Love, Evangeline

21.

Thousands of cars dotted the streets, millions of people walked up stairs leading into a gorgeous building. Hundreds of bright flashing cameras blinked like fireflies in the dark sky. Gazing out the window, I was astonished to see a line of people trailing all the way down the sidewalk. " Jesus Christ," Damien sighed as he looked out the window. Turning my head, I looked at Alessandro, who had his jaw softly clenched, eyes glued on the seat in front of him. The car came to a sudden halt, men and women with cameras instantly surrounded the car.

Security ignored the paparazzi as they opened the car doors. " Just push past them," Diego said to me as everyone got out of the car. At first, the flashing lights of the cameras weren't that bright, but the moment my feet touched the pavement, I could barely see two inches in front of me. Dante instantly grabbed me, pulling me close to his side. " Over here!" A man with a camera yelled. Right as I looked at him, the flash of his camera exploded in my eyes. " Hey," Dante said sternly at the man. " Just one more," the man said. " Unless you want a bloody broken nose, I suggest you stop flashing your damn camera in her face," Dante threatened harshly. The man stared at Dante for a few seconds before turning and leaving our area.

" Jesus," Diego scoffed as he walked up beside me. " They have nothing else better to fucking do." " The paparazzi have nothing better to do than to invade our lives, might as well get used to it," Dante advised to Dante. " The first few cameras weren't that bad," I said as we followed Mrs. Berlusconi past the men and women waiting in lines. " Why aren't we waiting like the others?" I asked as we made our way up the steps of the building. " The Berlusconi's don't wait in lines, perks of being the most wealthiest family in all of Italy," Diego said. As we descended up the stairs, groups of paparazzi followed us. " Over here!" One man in the group called out. Dante stopped, " are we really gonna do this?" Diego asked. " Just smile," Dante sighed. I looked at one woman as she took who knows how many pictures of us. We stood still, smiling at different cameras for about thirty seconds as the paparazzi devoured us with their cameras, before continuing their way up into the building.

Many people stared at us as we walked up into the building. " Why is everyone looking at us?" I asked. We were just like every other family here, why were we suddenly the center of attention. " Trust me," Damien said. " They're all looking at you." A smile tugged at the corners of my lips before slipping away as I averted my attention to Luca's back. His posture was different, he stood up tall and walked as if he had practiced doing so for weeks.

Walking down the hall, pictures hung on the wall. Glimmering chandeliers twinkled as they hung down from the ceiling. Mya and the others instantly walked up beside both Diego and Dante. " As much as you two love your sister and desire to act like hound dogs around her, we'd like to talk to her," Mya said as a smug smile rested on her face. Diego eyed Dante as we walked before looking at Mya. " I'm fine, go," I said to Dante. He stared at Mya for a few seconds before taking a few steps back and trailed behind us, Diego doing the same.

" God, I thought they'd never leave your side," Gianna sighed. " They're protective, they have always been," I said defensively. " We'll, I must say you're absolutely mouth watering in that dress," Mya said smiling. I scoffed, " I feel naked." " And?" Isabella asked. " That's the only way to get attention." I stared at Isabella for a few seconds, thinking about what she had just said before averting my attention ahead. " Also, when the paparazzi takes your picture, show them your left side," Julia said, " it's your better side." I looked at Julia, " trust me," Julia said. I had seen my own reflection for years, never once did I ever feel the need to see which side or angle of my face was better.

" Times up," Dante said from behind me. Mya looked at him and said teasingly, " almost forgot you were back there." Dante slightly glared at Mya as her and her sisters returned back to their spot before. " They're like an itch that'll never go away," Diego said in annoyance. I smiled as we approached a big golden door, within seconds two guards turned and opened the door. Music instantly filled my ears as beautiful, fluorescent lights filled my eyes. The glorious smell of mouthwatering food wavered it's way over to us. " Can we just find a table and sit down?" Mateo asked. " Why, so you can stuff your face with food?" Damien asked. Mateo scoffed, " why, the hell else?" Chuckling, Diego said, " you have the patience of a child." Mateo smirked, " children always get what they want, so thanks for the compliment." " I don't think that was a compliment," Dante said grinning.