Bella Notte (49 page)

Kelly strolled out
in the thin sun dress and shivered. It was cold outside and I knew
without her shoes, she was feeling it one hundred percent. I held her
shoulders tight and rubbed up and down in hopes of making her warmer.

“
You know …”
Her teeth chattered together. “ … your hands are pretty
cold.”

“
Oh, sorry.”
I pulled my hands away and remembered my chilly nature.

Chris came out and
declared that it would rain. He had Kris go get an umbrella for when
it started and began to shoot Kelly and the tree. It was hard for
Kelly not to chatter her teeth together throughout the entire shoot,
but as soon as the rain began to fall I was concerned for her health.
The dress went almost see through and Kelly's hair turned into long
strings of wetness.

After about half an
hour, I told Chris that enough was enough. I grabbed the umbrella
from him and hung it over Kelly as I walked her into the house.

She pulled off the
dress where it made a
plop
sound as it hit the floor. I wrapped her in the wool blanket she had
snuggled up with in the morning. I found the sweats she had come in
and had her slip them on and drink some hot chocolate.

Chris came in and he
was enthusiastic. He told Kelly that he would easily have jobs lined
up for her after graduation. She blushed and thanked him for his
help. Then, as quickly as they had appeared Chris, hair, and make up,
all left.

I helped Kris load
everything into the large white van she was driving. I offered her
something warm to drink- she looked at Kelly and then shook her head.
I waved to her as she left.

“
So, you
hungry?” I asked Kelly.

“
Starving!”
she cried.

“
Then let's
eat something. I know, I'll make you a dish I learned from Dominic.
It's Italian and yummy.” I smiled and she nodded as we made our
way into the kitchen.

I made the
artichoke
frittata
that I had watched Dom make for me. Kelly enjoyed it and declared
that she hoped one day she'd be able to go to Italy and eat their
delicious food all the time. I laughed at her.

After we ate, she
left and I was once again all alone. Dominic would be back later in
the day, but I was alone right then. I went back upstairs and
continued my monster movie marathon.

Dom found me asleep
later as some Japanese movie with a Godzilla like creature in it
terrorized the local town. I had fallen asleep in the beginning- it
was
way
too
cheesy for me.

He tucked me into my
bed and then disappeared behind my eyelids.

Dom and I spent all
of Sunday together as we worked out more of the details for the move.
I wasn't sure what I should take with me and I was all nervous.
Graduation was coming up quickly and then I'd be packed and gone. I
got all stressed out and Dom suggested that we see a movie. I agreed
as long as it wasn't a monster flick. He laughed at me.

When we got to the
theater, they were playing
Pirates
of the Caribbean
and
Pin
Up Girl
.
I readily went for
Pin
Up Girl
-
it had no monsters whatsoever in it.

I watched the old
film in fascination as I thought about how Betty Grable's legs were
insured for a million dollars. She really could say she had million
dollar legs. I loved the old black and whites where everyone sung and
danced about everything. This was no different and I wished for a
time and place where I could walk about singing and dancing all the
time. I'd love to live in a musical. I laughed to myself about the
thought of it.

We left the theater
and the day ended slowly.

Monday was filled
with excitement because the valedictorian was going to be announced.
I still secretly wanted it even though I had received my ticket out.

I sat in first
period and listen to Mr. Fitzgerald talk about stuff that didn't
matter anymore- the tests were down and classes, as well as school,
would be over shortly.

About halfway
through the class a junior came in to announce the year's
valedictorian. And the winner is …

“
Emma
Hutchinson,” the small girl said, and then left the room.

I was congratulated
by everyone. Mr. Fitzgerald mentioned the speech that I'd have to
give and I shuddered. I
really
hated giving large public speeches.

Congrats
.
Dom's voice whispered in my head.

Thanks. But now I
have to give a farewell speech for our class. UGH!
I wanted to be struck by lightning.

Don't be so
dramatic. It's a small enough town that it can't be bigger than the
town
.
He laughed.

Just so you know,
I am shooting you with death stares!
I huffed at him.

The rest of the day
flew by with many congratulations and me fretting about what to say.
I got home and sat down with a piece of paper and started to write.

Welcome
parents, students, and.
No,
no.
Welcome ladies and gentlemen to our graduation. It has been a year of
great
a
many things
.
Ugh.
accomplishments. We have grown from the children that our parents
raised, into the young
grownups
.
Grr.
adults
that are about to leave this fine
school
.
Deep
breath.
establishment, and take on the world. Our long awaited future is
calling
us
into action to take up arms
.
What
is this an army recruiter's speech?
to us. Our futures seem a little brighter and definitely scarier. The
unknown for us is if we will make it. I believe that we will. I've
grown up with every one of these students and I have seen all the
awkward phases and interesting choices we have all made throughout
the years. Now we are going to put our current knowledge to the test
and go out there into the real world.
This
sounds so stupid.
We are all going places in our lives, whether it is to college, or
modeling, or work, we are going on to the next
phase
of our lives
.
Gah.
step on this road. Our futures are bright with the hopes of our
dreams and nothing is impossible for us. I believe that we will
follow these dreams and turn them into reality, but this is the
starting point for that. I realized that, where I stand right now,
someone else stood not that long ago and they went off and began on
the road to their dreams and there was someone before them.
Great,
I'm going to ramble on like a crazy old person.
It is a long line of people that we follow out of these high school
grounds into the waiting world. We welcome the future with open arms
and open minds.
And
could someone please just shoot me for having to do this speech?
Right
like I'd get away with this speech if that was in it.
I
would also like to issue a challenge to the classes that will come
after us; reach for the stars, if you fail, you'll land on the moon.
Never give up on your dreams, even if they seem impossible. Once
again, welcome to our graduation.

Seems good enough
to me. Dom?

Yes?
He
sounded like he would easily start laughing at me.

Will you come and
read this?
I needed a second opinion.

Do you trust me?
I
thought it an odd response.

Of course I do.
Otherwise you so wouldn't be in my life. Why?
He
had gotten to my curiosity.

Because your
speech is fine. Especially the part about someone shooting you.
I could feel his tongue sticking out.

I took that part
out, you butt. You don't think it rambles or is too short?
I felt nervous talking about it.

Emma, you ramble.
If you stick to this maybe you won't as much and it isn't the
inauguration speech. Just take a deep breath and relax. I am positive
that the principal will approve it and everything will be fine.
He smiled.

I'm glad you're
so calm about it all.
I felt really stressed out.

Let's watch
another movie together. Graduation is in a few days. Please come and
relax with me.
I could see his puppy dog eyes, and it was too hard to resist.

Fine. I'm coming
downstairs. We can watch whatever you want as long as it isn't a
monster movie, I'm still monstered out
.
I put the paper in my backpack. I'd rewrite it before I turned it in
for review.

Dominic and I
snuggled on the couch in the living room and watched some movie off
the television. I never caught the name, but it was in Spanish and
was about a civil war of some sort and had fairies in it. It was
weird and I enjoyed it.

“
How will I be
able to understand everyone in Italy?” I thought of my ability
to pick up languages quickly, but I hadn't thought to learn Italian
yet.

“
If they are a
vampire- like at the school- they will talk to you mentally and we
understand everything that way. We hear it in our native tongue. But,
if you are really worried about it, we can buy you an Italian book
and you can teach yourself- like you did with Kelly's French book.”
He was gently stroking my hair.

“
Will I be the
only American there?” I really didn't want to be alone.

“
Of course
not. Sometimes you come up with the most outrageous questions. Our
kind travel everywhere and anywhere they want to study. So, in Italy,
the Italians generally leave to go somewhere else, and other people
go there. But there are some who stay to be close to their
famiglie
.”
He smiled at me.

“
Oh. Okay.”
I snuggled against him again and went back to watching the
television.

The next day I wrote
out my speech and handed it in. Principal Taylor read it quickly and
approved it right there. And that was the big event before our
graduation.

We had the day
before off to get ready and all of the seniors were at home pressing
suits or finding the perfect shoes.

I had the outfit
picked out – black, business knee-length skirt, red, button-up
blouse, and my red peek-a-boo pumps. I spent the rest of the day
trying to figure out the best hairstyle to go with because of the
stupid graduation hat. I decided to put a few gentle curls in my
straight black locks and leave it down.

While I was sorting
everything out for tomorrow- I had to be there early to do a practice
round- Dominic kept popping into my room to ask me opinions about
what to wear, how to style his hair, and what shoes to have on. I was
going to go mad.

Dom, are you all
set?
I asked to find out if I'd see his head pop back into my doorway.

I was actually
coming up to see you. I have the entire look together with the robe
and such on too; I wanted to know what you thought
.
He sounded nervous.

Fine. I don't
understand why you're so worked up.
I sighed.

My family is
coming, and Abner. It's the first official thing I've completed
.
He was excited now.