Running ✔️ [UNEDITED]

Chapter 22: Fun at the fair

AN: here's chapter 22. Enjoy people. Thank you all for your lovely comments!

Lila's POV: (one week later)

The past few days have been incredibly fun. Unfortunately, Jake couldn't stay for very long- Mr X was keeping tabs on him too and it would look suspicious if he kept hanging out with us.

I'm not an idiot, I don't trust Jake as much as I did a few years ago; he did an unforgivable thing. However, that doesn't mean we can't be friends.

"Hey Lila," Xander entered my room, "we're going to the fair with the others and Bella."

I nodded in reply, I still hadn't forgiven Xander.

He sighed, "Look, I don't really know why you're mad at me; I know I wasn't nice to you when we first met, but I'm sorry!"

I looked at him incredulously, "Don't worry," I said in Italian, "this orphan knows that she's a burden."

Xander looked confused then ashamed and guilty, "you heard that?"

I rolled my eyes, "Yes. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to get ready," then I shoved him out of my room and slammed the door on his face.

Still slightly angry, I got changed into a red blouse and black jeans with my icon hoodie. I put my hair into a bun and put on my combat boots.

I put my phone in my pocket and decided to leave my gun at home. Running downstairs, I heard voices yelling and slowed down a bit. Yelling sometimes meant that I get hurt. I shook my head, my brothers weren't going to hurt me. Right?

Entering the kitchen, I was greeted with chaos. Vito and Olly were yelling at each other, Drake was burning the lunch, Xander looked upset and angry, Axel was busy texting and Alessandro had his head in his hands.

"SHUT UP!" I bellowed. Miraculously, it worked, "Now, could someone explain to me what's going on?"

Olly pointed to Vito and said, "he poured slime all over the floor of my room and he put a bucket of cold water on the door so it would fall on me!"

I turned to Vito, "and what did he do to deserve such treatment?"

"He broke my phone and destroyed my Science project I'd been working on all summer!"

"It was an accident!" Olly yelled.

I pinched the bridge of my nose. Believe it or not, these arguments occurred often, "Okay, Olly: you have to replace Vito's phone and help him finish the project. Vito: you need to clean up the slime and the water on the floor. Drake, stop trying to make lunch, please."

Alessandro stood, "Lila has spoken! You must do those punishments after we come back."

"Why are we going to the fair?" I asked.

"Well, you, the twins and Xander will be starting school day after tomorrow, so, this fair trip is like a nice thing to do before school," Alessandro explained.

I nodded and the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it!" Drake yelled, abandoning the now burnt lunch.

"Where's my niece?!" I heard a female voice call.

Aunt Tilly stormed into the room. Today, she was wearing a blue flowery blouse and blue jeans with pink heels. Her red hair fell down her back in waves and her green eyes scanned the room.

"Hey Aunt Tilly!" I said, giving her a hug. Over the past few weeks, I'd found out that Tilly adopted Bella and was my Mum's sister.

"Hey Lila!" Tilly gave me a hug and then pulled back and studied me, "Good, you're no longer skin and bones, now! Boys, have you been treating her well?"

"Yes, Auntie," all the boys chorused. Tilly nodded approvingly.

"Cherry!" Bella called and engulfed me in a hug, "It's been so long!"

I laughed, "Bells, I literally saw you last week."

"I know," Bella rolled her eyes, "I was being dramatic. Now come on, race you to the car!"

"I call shotgun!" I yelled, taking off with Bella protesting loudly behind me. I heard my brothers and Aunt laughing at our antics.

I managed to sit in the front of Tilly's silver BMW and grinned at Bella's expression.

However, Alessandro picked me up and put me in the back saying, "Children in the back!"

I huffed and squirmed but Alessandro didn't let go. Everyone laughed at my affronted countenance.

X
30 mins later!

We pulled up into the car park of the fair. I bolted out of the car, eager to enjoy the fair. I'd been to one a few years ago with Bella, Jake and Jasmine...

I stood stock still and blinked back tears. Bella smiled sadly at me and gripped my arm- she remembered too.

"Come on!" I said with fake cheeriness, "let's go!"

For the next few hours, we went on loads of rides, ate candy floss and clicked embarrassing and nice photos. It was so much fun.

At some point, someone crashed into me.

"Hey! Watch where you're- Reece?" I looked up to see the brown haired man clutching a large blue candy floss.

"Oh hey Lila!" The brown haired man grinned, "it's good that you're here! There's someone I want you to meet! Elise!" He called out to his fiancée. Her blonde hair fell in waves to her shoulder and her unique purple eyes lit with joy as she clutched a child in her arms. It was nice to see Elise with a spark in her eye.

"Hey Querido!" Elise called, walking over to us. (Darling in Portuguese), "meet my daughter."

I looked at the child and my eyes widened, "Zoe?!"

"Lila!" The little girl jumped from her mother's arms and into mine, wrapping her arms and legs around me like a koala bear. I returned the hug and kissed the top of her brown hair.

Lila let go of me and with all the seriousness of a six year old said, "Have you been staying safe?"

"Yes," I lied.

Zoe scrutinised my face, "You're lying."

Reece gaped, "how does she always know when someone is lying?! I'm way older than her and yet she's way wiser! I feel so old and slightly stupid."

Zoe regarded him, "There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age." (- Sophia Loren) and then she grinned and said, "Come on! Let's go!" And ran off, leaving behind 11 very shocked people.

"Well, you heard the girl," I said and ran of after her.
Today was a great day.

End of chapter 22.

I hope you guys liked this chapter! I wanted to reintroduce Zoe and show Lila and the boys having fun without something going wrong 😂

Next chapter will be about school. Loads of drama is going to happen there 😉

Thanks for reading!