One year later...
~Alessa~
"Give it up for Alex Raven!!!!" The announcer's voice spoke through the stadium.
"So. How's it been racing for a year?"
"Well, It's fun. And I love it!" I replied enthusiastically.
"Isn't it your birthday today Alex? How old are you?"
"Yes. Yes, it is. I'm twenty-two"
"We met last year on the very same day. How do you feel about winning the year-round championship?"
"It feels amazing. I've wanted this since last year when I started and guess what? I did"
"You have anything to tell your fans about?"
"Yes. Just follow your dreams. They know the way"
"Why that's very nice. Was racing your dream?"
"Yes. Since I sat in my first toy car. I knew I wanted to race"
"Thank you, Alex. Have a great day ahead"
"Thank you, everyone. I love you all" I blew kisses to the crowd and walked off the stage.
I kept my trophy in my garage at the stadium along with the many others.
Changing into a pair of black jeans, a white crop top, and a black leather jacket. I hopped onto my motorbike and drove off to Justin's place. We had broken up a few months ago when he went off to college. Yeah, he was a year older than me and we didn't want the same things anymore.
But that didn't stop us from being best friends. It was all cool.
I plopped down onto the couch beside him.
"When did you come back?"
"A few hours ago. I ditched class and anyway it is a Friday. I'm spending the weekend here"
"OhMyGod! Yaaaayyyyy!!!!" I squealed and tackled him into a hug.
"Aww I missed you"
"I missed you too" Came Jessica's voice from behind us.
"Hey, babe!!! So good to see you" I gave her a hug as well.
"You too"
"Now, come on. We have to go to your house. Your mom invited us" Justin spoke up.
"Okay... If we have to"
"We'll stay the night"
"Now that's what I'm talking about"
We walked out and I got on my motorbike again while they both sat in Justin's car.
"We'll meet at my garage. The secret one. I have to park this baby and get in your car to go home" They both nodded their heads in understanding and drove away.
We met at the garage and I changed vehicles.
"Let's go now"
"Alright missy"
"Where were you anyway?" Jessica asked.
"Just here and there. Had some school work"
"Uh-huh. Who's Alex Raven?" Justin asked suddenly.
"Who?"
"Don't be dumb Alexandra. We saw you on t.v."
"What are you talking about?"
"Alex Raven. 22 years old. Looks exactly like you. And wait, she is you."
"You found out. Please don't tell anyone"
"We won't. But racing, huh? Know any hot guys about my age?" Jessica joked.
"Yeah actually."
"Oh no. But why didn't you tell us?" Justin again.
"Well, that is a secret identity," I replied in a duh tone.
"And we didn't see you on t.v. My friend had raced with you and showed us a selfie. He was head over heels for you." Jessica said.
"Who?"
"I think his name was Ace"
"Oh. That idiota" (Idiot)
"Why is he an idiot? He's hot."
"Well. He treated me like a puttana." (Whore)
The rest of the car ride was silent. They didn't speak Italian. I did. They thought the meaning of a 'puttana' was a princess instead of a whore. I hated being treated like both. I was a queen.
"Mama. Papa. I'm home!" I called out as I walked into the house.
The living room was decorated with flowers and my parents stood in the middle of it.
"Happy birthday Alexandra" My parents pulled me into a bone-crushing hug.
"Thanks, for all of this," I replied.
"This isn't it"
I looked around the room to see boxes piled up in a corner. My corner.
I had many gifts. A pair of black heels with a matching black dress from Jessica. My mom had given me a leather jacket and a pair of boots while my father gave me some jewelery that belonged to his mother. And a collage of the memories of Justin, Jessica and I. There were others from my other friends but there were the most important to me.
"so, I've baked cakes and ordered pizza which shall arrive in a few minutes"
"Thanks guys. For everything"
I pulled all of them in a hug and then the doorbell rang.
"I'll get it"
"Good evening" I exclaimed as I opened the door. The smile on my face fell as I looked up to see Andre.
"Ugh! It's you"
"Happy birthday princess"
"What do you want?"
"I'm here to wish you a happy birthday" he pulled out a bouquet of roses and a small box. I opened it to see diamond earrings.
"I can't take this Andre"
"lemme talk to your father"
I moved aside and let him walk in. Everyone was in the kitchen waiting for me.
"What are you doing here?" Jessica exclaimed.
"Yeah. Exactly. What's he doing here?" Justin.
"Well I came to see the birthday girl and I had to talk to her father"
"Whatever you want to say you have to speak i front of us. We are family" My father replied.
Oh! I think I forgot to mention that my father loosened up to Justin and actually loved him.
We all sat down around the table and stared at Andre.
"So...?"
"I'm here to ask your daughter for a relationship. Since she's seventeen now. And I plan on marrying her next year"
I burst out laughing at his statement.
"You're delusional Andre"
"You should consider it Alex" my father said as soon as I finished laughing.
"Dad? Even you? He's a dick. He doesn't love me hes just stupidly obsessed with me in a psychotic way. And he's a coward and an idiot"
"mi ascolterai principessa. Vai ad un appuntamento con Andre. Domani." (You will listen princess. Go on a date with him. Tomorrow)
"Che cosa? No! Ho una vita! Non voglio farla finita così presto con lui." (What? No! I have a life! I'm not gonna end it so soon with him.)
"We'll talk about this later. Now let's have dinner"