I waited until Dad was asleep, then I went to my room and packed my stuff. Jeans, shirts, blankets, anything warm. I packed a toothbrush and toothpaste, I was pretty sure I'd need them. I picked up a gold ring that Mom had once given me. I put it on a chain and hung it around my neck.

Then I took the envelope out of my dresser and counted the money. It should be enough for 2 tickets to Venice, plus extra for food and anything else we'd need until we got to Uncle Phil's house.

Phil wasn't really my uncle, but I always called him that. I knew he'd let us stay with him.

I took one long last look at my bedroom. A room that was filled with memories. I saw my guitar in the corner. I knew I couldn't leave something so close to my heart behind, so I grabbed it.

I went back to Amy's room to see if she'd finished packing. I entered the room in time to see her put a picture of our 'before' family in her bag. I smiled softly to myself.

"Are you ready?" I asked. "Yeah." She said. As we went quietly down the stairs, I could see my dad passed out on the couch. Sighing with relief I went to the kitchen and packed some food.

Then we left the house that we'd both lived in our whole lives.

We took a cab to the nearest airport and I bought our tickets. We slept on the bench outside of the airport that night. I covered Amy with the blankets I had brought.

The next morning we were both stiff and tired from the hard bench. We waited patiently for the flight, but by the time people were getting on the plane I was jumpy and nervous. I looked all around, expecting to see Dad jump out, furious and drunk. I shivered from the thought.

I got on the plane quickly, practically dragging Amy with me.

The flight was long and boring. I read a book I had brought to keep myself up, but finally I couldn't stop the sleep, and I slowly nodded off. Amy's head lay in my lap.

The sunlight streaming through the window woke me up the next morning. I yawned and looked at my watch. I jumped two feet in the air. It was freakin' 3 o'clock in the morning! Then why the heck was there sunlight…oooh that's right I realized. In Italy the time is 5 hours later than in America. So it was really 9 o'clock. I guess my body needs to adjust. I thought.

The plane landed, and I grabbed our bags and we got off. I was awestruck as I took in Venice. It was just as amazing as the first time I came here.

"Isn't it beautiful, Amy? Amy?" that was when I noticed Amy was no longer standing beside me. I looked around frantically. "Amy! Amy where are you?" I yelled.

I started asking around, speaking in Italian, asking people if they'd seen her.

"Hai vista la mia sorellina?" (have you seen my little sister?)

They shook their heads no. By this time I was in tears. Then I asked an old woman who was feeding birds.

"Per favore, hai visto mia sorella?" (please, have you seen my sister?) i asked, tears running down my face.

"Quanti anni?" (how old?)

"Sei." (six) I replied, immediately hopeful.

"La vidi vicino alla fontana di pietra. in questo modo." (I saw her by the stone fountain. That way.) she pointed.

"Grazie!" (thank you!) I said gratefully. She nodded and smiled at me. I ran in the direction she pointed me to, and i could see a fountain. When i got close enough, i could see Amy talking to a boy her age.

"Amy!" I yelled, even though i was right next to her. "Don't you ever freak me out like that again!" i hugged her close, the tears still running down my face. "I didn't want to lose you too." I whispered.

She hugged me back. "Im sorry. I followed the wrong person. I thought it was you, and then i was lost. But Bo helped me."

"Who's Bo?" I asked, confused. She giggled and pointed to the boy she'd been talking to. "That's Bo, silly! He makes me laugh." I looked down at the little boy. "Thanks, Bo. So where are your parents?"

"Dont have any." He stated.

"Oh im sorry. Well, who takes care of you?"

He brightened at this. "Prosper, my brother does! And Scip!"

I laughed. "Well can you find your way back home by yourself?"

He nodded. "Yeah. Im six and a quarter!"

"So is Amy! You guys must have a lot in common. Whoa, oh my god, you guys even look like each other!" I gaped at them. It was true. They both had the same wild, curly blonde hair, same blue eyes, same dimples...I shook my head. "That's just weird."

They both laughed. Amy looked happy. Happier than i'd seen her in a long time, even at home.

"BO!" I heard a voice call. "I have to go." Bo told Amy. "Bye, Bo." Amy sniffed. Then Bo ran off to who knows where, and Amy looked like she was about to cry. Gosh they'd only known each other for like 10 minutes. Did she really bond with him that fast?

"Come on," I took her hand. "It's time we went to see Uncle Phil." I knew this section of Venice well, and I knew just where he lived.