Chapter 2

Leo's point of view

I just stood there listening to Maestro lecturing me about how I was lucky to have this job and he should fire me because of how unoccupied I am. Some people would wish for my job. Deep down I know Maestro would never fire me. He relies on my inventions to make a name for himself and his workshop. During this lecture I noticed Tom looking at me. I rolled my eyes are her and she giggled trying to hide it behind the easel she was painting on. I meant him not her. I find it hard to imagine Tom as a boy. She will always be a girl to me despite the fact she never dresses like one and hangs around with boys pretty much all the time. That's not the main reason though. No boy could make my heart feel the way it does. Lisa just makes it jump. Every time she is around me it flutters and then starts pounding. I have never felt like that before, never thought of someone is such a way. Even know her little giggle makes my heart melt. Her brown eyes shining as she tries to stifle her laugh. Time slows when I'm with her it's like we will never part. Which I know is not the case. Time can't have slowed. It just seems that way. Now just looking at her. Everything else seems slow. Just me and her, even Maestro comments just seem to be said slowly. If only life was always like this. How perfect it would be but no life can ever be perfect otherwise it is not life. She is truly incredible.

"Do you understand?" Maestro's voice brought me back to my senses

I had no idea what he had just said but I thought it best just to agree so I nodded in hope it was the right answer. It was.

"Right know that is cleared up, you can go and help Tomaso with his work," I smiled a chance to be with Lisa

"What did you do this time to wind Maestro up?" she asked as I walked over

"Bolted on him,"

She laughed shaking her head

"With good reason though," I interrupted "Piero was creating a scene about another Milanease."

"What do you mean?"

So I explained to her all about the so called spy who was Milanese and about Piero's accusations. Then about my conversation with Lorenzo and his worries and wonders about Piero and war.

"I told him he was being stupid" I finished

Poor guy and poor Lorenzo. I do feel sorry for him having to be stuck with his dad and having to agree. It's not so bad for us to we don't have anyone with much influence over us apart from Maestro and he doesn't really count. We've just seen his influence hold over you" she replied

"Leonardo" screeched Maestro "I asked you to help not to stand their chattering"

I leapt off to get some paint.

Lisa/Tom's point of view

I laughed as he jumped off. He would never learn. How I liked Leo was truly beyond me. I would never think of guys in that sort of way but Leo he makes my heart melt. His loopy grin and floppy hair. With his caring nature. I feel safe whenever I am around him no matter what the circumstances and believe me in some cases we have definitely not been safe but when Leo's around I could be anywhere in the world and will not care. Just the way he acts so carefree but deep down I know he seriously is worried about things and general and wants to be make the world a better place. I see that in him when he works on his inventions and designs, a concentration of pure determination and contention wanting always to improve and do something good for everyone else. He is working on his inventions but yet he finds time to spend time with us and solve mysteries or stop Piero doing something bad or maybe just trying to stop Lorenzo being kidnapped. He is always there looking out for us and making sure were all alright. Me in particular I noticed, maybe because I'm a girl but in whatever case I like him looking out for me he's like a big brother to me and I would have no problem in calling him sort of family to me, I would have no problem calling any of them family. Mac, Lorenzo they are all family to me. A family I never knew or had one I didn't have to leave to earn a living or one who would accept me for my double life. I look out for all of them in return, watching them and making sure there all okay and they do the same for me. If they are do treat me as a girl I will put them in their place as I am girl without my wig but when I have it I am boy and it shouldn't be any different. Leo's figured that know, Mac doesn't seem to care and Lorenzo, well he's Lorenzo, but Leo. Leo's the one who's there for me the most and I thank him so much for that. He really is a remarkable man.

I looked at my painting. It wasn't really going the way I had hoped. The colours weren't really blending together and there was too much light on it. I took a step a back and took a look at it. I smiled it reminded me of the time when I came to Florence inspiring to be a painter. The only hope I had of that was to be a boy as women weren't allowed to be painters so Tomaso was created. Leo was the first person who noticed me, drawing on the tiles and road. He didn't know about Lisa yet and I had no plan of telling him. He told me I was a really good artist and he took me to the workshop where I got a job. It wasn't easy at first I got into a bit of mess with the Illuminate gang and Leo's notebook but he saved me and for that I trusted him and my double life was revealed to him. I have never looked back since coming to Florence. This is my new life, my new family and Tomaso is me now, Lisa is my double life.

"What are you so smiley about?" grinned Leo returning with the paint

"Oh! I was just remembering something," I replied. Leo looked oddly at me and shook his head and pulled out his easel with his painting on. It was a remarkable piece of art. Who in my opinion had a strange recognition to me as Lisa but that was probably me wishing it more than it actually was. I doubted Leo would ever feel that way about me; he's much too good for the likes of me. I can only hope.

That evening we were all fast asleep lying in our beds when an almighty banging on the door awoke us all.

"What was that?" I awoke suddenly sitting up

"I don't know" replied Leo getting out of bed

One of the other workshop boys beat us to the door. He opened it. Outside stood a flustered looking villager

"What is the problem sir?" asked the boy

"Piero has declared war Milan, he expects us all to fight on his side. The only chance to get away is now. Fighting is imminent" with that he was gone

Me and Leo looked at each other are faces an image of shock and worry.