My family was rather strange to be honest, with my father English, living in London, and my mother was Italian, living in a small town called Volterra. I lived with my father, but visited my mother every summer and during the Easter holidays too, and I liked the arrangement. My parents had met when my father went to Italy for a year and they'd had a whirlwind romance that ended in me, a little bundle of joy, and I had lived in Volterra for about five years, but mum was young, only just eighteen, when she had me and couldn't cope with me. Dad was twenty one when I was born and had been extremely reluctant in leaving me behind in Italy, but he'd been happy to take me when mum admitted she couldn't quite cope with taking care of me and I loved it in both London and Volterra. London was busy and bustling and Volterra was calm and quiet, though I adored both and had to admit that I preferred the bustling crowds of London.
Today, I was in my father's car on the way to Heathrow during a hot summer and dad was asking if I had everything, as he always did. He was handsome, my dad, with thick, deep blonde hair, a straight nose, a strong jaw, and bright blue eyes that always sparkled with warmth when he looked at me. My mum was pretty too, her skin a toasted caramel colour, her hair deep black, her features all delicately made, and big, almond shaped green eyes. I had my mum's hair, a mixture of my dad's pale and my mum's tan skin, and my dad's blue eyes, but the same shape as mum's. Apparently, my personality was a mixture between both mum and dad's too, because I had dad's stubborn traits and his love of reading and I had mum's fiery temper and love of shopping.
"Lia, are you sure you have everything?" dad asked and my lips curved into an amused smile as I nodded and rolled my blue eyes. "Just making sure, last time you forgot your book and I had to pay to have it sent over," he smiled with amusement and I laughed, tying my long hair into a ponytail.
"I'm sure, dad, stop worrying," I grinned and he smiled at me fondly, parking the car outside Heathrow and getting out the car at the same time as me to get my bags. "You sure you'll be alright without me?" I asked the same question I'd been asking for the past two years, since I'd been going to Italy alone, and dad smiled, putting my bag on the ground and wrapping his arms around my shoulders in a warm hug.
"I'll be fine, Lia, love, just go and have fun with your mother," he told me, releasing me and chucking me under the chin playfully with a smile. "My little girl, fifteen already, can't quite believe it," he laughed, referring to my fifteenth birthday just a week ago, and I grinned.
"Believe it, dad, because I'll be gone soon, getting married, having kids," I teased and he clutched his heart dramatically, before we both laughed and he picked up some of my bags while I grabbed the rest. We got a trolley quickly, because I had about ten bags for the next five weeks, and dad took me into the busy airport, heading to the check in desk.
"You have your ticket and passport?" dad asked me and I gave him an exasperated look, pulling them from my back pocket and waving them at him.
"Dad, please remember I've been doing this for the past ten years," I said patiently and he pulled a face at me, joining the queue with me. "I hope there's not a delay again, I was stuck here for hours last time," I frowned and dad rubbed my shoulder, laughing.
"I know, Lia, but things will go just fine this time," he promised, kissing my forehead softly, and I wrapped an arm around his middle, truly going to miss him.
It was like this every time I left either my mum or my dad, because I loved them both and I hated leaving either of them behind, but I suppose it was worse when I left my dad, as I was so used to him being there. He was my rock, the one who supported me through everything, knew basically all there was to know about me, and it was always sad when I had to leave him. Still, I was always happy when I stepped onto the plane to Italy because I was seeing my mum again and I only saw her a few times a year. So, I simply hugged my dad with one arm as we waited in queue and he kept an arm around my shoulders, only releasing me when we reached the desk.
A mere half an hour later, I was sat on a plane, waiting for it to take off, and I was reading a book, my headphones plugged into my ears. It took hours with me falling asleep against the window about halfway through and I awoke at my inner clock's insistence that the journey was almost over. A large yawn broke free from my lips as I stretched my arms and neatened my ponytail quickly, snapping my seatbelt into place at the message from the pilot. The plane landed, the usual applause ringing out, and we all got off the plane, my carryon bag being slung onto my shoulder. I knew my mother would be waiting for me, because she always was, and I went into the airport, seeing my happy, bouncy mother stood amongst the crowds.
"Lia! My little one!" mum called in Italian and I smiled at her, moving through the crowds to hug her tightly. "Ah, you've grown, stop growing, you'll be taller than me soon!" she laughed happily, even though I was barely reaching her shoulder. "Come, come, let's find your luggage and you can tell me all about London!" she smiled widely, linking her arm through mine and dragging me to luggage collection. "Did I tell you I had a new job, Lia? It's a very good job, very good," she nodded cheerfully, helping me grab my bags and throw them onto the trolley.
"Yes, mama," I nodded, also speaking Italian. "You told me about the job, in a castle as a receptionist, isn't it?" I asked and she nodded. "That's good, mama, I'm happy for you," I smiled, putting my last bag on the trolley and following her from the airport as she linked an arm through mine and pulled me through the crowds. "Maybe I can come and see it one day, I've researched it, and they apparently have-"
"No! You cannot come to the castle Lia!" mum suddenly sounded worried and I blinked at her, confused. "It's-it's just Aro doesn't like people wandering around unattended and only tourists are allowed on the tours and you are not a tourist, so you can't, but I can bring you pictures," she stated firmly, nodding, and I frowned slightly, but nodded.
"Okay, mama, I won't come to the castle," I agreed uncertainly and her grin came back in full force as we stopped at her small car and loaded it up with my luggage.
The weather, as always, was hot, so I shed the hoody I'd worn in England, even though it was light, and I tied it round my waist, sitting in the passenger seat of the car. Mum chattered happily, turning on the radio to fill the car with noise, and I answered vaguely, well aware that I wasn't really needed to talk, because mum always did all the talking. Mum loved talking, so did I, but I couldn't beat mum in the talking thing and just smiled and laughed at her overenthusiastic comments. Mum always seemed so happy to see me, but she was more quiet over the phone and I knew that it was just that she was excited when I first arrived and the excitement stayed until I left.
Thought I'd give a Twilight story a shot, please review!
