| ALESSANDRO |

C H A P T E R O N E

"Forgive, but girl don't forget, girl, keep ya heap up."

C H A P T E R  O N E

"And you really think it's okay if I'm going with you?", I anxiously asked my gorgeous best friend Bratteo for the thirty-forth time in a row, while swiftly stuffing a pile of cozy sweatpants into my overflowing metal suit case.

I've known Brad for almost 10 years. He is the cliche gay Italian best friend every boring straight girl could wish for to make life more bearable. Plus, I owed him after he set me up with Parker Morales, the moat sought after boy in fourth grade. He later dumped me, because apparently watching playing video games and "hanging out" with my then nemesis  Stella Bradshaw was more important to him.

Currently, we are both attending college in Los Angeles. Brad is majoring in Aerospace Engineering and does Fashion in his free time. He has exquisite taste and due to his parents and their connections has ties to some of the world most renown designers. 

I on the other hand take psychology classes. I've always dreamt of becoming a successful psychologist, nothing too interesting, nothing too uncommon. Something every girl, when asked why they chose this subject, would answer with: To understand the depth of the human mind, when in reality they just want to know why my dad left or they got dumped by immature men and women. But I just did it because it was the least boring career path and my grades happened to be decent. For the first 10 year of my life I grew up in Germany, because my parents used to work here. We then moved to Los Angeles where we ended up staying to this day. Due to me not having a good relationship with my parents I moved out at eighteen years and haven't seen them ever since. They never called or asked for me again, which made me sad, I even cried myself into sleep sometimes, but I promised myself that when I one day become a mother I hopefully dont make the same mistakes as they did. 

Since we had semester holidays, Brad was going to visit his family, who lived in the rich and exclusive suburb of L.A. He also decided to invite me, as he knew I had nothing better to do and didn't want me to stay home all day and become an old hag. 

"Sis, you are almost a part of my family man. How many times do I have to confirm that to you!", he repeated to me as he  picks up one of my beloved but unfortunately overused hoodies with a disputed facial expression and throws it into my suitcase. 

"Relax! It's just that your parents aren't home. I don't know if they're okay with me being there! What if I break something expensive?"

Brads family is very wealthy. He never told me how his family acquired all their wealth to live this rather comfortable lifestyle, but I hope they didn't walk over too many dead bodies.

"Yasmine, when have you become such a loser? And so overbearingly cautious? I really don't like that." He started to close my third and last suitcase, but it wouldn't close.

"Besides, if you thought your ass could have me all by yourself, which I know you deep down inside totally would want", he paused as he sat on top of my suitcase, "my older brother is there." He let out a deep and frustrated fake sigh and ordered me to zip the suitcase. 

"Brad, I would never hit on you, that's for sure. For that, I know too much shit about you any-AHHH!".  Something hit my head, stopping my cringe teen-movie-scene mid-sentence. Brad had thrown a plush teddy bear at me. 

"Okay, anyways. Since when do you have an older brother? Is he hot? Older? A gay porn addict like you?"

"You better pray sis or I'm gonna rip of your outgrown acrylics!"
I chuckled knowing I was wearing my natural nails.

"His name is Alessandro. He's 26. This is going to sound weird, but I really dont know what he does for a  living. We didn't really have much contact after he left for university.  I just know he does some business with my father and I have that unsettling feeling that it is bad. But exactly that is what makes it exciting! Besides, I just want to take a break from Uni and from the number of disciplines that come with my major", he handed me the an immaculately packed suitcases.

"Yasmine you better get your bubble butt down here! The family chauffeur has arrived"

I let out a deep exhale and got ready to drag five of Brad's brown Louis Vuttion designer suitcases to the car waiting outside. I'm a such good friend and packhorse.

After our suitcases were loaded into the white limousine, I fell into the seat next to Brad. I laid my head onto his shoulder and was about to doze off, when he put a pillow into his lap and carefully placed my head there. I felt safe with him. He really was my safe space, I thought peacefully smiling to myself. I heard the wind passing by and the L.A. heat slip through the open window. Minuted later I drifted into sleep.

Let the fun begin.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Song: Keep Ya Head Up

Artist: 2Pac