Arrival at Portorosso Middle School, 8th Grade Building, 7:45 A.M.
"Whoa! It's so beautiful!" Camilla said, taking a moment to admire the scenery on that nice Italian autumn day.
"It's big, I'll tell you that," Emilio said. "But it's nothing impressive."
In the distance, Camilla spotted a young girl. "Maybe she knows her way around!" she said. "Andiamo!"
She dragged her twin brother along as she ran towards the girl. The girl, seeing them approach, instantly stopped talking to her friends.
"Ciao, mi chiamo Violetta D'Angelo!" the girl chirped.
"Marco got married? That's amazing!" Emilio said. "Who's the lucky man?"
Violetta chuckled with a confused look on her face. "You mean, Marco D'Angelo? No. I'm his younger sister." She smiled. "May I ask how you became acquainted with my older brother?"
"We're—," Emilio said, but was cut off by Violetta.
"Wait, let me guess," Violetta said, prancing around both Emilio and his twin sister. She thought for a split second, then gasped for dramatic effect. "I've got it! You're Luca's kids!"
"It took you that long to figure that out?" Emilio said.
Camilla nudged him. "What's wrong with you, stupido?" she said.
"Ha, very funny," Emilio said. "We're going off Dad's catchphrase now."
"Shut up or I'll give you something to shut up about!" Camilla said, raising a fist up to Emilio's face.
"Try and hit me, fica," said Emilio.
"I ain't no pussy!" Camilla shouted. "Take that back!"
She punched her brother hard in the gut.
Emilio grabbed his stomach in pain. "Ouch! What the hell was that for?"
"You called me a pussy," Camilla said. "Think again before you dare call me that again because clearly you are the weak one."
"But you punched really hard!" Emilio cried.
His sister shrugged. "Not my problem," she said. "It seems as if your dick really wanted to be a vagina,"*
*Italian version; same word as English.
"Haha, very funny," Emilio said. "Now are you gonna show us around this dump or what?"
Violetta looked at him. "It's not a dump," she said. "Look around! It's bellissimo!" She smiled, gesturing for Emilio and Camilla to come along. "I'll give you a tour of the place! And don't worry, your tuition is on the house!"
"Ooh! Nice!" Camilla said. "Isn't this nice, Emilio? Free schooling and dorm rooms? Maybe siblings can live together!"
"Our headmistress is very strict on student living at Portorosso Middle," Violetta explained. "She strictly forbids anyone of the opposite sex to share a room with one another despite them being brother and sister."
"That's absurd!" Camilla said. "We've always shared a room! And what about the gender non-conforming and nonbinary students that attend this school? What about the trans students? Does she even care about the well-being of all her students?"
"Well, that's the thing," Violetta said. "I'm not like my brother at all. I'm shy, socially awkward, and can barely hold a conversation with authorities."
"I'm confused," Emilio said. "What the hell is all that supposed to mean?"
"My brother was brave enough to convince the headmaster of Portorosso High to create an LGBTQ+ club, but I can't get the courage like he did to address Headmistress Macchiato to be all-inclusive."
"Because she isn't," Emilio said.
"Well, we can help you change that!" Camilla said.
"Say, is your brother hot like you?" Emilio asked.
"Scusi?" Violetta said, confused about what he just said.
"No flirting on your first day of school, idiota!" Camilla said, smacking Emilio across the head. "Scusate, Violetta. He's pretty stupid."
"Hey! I heard that!" Emilio said.
"Not my problem you got your traits from Daddy Alberto," Camilla said. "The only thing I inherited were these beautiful green eyes. Now, silenzio and andiamo. We have school, for your motherfucking information."
"Maledetta scuola," Emilio said under his breath. "But what do I know? I might like it." He then realised what he just said. "Did I just say I might like school? Nah. Scratch that."
Violetta led them into the Lecture Hall. "This is where you'll have all your classes. You're both entering the eighth grade, right?"
"Whoa! How'd you know?" Emilio said. "Are you some kinda psychic?"
Violetta chuckled, blushing. "No, but I wish."
Just at that moment, they ran into a boy who thought he was all big and strong.
"Ciao! These are new students of Portorosso Middle! Make them feel comfortable!" Violetta said.
"Oh, I'll make them feel welcome alright," said the boy. "So, hey, pretty boy!"
"Oh, uh, me?" Emilio said. "You talking to me?"
"What do you think, idiota?" he said. "Of course I'm talking to you."
Emilio gulped.
"My name is Giovanni Visconti. I'm sorta the top dog at this school, so piss me off and you're dead," the boy said. "Is that understood?"
We'll make great friends, Camilla thought. We're both tough and badass.
Violetta chuckled nervously. "Andiamo, ragazzi! Off to the dorm buildings!" She flashed a forced smile at Giovanni. "It was nice seeing you again! Ciao!"
"Yeah," he said. "Really nice seeing you again."
Giovanni turned the other way, letting out a vicious smile only a bully would hold. "I can't wait to hear how Dad reacts to me bringing down Luca's and Alberto's kids. He's gonna be so proud."
He walked away.
