Back To Square One
Torino gave Lisa and Rafael a cold stare.
"There is no way that I'm helping either of you," Torino snapped at Rafael, then, turning to Lisa, he added, "especially you!"
Lisa was confused.
"Why, what did I ever do to you?" Lisa asked Torino.
"You got my cousin, Valentino banished!" Torino seethed starting toward Lisa.
"No!" another voice snapped, causing Torino to stop in his tracks before Rafael could intervene.
Rafael got between Torino and Lisa just in case.
They all turned and saw a petite impish girl of about 14-years-old standing there in her practice leotard with her hands on her hips.
"Lydia?" Torino asked, he was confused.
Lydia stepped between Rafael and Torino.
"Torino back off!" Lydia snapped.
"Lydia, how can you defend her," Torino argued. "Valentino is your brother!"
"There's nothing to defend," Lydia retorted. "Valentino broke Romani law, he interfered with Lisa's trials, that's forbidden and he knew it but he did it anyway, Valentino's banishing is nobody's fault but his own!"
Torino's shoulders sagged as Rafael's paternal cousin, a tall 14-year-old black haired brown eyed girl named Gemma spoke up.
"Now," Gemma said to Torino. "you get out of here and don't come back until your head is on straight."
Rafael smiled at Gemma as Torino walked away.
"Thanks." Rafael said to Gemma.
"No problem, we're family," Gemma said to Rafael gently. "oh, and Torino is missing a pair of boots!"
