Is it love: Peter Bartholy

Chapter 1 Part 1

For two weeks now I've been working as an au pair for a strange family: the Bartholy's.

I say strange because, in addition to their ridiculously large mansion. They have the perfect setting for a horror movie, not to mention they are ... particular.

First there is Nicolae, the older brother, who is in charge and takes care of his siblings during their fathers absence. He looks like he came straight out of another time period. His gallantry, his manners not to mention his way of speaking have nothing to do with guys today.

Then there is Drogo, the younger brother. A real-time bomb ...

He's the type that gushes in like a whirlwind to say something nasty to you and then disappear immediately just to drive you mad. He's annoying, proud and totally unpredictable just like his younger sister Lorie, the little girl I take care of.

That girl, Lorie. I suspect that she is doing everything she can to make me crack ... Who knows, maybe all her nannies ended up in the asylum.

And then there is the creator of the heady melody that often invades the corridors of the manor. The sweet and melancholy Peter...

I sigh and close my eyes to enjoy the melody while doing homework. Since I moved in with the Bartholy's, Peter has been constantly on my mind.

He's just so mysterious. A real mystery in this strange family, he seems to be above it all. As if things in our world don't interest him...

I don't know why but there is just something about Peter that keeps drawing my attention. He's so handsome, and at the same time so secretive that I have found it difficult to talk yet alone start a discussion with him.For now, I've never dared to go talk to him...

I chewed the inside of my lip contemplating that I should probably swallow my fear and go knock on his door. After listening to yet another piece of music, I get up from my bed, determined to talk to my beautiful pianist. The moment I open my door a little fury of pink pigtails comes running into my room, putting a halt in my plans.

Lorie - "The children at school are all stupid!"

She practically marches over to my bed and throws herself on it, sprawling herself into a starfish shape. Clearly she was not going away anytime soon.

"Have they been nasty to you?"

Leaving the door I walk over to the frustrated little girl. A tense smile on my face, I mentally recite a mantra to try to stay in my zen. Lories green eyes follow my every movement, contemplating if she will actually answer me or just leave me hanging.

Lorie - "There's this boy who annoys me ... He keeps laughing at me!"

With a knowing smile, I tuck a strand of hair from her pouty face, all while staying calm.

"You know when boys make fun of you, sometimes it's because they like you!"

She looks at me for a moment, eyes wide and rosy cheeks before she quickly resumes her annoyed pout. Smacking her head down on my bed again all the while she rolls her eyes at me.

Lorie - "You're talking trash! What would you know about it, you don't even have any lovers."

Touche! With my life little more than tumultuous then most, I didn't really have time to consider a love life. But that was not something I want to discuss with a little girl especially this little girl.

"You want to play?"

I give her a sideways glance hoping she would take the bait. It could be a good way to take her mind of things and get her back to her room. She sits up on my bed and sighs as if what I just proposed deeply annoyed her.