Disclaimer:I don't own the Thief Lord, so don't yell at ME.

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(excerpt from Isabella's journal) Ponte di Rialto, Afternoon Break

Ciao, it's Isabella. I thought starting this journal would be good, since really... it's all I have to do besides read here on the ponte and work at the gelati cart. Blah! My life is so boring! Will probably stay that way forever. frowns Maybe not, though...Ciao.

x Isabella x

(But what Isabella didn't know was that she was about to find a new group of friends, and the beginning of the biggest lifestyle ever!)

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It was a brisk afternoon that day in Venezia. Isabella was taking her lunch break, which was probably the best thing in her job, besides free gelati. The job didn't pay much and her boss was strict, but she was able to get along fine. She was a sixteen year old girl, with wavy, shiny black hair and chocolate brown eyes. She was always seen wearing her blue ensemble; a long-sleeved blouse, a skirt and blue heels. But today, she wore her work uniform. "Capitare subito, Isabella!" called her boss. "Come over now!" She sighed as her train of thoughts were broken. "Si, Signore!" She took a seat behind the cart and sat waiting for customers to come. She sat with her eyes half closed, until a boy stepped up to the cart. He had dark brown hair and almost-black eyes. "Buongiorno, signorina. Is this job boring, because you look like you're about to fall asleep." he said, grinning. She picked up her head off the cart-top. "Sorry, signore. No one seems to be coming over, so I'm sitting here really dazed. Besides... I didn't get enough sleep as usual. What would you like?" "Chocolate and vanilla, quattro cones of it." She fluttered her eyes, then laughed, "Not to be inquisitive but... are there four of you?" "No. I'm bringing these to my friends. Also not meaning to be inquisitive, but... if you don't get enough sleep, where do you live that causes that?" I frowned, "I come and go in places. I'm an orphan. I roam around mostly, sleeping in alleyways and such." He gave her a compassionate look. " Wow, I'm so sorry. Anyway... I'm Scipio." She smiled, " I'm..." but just then her boss came over. "Sorry, young signore Massimo, but my little "cara" has to get back to work. Thank you for buying!" Scipio was pushed away as he made a small wave at Isabella. "I'll come back tomorrow!" he mouthed. She nodded. The manager of the cart yelled at her in Italian, "Isabella, I'm very disappointed in you for chattering with customers! Get back to your work & pay attention, or I'll fire you!" "But Signore... he was talking to ME! I didn't mean to..." But he held his hand up angrily & strutted off, leaving Isabella to sigh & sit back down, defeated. She pulled out her journal & wrote another thing to the first entry. 'P.S. I met a nice guy named Scipio Massimo today. He bought four gelati for a few friends of his. Then I got threatened with my job for talking to him. I hope he comes back tomorrow.' She closed the book & went back to work.

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(the Stella, 8 o'clock)

Scipio strutted around in the Stella. "She's an orphan who needs help. She's got this boss that I can tell is nasty deep down. He doesn't look like the type to call one of his workers "cara". She was so nice though..." Riccio, a short spiky haired boy of about 8, shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe she does have a home, Scip." Mosca nodded, but Hornet agreed with Scipio. "It'd be nice to have a girl around here besides me. Then she could help with Barbarossa. She's so pretty she'd soften him up!" Mosca changed his mind & nodded in agreement. Riccio sighed, then grinned, "Alright, I guess it would be cool to have another person around here. Especially if she can cook!" They all laughed. Suddenly, Scipio checked his watch. "Sorry all, but I must depart. I'll tell you the news of gelati girl tomorrow when I come." Then he slipped out the door & into the night. 'I hope she's okay.' he thought, hoping for the gelati girl.