Not his toy

I

1997

Everybody smiled, sang, and dance celebrating another year of my existence. I smiled at their joy and ate to my heart's content "Here I got this for you" My brother blushed as my mother glared at him to give me the gift. He and I did not have the best relationship even when I tried so hard to connect with him and my family. My parents are alright, but they don't understand how I think. I'm a seven-year-old mechanical prodigy and a few grades higher than my 10-year-old brother. I've tried acting more like my age and I've tried raisin up my EQ but none of my attempts seem to work, so I left it how it is.

I looked at him and then at the small package in front of me. I opened it and inside was Sparkling Mike in pieces It the toy I told mom I wanted but she said there were out of stock where did they find it "Fernando what di- "I love it," I interrupted my Mom, I got the gift I always wanted and I get to build it, Heck yeah this is the best Birthday so far. "Thank you" I thanked my brother giving him a hug surprising him. "I can't believe you guys tracked all these pieces "

"Yeah, that's exactly what I did. We found all those parts so you could put it together, because I know you like to build stuff" My brother said while his voice rose by an octave "Hell yeah I do" I exclaimed, I grabbed the box and I was about to leave but my mother stopped me in my tracks. "You can build your toy later dear, I just want you to meet someone" I groaned and held onto her hand and followed her where she led me to my father's office where a Scary old man and his child stood. The kid was taller than me, he had scruffy brown hair and olive-colored eyes that looked brown without the shine of the light. "Mom who are these people"

"This is Don D'Angelo and his son Giovanni. Don't be rude say Hello" My Mother said pushing me in front as the middle of the room was a stage. "Hello, I'm Valentina. It's a pleasure to meet you" I bowed my head slightly. Giovanni looked like a shy person, he looked like his father having a straight face but unlike him, he did not look scary. His father patted him and he sighted "Hello, I'm Giovanni. Happy Birthday" He said monotonously handing me a small box.

"You seem disappointed with this situation maybe some cake will cheer you up. Davina could you slice a piece of cake for our guest" food always cheers me up, and this situation needs some cake right now. Davina placed two pieces of cake in the table and I motion them to them. "so how old are you" I asked him as I ate my cake. He ignored me and just ate his cake slowly. I'm no good when it comes to socializing, I don't like to so I never actually did hence the lack of experience.

"Do you have any hobbies? What do y- "I'm nine," He said cutting me off. "See, you can talk. I'm seven but you already know that hehe. Where do you live?" I asked pouring the pair some tea "I live in the next streets Manor" he replied taking a whiff at the tea "That's great! We could hang out after school sometime" Maybe this is what my mom wants, she is presenting me with an anti-social kid that is just like me so I can be friends with "I don't like going out"

"Too bad, my mom wants me to be friends with you so your my friend now" I taunted him taking a sip of my tea "I'm not your- "he was about to say something but I cut him off "Your name is too long, I'll call you Gio instead?" He looked at me puzzled and stunned but his only response was a slight nod. My mom approached us and rested her hands on my shoulders "Giovanni, I'm sorry for my daughter's behavior. She is just a bit uh....."

"Blunt" My dad finished coming in with a manila folder at hand "Thank you, mom, dad I dint notice," I said sarcastically emphasizing the I. Gio gave her a nod in response "Okay here it goes. Valentina you and Giovanni are going to get married some point in you guys lifes" My dad said bluntly, and I'm the blunt one in the family. "Nando, what did I tell you" My mom punched my dad, who just shrugged "There is no easy way to put it"

"You look too boring to be my husband" I pointed out while my father nodded furiously in agreement earning a smack from my mother "You look too annoying to be my wife" Gio responded, I was shocked he had actually talked when he wasn't asked anything. "Boo hoo, too bad" I taunted sticking my tongue at me surprising my parents with my actions "Maybe this was a good pair, after all, she seems to act her age around Giovanni" My mom whispered to my dad.

"I can hear you guys" I grumbled making them clear their throats "Yeah, I mean- clear throat- This is a serious thing Valentina, Okay?" My dad said lowering his voice trying to sound serious "I know dad. I'm smart remember "I reminded barely pointing at my head. I'm not mad at them for having me reserved for a guy, I'm quite relieved. So far, my seven years of experience have told me making friends won't be a thing making any chance for me to ever have a romantic relationship.

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After that day I took the liberty to bother him at his home every day after school. He was the only kid around my age that could run away from me, so I wanted to practice new social skills with him. Although every day he would tell his maid to tell me he was not home, but I could hear him scream every time I got near. But I continued pestering him and relentlessly this continued for weeks until one day he opened the door.

"What do you want" He gritted while I smiled and handed him a small cake I baked. while he looked at the cake I moved passed him. "I came here to make progress in the friendship that we started. I've devised an experiment that will increase your affection towards me in an accelerated timeframe" I answered as he now led me to his room "English" He groaned

"I'm here to hang out" I dropped my bag on the floor and sat where he was know sitting. He nodded and resume his video "Did you try the cake" I asked, his mother kept coming to my home trying to have a good relationship with me and my mom. So I've picked up a few things that will help me better connect with Gio. "Not right now" So much for my experiment, I had taken notes on neurological research done to monkeys that were going to help me but he doesn't seem interested.

"Why are you rude towards me? I've come here to hang out with you. We are friends after all" I remarked getting him annoyed. "I never called you my friend. I don't have any" he snapped, grumbling in the process. Whether he liked or not we were going to spend at least five years of our adult lifes together might as well try to connect. "Unfortunately I am your friend and you are going to marry me someday. Now that I think about it this makes you my Fiancé" I teased at the last part poking in his cheek but to my dismay, he ignored and proceeded to play his game. Maybe if I take interest in his hobbies he might consider me his friend.

"If I beat you in this game, you have to say we are friends and If I lose I leave you alone forever until we are wedded, deal?" I approached with a smirk, he scoffed and rolled his eyes "You can't play this, you're just a girl. Girls cant play video games. It is known" He answered me without taking a glance in my direction "By who, your friends? Last time I recalled you don't have any except me and I know for a fact I can play video games" I scoffed standing up "Fine, you can play and if I win you leave me alone until we marry"

"Deal"

With that we started playing, what he didn't know I memories all the patterns in the games that I ever got my hands on, and as I beat him leaving him in the dust. The game finally ended and I looked at his defeated face "Come on champ say the magic words" I laughed "Valentina Moriartti you are my friend"

From that day on we became inseparable, we went everywhere together, we knew everything about each other. But even as close as we were, I never found out what made him so bitter.