A/N:

Another chapter for you lovely people :) Super-duper-mega-supreme apologies for another long wait, so I hope I put enough plot advancement in this to make up for it.

I'm actually not sure if I'll be using this format for the entire story, because I need to explain other character's thoughts in order for the story to make sense. Let's just say not everyone is who they seem... mwa ha ha. So the next chapters will have other P's.O.V. in them.

But on with the story for now :D

-Willow

"That proves you are unusual,' returned the Scarecrow; 'and I am convinced that the only people worthy of consideration in this world are the unusual ones. For the common folks are like the leaves of a tree, and live and die unnoticed."

― L. Frank Baum, The Land Of Oz

Venice was full of surprises, it turns out. Some more enjoyable than others. The pleasant ones usually involved some sort of pastry or heavenly tasting desert on the kitchen table one evening, or a letter from home, especially the ones that hinted at a relatively civil terms between my parents. Little things like that.

These all came with the unpleasant variety, though, such as finding a mouse under my bed one night, causing me to scream excessively loudly until Uncle Victor scrambled in with a dustpan and removed the intruder. And the second mouse. And the third mouse. And the roach.

So, yeah, there were many surprises that weren't so great. But then there were the ones that were just plain bizarre.

One of them came on a rainy Thursday evening exactly one week after my arrival during which I was alone in the house for the first time, due to Victor and the apprentice being out on an errand of some kind in the pouring rain. Why investigate the case of a god in weather like this, I do not know. But it benefited me in the end, since I finally got some alone time. I lay on my bed with a piece of paper in my lap, penning a response to my mother's latest letter. The shrill ring of the phone pierced the silence in the house. I groaned and rose, rushing to answer it.

"Getz Detective Services, how may I help you?" I recited the rehearsed greeting, trying to drain the exhaustion from my voice. It had been a long day.

" 'Ello, it's Serafina." A painfully familiar accent came through the line, "From the market square?"

"Scipio is out right now." I said automatically.

"I know."

And how did you know that, Serafina?

"I wanted to talk to you." She stated, as if it was the most usual thing in the world.

Thankful for the fact she couldn't see me, I made an exaggerated expression of confusion, "Uh..."

She giggled airily at my reply. "I know, it's kind of sudden. But you seemed a little bit... lonely. Such a shame, really, being dropped in such a big city like this with no friends except for your uncle."

"Well, I'm trying to make the best of it."

"That's, like, so brave of you."

Why does everything think this is so brave me of me?

"Yeah!"

"So anyway, there's this party, well, little get-together this Saturday at my house, and I thought you might want to tag along with me and my friend, Rita. Scipio can come, too."

So that's what she wants.

I rolled the idea around in my mind. I wasn't in the position to pick and choose my social opportunities around here, considering the fact that there hadn't been any so far. But did I really want to go to a part, excuse me, get-together at the house of a girl whose initial reaction upon meeting me was to act like I wasn't there. I might have not been the most socially graceful girl around, but I did know that people didn't just magically switch opinions on someone from invisible to preferable. Did I want to spend the rest of the summer alone, though? Might as well take what I can get, genuine or otherwise.

"I'll be there."

"Fabulous." Serafina said, "And about the other day, I know I came off a little fiery there, and I'm sorry. Honestly."

"It's okay." I said half-heartedly. Something about the tone of her voice was almost too sweet to be sincere.

"Thanks for understanding." There was silence for a moment. "I guess I got a little jealous..."

"Of what?" I asked, pretending not to know exactly what, or who, she was jealous of. I wanted to hear her explanation.

Serafina took a deep breath, "Well, Scip and I dated for two months back in the fall. We broke up when I had to move back to London, though. We had to, you know? Long distance wasn't an option for either of us."

"Yeah, long distance relationships are nearly impossible." I agreed, as if I had any idea. I was new to short-distance relationships, and practically clueless in long-distance ones.

"Exactly." She continued, "But we planned on getting back together when it was ever possible. And, well, now I'm back..."

"And he was with another girl." I finished for her. "I promise there's nothing going on between us. Don't worry."

That was basically true. "Between" implied that it was a two-way thing. My, let's face it, crush on Scipio was nothing more than just that: a crush. And I didn't think Serafina Capito would be quite so pleased to know I liked him as anything more than a friend.

"Are you sure?"

"Pretty sure."

"Good." Serafina said simply. She added, "I mean, not just because I like him, but because you don't really want to get involved with someone like him. If you're not willing to hop on an emotional rollercoaster that ends with a crash-and-burn heartbreak."

Emotional rollercoaster? I gave a forced laugh in reply.

"I'm not even kidding. You can ask Rita, Celia, Martine, Francisca, or even that one girl who lives in the Spavento mansion but used to hang out in that abandoned theatre." She went on to explain, "They've all been through it."

"He seemed fine, though."

"That's the tricky part of it, Alana."

"It's Alexandra."

"Whatever."

I tried to suppress my offense.

"Anyway," She continued, "Just don't get involved. Because you seem really nice and I wouldn't want any friend of mine with a player like that."

"We're friends?" I blurted out.

"Do you not want to be...?"

"No, no I do." Nice move, Alexandra.

"Awesome. So I'll see you Saturday?"

"Saturday." I restated.

"Sweet. Bye, Alexandra."

"Bye." I sat the phone back in the cradle and tried to think about what just happened. This town had outdone itself with surprises, I was sure. It was about to outdo itself again, though.

Shortly afterwards, the door swung open and in burst the duo of my uncle and his apprentice. "Success?" I asked.

"Partially." Uncle Victor said dejectedly, retiring to a chair in the corner and closing his eyes.

I looked to Scipio, who was hanging up his rain-soaked coat on the rack by the door. He would explain better, I concluded from the way he was rarely silent about much of anything, "Care to elaborate?"

Not today, apparently. His response was short, "On what?"

"Did you find it?"

"The pup or the owner?"

"The pup, obviously." I followed Scipio to the kitchen and waited for him to pour a cup of coffee before I could get further details. "Were you looking for the owner...?"

"Originally? No. Are we now? Yes. The dog is tied up in the alley, but the woman who hired us is nowhere to be found. We took it to her house and it was completely cleared out, not even the furniture was left."

My eyes grew wide, "So what happens if the lady never comes to claim the dog?"

"She's ours, then."

Ours. I liked that.

As hard as it was to admit, I was like a little girl when it came to my wanting of a puppy. My mother was allergic, though, and my one-item Christmas list was never fulfilled.

"Well, can I go see him?" I asked, child-like glee filling my voice in a way I was hoping came off as endearing rather than elementary.

"Sure." Scipio said with a shrug.

I didn't bother getting my jack and laced up my sneakers before making our way to the alleyway. The rain had picked up since I'd last checked, and now cast a silver glow on the pavements. Back home, a storm meant mud and dreary clouds. But this was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen in weather like this.

The boy next to me though? He was a close second.

No, stop thinking that. I told myself. You heard Serafina. You don't want this for yourself.

As we rounded the corner, I could hear the faint barking of the potential pet. When she came into view, I knew anyone who would leave a creature like this one out in the rain didn't deserve her to get her back, anyway. She was a terrier, with a black coat beaded in raindrops. Despite her state, she stood with her little head held high, seemingly unaffected. Her eyes told a different story though, scared and weary.

I held my hand out for her to sniff. Years of reading books on dog training in hopes I would soon need any of the information had paid off, as was apparently by the way she didn't seem quite so nervous anymore. "C'mon, she's friendly." I said to Scipio, who was still standing a few meters away.

He shook his head, "Not to me, she's not."

"Try again. Please?"

Reluctantly, he bent down beside me and gave the pup a small pet. She quickly recoiled and backed away. "See?"

"Well..." I bit my lip to hold back a laugh. "She might need to get to know you."

"There's no way that's happening. Victor won't let her in the house." He rose again, "And, with any luck, we'll find a home for her before any of us get attached."

"What about this one?" I patted the sturdy brick wall.

The apprentice smiled, "We barely have enough room as it is."

"But just look at her!"

As if she could understand what I was saying, she appeared particularly needy, shivering the rain, long since abandoning her arrogant pose. Puppy dog eyes are even more effective, it turns out, when they're actually coming from a puppy.

"Not my decision to make. Sorry." He said sincerely.

The rain was picking up and was soaking both of us. I gave her one last rub before making a final plea, "Can we at least name her?"

"I guess so. Did you have anything in mind?"

The name popped into my mind out of nowhere, but I knew it was perfect. "Toto."

"Like the Wizard of Oz dog?"

I nodded.

"Well, Dorothy, better get inside before this turns into a twister."

Once in the shelter of the Getz residence, I put some scraps in a bowl for newly named Toto and made a cup of tea for myself. As I was heating the water, I finally remembered to tell Scipio about Serafina's call.

"Your ex-girlfriend called." I stated nonchalantly.

He tensed up immediately. "What?"

Might as well have a bit of fun with it. "Yeah, she kept asking for your address and if you left your window unlocked. Pretty weird, if you ask me."

The look on his face was pure panic. "Did you tell her?!"

I laughed and his expression changed to a smile, "Who was it?"

Giving up the act, I told him, "Serafina. She invited us to a 'get-together' at her house this Saturday."

"Did you tell her we'd go?"

"Yes," I answered, just then realizing that might not have been the best choice.

"Well..." He reasoned, "We kind of have to go, then."

I shrugged, "We could probably just skip out on it. She seemed pretty nice."

He regarded me incredulously, "And you actually believed her?"

"Yes..?"

"Alexandra, you can't believe everything that girl says."

Memory of she negative light she had cast on the seemingly innocent boy before me came flooding back with his warning.

"But she seemed so nice..." I said, suddenly not as sure of myself as I like to be.

"I know. Just take my word on this one. I'm not saying she's a liar, but she's an excellent actress."

"Thanks." I dunked a tea-bag into the mug of steaming water, exhaustion settling over me. "And now, my friend, I'm going to read a book and drink tea. I'll be in my room if anyone needs me. But try not to need me."

A/N: This sounds so awful, but I don't know if I'm going to continue this story if no one is reading it. Don't take this the wrong way, I'm honestly so grateful for the amazing people who have reviewed since the beginning, but I'm just not very motivated anymore :/

So please please please please please review, guys.