I don't know the details." replied Matilda, looking rather surprised that Giulia cared so much. "You'd have to ask your Father. Or your Aunt."

Aunt Melody. How come she didn't tell me about this?

wondered Giulia.

Giulia finished eating quickly as her mother sent her away to get ready for school.

Rushing back down the stairs, this time with her backpack slinging on her shoulder, she entered the kitchen once more, this time to find that her mother was cleaning the dishes.

"Giulia, dear, I'll have to stay in late at work today. So, I'll need you to spend some hours with Aunt Melody. Is that okay?" said Matilda cleaning her hands on the towel.

"Of course!" said Giulia happily. Matilda beamed at her.

"Would you like me to drive you to school, honey?" she said caringly, "I can arrive at work a little later today, one of my patients cancelled."

"No thanks, Mum," said Giulia shining her beautiful smile, already halfway to the door.

When her mother looked reproachful, Giulia added hastily, "It's a small town, here in Rose Ville. I won't get lost."

She gave her mother a swift kiss on the cheek and with one last shining smile, she left the house, and made her way to school, for the first time in two months.

She walked down street after street, the auttumn leaves painting the pavements a bright tangerine colour, deep in thought about the will and reopened case.

Giulia barely notices that she has arrived, as she walks through the tall iron gates, that looked as old and beautiful as antiques.

"Hey, Giulia!" said a voice that slapped Giulia back to reality. Lucas Brige was standing next to her, bouncing a basketball, like almost always.

"Oh, hi Lucas!"said Giulia flashing a smile as they walked towards the school entrance.

"Good summer?" said Lucas, brushing his wind-swept hair away from his eyes with his free hand.

"Not bad. You?" replied Giulia.

"Great! I went to a football training camp, and then to a baseball camp during the first month," said Lucas beaming.

"That's nice," said Giulia absently. "Guess what, Lucas. They've just re opened case from long ago!"

"Really? Why did they re-open it?" said Lucas only half interested.

"I don't know, but I'm going to ask Aunt Melody today after school." said Giulia thoughtfully.

"You go and see her almost every day." said Lucas, "I know your mother is a psycologist and your dad a lawyer, but don't they ever get to have some free time during the week?"

"Well," said Giulia as they walked up the stone steps, "They're always very busy, but I don't mind. Aunt Melody takes me to her work place after school, remeber?" she said excitedly "I get to see the detective work, the police officers running out to stop a crime, all the action and adrenaline!"

Her face was shining, as they walked towards their classroom.

"You really love it, don't you?" said Lucas, who was watching her carefully. Giulia nodded right as he added, "it's a shame your parents are afraid you'd be in danger. Otherwise, I bet you'd be signing up to join the police force, as soon a possible."

Giulia nodded sadly, just as there was a screaming noise of the school bell ringing. You could still hear the faint echo, as the screeching noise stopped and silence dominated the classroom full of children.

The long day had just begun.