Chapter 2
Nova's POV
I didn't know what I was doing. The next thing I knew was finding myself the next morning sleeping and cuddling into Aria's chest. She was asleep too but her arms were bunched up against my chest. I groaned and flipped myself over. She sighed and turned away from me. I sat up and saw Fel and Liberta awake, yet Fel was asleep on Liberta's chest. I fumed. "Wake up guys," I said.
Aria sat up. There wasn't really a mess. It was just 5 empty sake bottles on the floor. The platter of snacks were gone. I stood up only to get a splitting headache. I sat down again. Aria crawled over and checked my temperature. "Hmm...I shouldn't have given you boys any sake. You aren't use to the amount of alcohol..."
I snapped, "What do you mean, Aria? You come in and just like, act as if you belong here! But you don't! You are not even part of the family!"
Aria's eyes widen. Then they darken. "What do you mean? What do you know about the history between Papa and I? What do you know, Nova? You maybe mature but are you mature enough?" she protested.
She stood up. Her black pencil skirt and white blouse was crinkled. She straightened them out. "Now, excuse me while I go and...clean myself up."
She walked away closing the door behind her. "What the heck?" Liberta groaned.
Fel walked over and sat in front of me. "Nova, you were a bit harsh on her. She is very sensitive. She is trying to seem cool and fun. But she did overdo it a bit. She's been abandoned since she was born. Mama took her in...the same way when you put your parents to sleep. She treated everyone equally right? Now...it's our turn to do the same for Aria."
I looked away. Fel sighed. "I'll go talk to her."
I watched Fel walk away, feeling much more guilty. Felicita, I let you down again...
Mama's POV (Sumire)
I glanced down at the duo. Felicita has grown so much. I smiled. Aria was sitting down on the edge of the fountain in the middle of the back yard. She looked sad. I frowned. Felicita was talking to her about something...
"Sumire, what's wrong?" Mondo asked. I turned around and pointed at the two.
"Aria has been sad lately...I don't know what's going on," I pointed.
Mondo sighed. Then his eyes lit up. "I have an idea! To make my Fel and Sumire cheer up, well including Aria, we shall all have a picnic at the beach!"
I smiled. "That's my Papa."
"But, we'll have to do that in a few months..." Mondo laughed nervously.
I laughed. "As long as she cheers up."
Aria's POV
I didn't know...I didn't want anyone to think that way of me...ever. I looked down. Felicita sat down next to me and tried to explain what Nova was trying to say...
"Aria?" Felicita asked.
I turned to her, flashing a strained smile. "It's okay. C'mon, let's wash up and meet everyone at breakfast."
I stood up and walked inside with Felicita. We walked into the wash room, parting.
As I scrubbed my forearms, watching the soap slip down onto the tiles, I remembered the time when I met Mama...
It was raining really hard. The skies were dark and grey. A small figure ran through the pounding storm of Japan. The dirt road seemed to stretch longer...and longer. A woman in a blue carriage passed by the small figure. She stopped the carriage and stepped out. The girl stopped and looked up. Sumire, the woman, looked regretfully down at the girl. She bent down and smiled. "What's your name?"
"Aria," the girl said.
"Aria...what a pretty name," she smiled.
I sighed and finished showering. This wasn't time for regretful times...
Normal POV
The breakfast was quiet. Felicita sat next to Aria, who sadly, sat next to Nova. Mondo cleared his throat and stood up. "Today, I plan to have the family visit the beach in a couple of months time. Since I have some meetings to do go to in between now and then, please get along and...welcome Aria. Show her around, okay?" he smiled.
Aria blushed. She looked away. Pace, Luca, and Debito smiled at each other. Dante and Jolly nodded in agreement. While Nova, Liberta, and Felicita awkwardly sat there. "Dismissed."
The rest of the family stayed. "So! Shall we begin exploring the town, Miss Aria and Milady?" Luca asked.
"If Princess goes, then we go," Liberta sighed. Nova nodded.
Aria glared at Nova. "Feli!" she cried. She put her arms arounder Felicita and smirked. "How about we change into some normal clothing hmm? I mean, everyone should!" she smiled.
"That is absurd..."Nova groaned.
"GREAT IDEA!" Luca agreed eagerly.
Felicita's POV
I was nervous about this idea. Aria smiled at me and handed me a pink halter dress. "You'll look great in it," she pointed.
I shyly put it on while Aria chooses her outfit. I turned around and smiled at my reflection. Aria came behind and grinned. "I told you."
I looked at her outfit. She wore a yellow empire dress with blue vines at the bottom. "C'mon, everyone is waiting for us," she pointed.
As we headed out, we saw everyone else. "Now, where would you all like to go?" Luca asked.
"Today is the ladies' choice," Debito smiled.
Nova's POV
The day was sunny and breezy. Aria didn't talk to me and vice versa. As we walked through the village, no one could tell that we were the Arcana Famiglia because of our normal clothes. Pace was busy giving Aria some taste of Italian food (especially pasta). Debito was flirting with some ladies and so on. I made sure that everyone stayed in order. But I couldn't help but notice how beautiful Fel looked today. Liberta though, was really close to her. I frowned.
"What's wrong?" Luca asked.
"Nothing," I grumbled.
"He's just jealous," Aria said nonchalantly.
I glared at her. She was always nosy and pried her little weasel butt into everything. I was so done with her.