H.O.P.E.F.U.L

Partyyy

It had been two weeks since the arrest on Saturday, and since then, Matteo, Flynn, and Leo had left for Italy, leaving just Noah, the twins, and me in the house.

It felt bad to admit that I didn't really feel safe around them anymore. Like I didn't really trust them anymore. I would still talk to them and things like that, but yeah, I didn’treally know them any more. Like, they were in the mafia. There was no way I could wrap my head around it and just be okay with it. I didn't know exactly what they did, but I knew what mafia meant.

I had talked to Leo before he left, and it sort of helped me understand. He kind of split from the mafia, though he was still fine hanging out with the rest of the family. He kinda cleared thing up on what they did. Yes, they did run a bunch of illegal stuff, but he said that they also
occasionally provided protection services and donated money. He also said that they didn't really have a choice - they couldn't just leavem I had heard of those bits - like that no one could leave. It didn't really justify their actions, and I still didn’t see why they just couldn't stop, but I guess it made them a bit better.

We were all sitting in the living room watching a movie, the dirty plates from dinner sitting on the coffee table. We had been eating takeout every night after a failed attempt to make rice. We all desperately wanted Flynn to come back because it seemed he was the only one who could cook.

"I have an idea," Noah said suddenly.

"What?" Xavier asked.

"We should throw a party,"

I frowned to myself. With these guys, it wasn't a good idea.

"Where?" I asked. I wondered if Noah was thinking of the same kind I was - the kinda of house party with underage drinking that people associate with America.

"Here, of course stupid," Noah said, levelling me with a look.

"Dad would murder us." Xander scowled, shaking his head.

"Well, he isn't here, idiot," Noah shook his head. "It's not like he's gonna come back anytime soon,"

I nodded slowly, considering the idea.

"And what would this party look like?" I asked tentatively.

"Does this mean you've never been to a party before?!" Xavier asked loudly. "Now we have to throw a party for Lils. I'm on Noah's side,"

"Great, Xan, what do you say?" Noah grinned. "We're gonna invite a million people, alcohol, drugs, music, it'll be great,"

"Fine, we'll throw a party," Xander sighed, rolling his eyes as Noah and Xavier high-fived.

"Alright, jobs," Noah turned off the tv. "Tonight is Friday night, right, we'll get set up tomorrow and have it on Saturday night,"

Xavier gasped. "Lillia can invite that boy of hers!"

Noah and Xander's heads shot to me. "A fucking boy?!" They yelled in unison.

"Thought you already knew," Xavier chuckled awkwardly.

I groaned inwardly. I really didn't want to be interrogated right now.

"Pretty sure they kissed on New Years," Xavier said. Thanks a lot Xavier.

Noah pointed a finger at me.

"We will talk about this later," He promised sternly. 

Great.

"Did you kiss though?" Xavier cut in. "I'm right aren't I?" 

"Why should I tell you?" I said mysteriously.