The game

Prologue

"Give her a kiss, Matteo"

Both Noa and Matteo frowned at the sound of their parent's laughter. Summer had only just started, and they could already tell the teasing wouldn't get any better. Olivia had her arm draped over Noa's shoulder. Noa glanced at Olivia, who spared her a soft smile.

I hope he doesn't kiss me. Noa mouthed, pointing in Matteo's direction.

I hope he does. Olivia wiggled her eyebrows. Noa rolled her eyes, turning her attention back to Olivia's mother who was supposed to be taking a picture of them. It was exceptionally chilly and all three of them were in wet swimsuits, she shivered at the realisation. "Okay- enough. What am I supposed to be doing again?" Olivia's mom cleared her throat. "I think you were supposed to be taking a picture of our kids, Lily." Matteo's dad said. He was holding a small boy in his arms, swaying lightly. "Ah, yes. Thanks, Alex" she adjusted the camera, looking up at the three children. "It's a very important picture for our Noa. Tomorrow she's turning 7, isn't she?" Lily smiled down at Noa, who was turning scarlet.

Noa was overjoyed to be spending her birthday with both Olivia and Matteo, but she wished her mother was here.

Her parents had divorced at the start of the year, and since the beach house that all three families shared had five bedrooms in total: Noa's mother would have to sleep on the top of Matteo's bunk bed, which she would rather avoid.

"Matteo, dear. Please smile" Lily said. Noa looked over at Matteo who had a disgusted look on his face, he seemed to feel her eyes on him because he soon turned to glare at her. It felt as if they stared at each other for eternity, however Noa didn't mind.

Click.

Noa returned her gaze to Lily, who was shaking the blank film. After a while, she came to a halt and smiled at it. "What a stunning picture!" Matteo's mother exclaimed when she saw the fully developed photograph. "Lauren, what's your son up to?" Lily asked, shoving the picture into her back pocket. Matteo's mother looked up at him, a smile on her face. "He's just admiring Noa, that's all."

Matteo was still staring at Noa as his mother explained.

Noa's father appeared, frowning, beside the two mothers. "I don't think we should be saying that about 7-year-olds; they don't even like each other's company," he said softly.

"I'm nine!" Matteo yelled. Lauren and Lily laughed at his comment, pulling him into a hug.

"We're just having a good time, James. Relax" Alex snarled as he patted James on the shoulder. "I'd prefer if you didn't touch me, Alexandro," James said as he pushed Alex's hand away from his shoulder.

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"I wonder if we're having pizza for dinner." Olivia said, digging her feet into the sand. "No we aren't." Matteo told her. Olivia furrowed her eyebrows, "You act like you know everything, Matt. You're only 2 years older than us" she snarled. "-Noa don't you think Matt- Noa?"

Noa quickly turned her head to see Matteo and Olivia staring at her. "What?" she asked, studying Olivia's face. "What are you doing?" Olivia questioned. "Thinking." Noa replied, pulling her knees up to her chest. "About what?" Olivia shifted closer.

Noa sighed.

"I just— I miss my mom." A tear rolling down her cheek. Noa hadn't seen her mother in over two months, and she couldn't bring herself to believe that she would be there for her birthday any longer; it was too unrealistic even for a six-year-old to believe. She became aware of Matteo's arms wrapping around her. A wave of warmth washed over her; it was almost as if Noa felt safe around him more than she did around anyone else she had met. 

Including her father.

Her father had been despondent as a result of the divorce, and he had distanced himself from Noa, who needed him desperately. That's the only reason they got up here; Lily encouraged him to come after Noa walked to Olivia's house and told Lily: "I think my dad's forgetting to come home at night, Aunt Lily. Can you call and remind him, please? I miss him very much"

Matteo pulled away as Noa wiped her cheek.

He smiled at her.

Matteo had never smiled before, but it was the most memorable smile Noa had ever seen. She felt as if the tears had vanished and she was only filled with delight.

It was everything Noa could wish for, this perfect silence between the three of them.

A shard of glass shatters. Noa stands up and dashes into the kitchen, her heart stopping in her chest. The peaceful silence had given way to a cacophony of noises, but all she could hear was her father repeating her mother's name. He sounded like he was shattering in front of everyone the more he spoke. He had informed Noa that there was no way to act among guests, but when Lily pulled her aside, it all made sense.

"Noa, sweetheart, I want you to relax, okay ?" Lily was gripping Noa's shoulders. Noa nodded, but her attention was drawn to what was going on in the kitchen. "Your mother- she, um," Noa suddenly felt excited at the mention of her mom. "Has she arrived?" Is she aware of my birthday? Did she get me a dog?" Noa wondered.

"No, Noa" Lily's eyes welled up with tears, but she swallowed them and shook her head.

"Have you learned about death at school yet, dear?" Lily's voice was weak, and suddenly everything made sense. Noa collapsed into Lily's arms, unable to see anything but the blur of her own tears and hearing nothing but Lily's attempts to comfort her.

Everything had fallen apart.