Bella Notte

by Jesse Kimmel-Freeman

  Seems good enough to me. Dom?

  Yes? He sounded like he would easily start laughing at me.

  Will you come and read this? I needed a second opinion.

  Do you trust me? I thought it an odd response.

  Of course I do. Otherwise you so wouldn't be in my life. Why? He had gotten to my curiosity.

  Because your speech is fine. Especially the part about someone shooting you. I could feel his tongue sticking out.

  I took that part out, you butt. You don't think it rambles or is too short? I felt nervous talking about it.

  Emma, you ramble. If you stick to this maybe you won't as much and it isn't the inauguration speech. Just take a deep breath and relax. I am positive that the principal will approve it and everything will be fine. He smiled.

  I'm glad you're so calm about it all. I felt really stressed out.

  Let's watch another movie together. Graduation is in a few days. Please come and relax with me. I could see his puppy dog eyes, and it was too hard to resist.

  Fine. I'm coming downstairs. We can watch whatever you want as long as it isn't a monster movie, I'm still monstered out. I put the paper in my backpack. I'd rewrite it before I turned it in for review.

  Dominic and I snuggled on the couch in the living room and watched some movie off the television. I never caught the name, but it was in Spanish and was about a civil war of some sort and had fairies in it. It was weird and I enjoyed it.

  “How will I be able to understand everyone in Italy?” I thought of my ability to pick up languages quickly, but I hadn't thought to learn Italian yet.

  “If they are a vampire- like at the school- they will talk to you mentally and we understand everything that way. We hear it in our native tongue. But, if you are really worried about it, we can buy you an Italian book and you can teach yourself- like you did with Kelly's French book.” He was gently stroking my hair.

  “Will I be the only American there?” I really didn't want to be alone.

  “Of course not. Sometimes you come up with the most outrageous questions. Our kind travel everywhere and anywhere they want to study. So, in Italy, the Italians generally leave to go somewhere else, and other people go there. But there are some who stay to be close to their famiglie.” He smiled at me.

  “Oh. Okay.” I snuggled against him again and went back to watching the television.

  The next day I wrote out my speech and handed it in. Principal Taylor read it quickly and approved it right there. And that was the big event before our graduation.

  We had the day before off to get ready and all of the seniors were at home pressing suits or finding the perfect shoes.

  I had the outfit picked out – black, business knee-length skirt, red, button-up blouse, and my red peek-a-boo pumps. I spent the rest of the day trying to figure out the best hairstyle to go with because of the stupid graduation hat. I decided to put a few gentle curls in my straight black locks and leave it down.

  While I was sorting everything out for tomorrow- I had to be there early to do a practice round- Dominic kept popping into my room to ask me opinions about what to wear, how to style his hair, and what shoes to have on. I was going to go mad.

  Dom, are you all set? I asked to find out if I'd see his head pop back into my doorway.

  I was actually coming up to see you. I have the entire look together with the robe and such on too; I wanted to know what you thought. He sounded nervous.

  Fine. I don't understand why you're so worked up. I sighed.

  My family is coming, and Abner. It's the first official thing I've completed. He was excited now.

  Oh. Okay. Don't worry, everything will be fine.

  He walked into my room and looked like his usual stunning self.

  “I don't know how you make that cap and gown look good, but you do.” I kissed his cheek.

  He smiled.

  “Stop fretting and leave me to finish getting ready. I have to be there an extra two hours earlier. That actually means I need to be there at six o'clock in the morning,” I grumbled.

  “Hey, I offered to come, mia bella.” He shot back.

  “I know, but they said the people that were needed were to be there that early,” I pouted.

  “It will go quickly.” He smiled and left.

  I went back to getting everything ready. I had decided on classic makeup- nothing too Gothic- so I had my fine black eyeliner pencil out, my slightly tan eyeshadow, and my reddish lip gloss.

  By the end of the day I was a ball of nerves and I went to bed early. My alarm was set for four in the morning and the thought of getting up that early made me exhausted. I fell asleep quickly.

  Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.

  “What the devil is that?” I asked to my room as I tried to pry open my eye.

  I finally succeed in the task and looked around my room. Beep. It mocked me as I turned my head. Beep. The digital number glowed a bright four in the morning. Beep. I growled at it and then slammed my hand into the top. It stopped beeping; unfortunately, it would probably never beep again, or tell time for that matter.

  “Stupid clock. Stupider alarm. Stupidest graduation.” I was secretly damning it.

  I went in the bathroom and turned on the water. I grumbled back out into my room and grabbed my clothes and shoes. I stomped back into the bathroom and hopped into the shower. I was secretly wishing death on the person that decided that graduations should be so dang early in the stupid day. A pox on them all!

  I turned the water off and felt no more awake, but my reflection showed that I didn't look as tired as I felt- thank God.

  I blew dry my hair and then put some curls in it. I got dressed and did my makeup.

  I sleepily walked down to the kitchen and made myself a mocha. The caffeine barely jolted my system- another perk to being a vampire. Why is the world against me? I grumbled and got in my Jeep.

  The drive to school was a little sad; it was the last time I would be making this drive as a student of my bland little high school. I decided I should've joined a team, and vowed to join one at vampire school, if they had one. I wondered for a minute what kind of sports they could possibly have at such a school and only came up with ridiculous ones.

  When my school came into sight, I felt a pang in my chest for what I was about to do. I was really nervous too about my stupid speech.

  I parked in the lot and found the principal. He told me to sit tight and we would practice my speech shortly, so I did, on the stage where a post-it had been placed with my name on it. Wow, this is really unorganized.

  I watched the principal running about like a chicken with his head cut off and I had to fight the urge to cluck at him.

  By the time he had finished whatever he was doing, or fixing, it was about thirty minutes until everyone else was about to arrive.

  “Emma. I am sorry to leave you waiting here. I don't think we have time for you to do your actual speech, but let me explain to you how things will happen. You will stand up here with the senior class president, myself, and an office aid. We will walk up to this platform in order to where we will be seated. The order is the aid, then me, then you, then the class president. The graduating students will file in, all will remain standing until I say, 'Please be seated,' and then I will launch into the welcoming speech. After that speech, you will give your speech. The class president will say something and then we will begin handing out diplomas. At the end, we will all stand once more and then everyone throws their caps into the air … and that's it.” He sped through his description and then he rushed off to take care of some other problem.

  I hopped off the platform and went to stand in the line I was supposed to be in. The class president came and stood near me. He looked a little green.

  “What's wrong?” I asked in fear of him hurling everywhere.

  “Oh. Nuffin. I'm just really nervous,” he said. His brown eyes were hugely dilated with nerves, and his shaggy brown hair was sticking to the nape
of his neck.

  “Hey, it will be fine. I have to give the valedictorian speech.” I smiled with sympathy.

  He simply smiled back and then went back to being silent and green.

  How you holding up, mia bella? Dom's voice was music to my ears.

  I'm bored and annoyed because I so shouldn't have gotten up at four this morning, I grumbled at him.

  Why not? He yawned.

  They didn't go over anything really until about twenty minutes ago. Then it was like in fast forward … anyways. Gah. I felt jipped.

  You can sleep after. So logical.

  By then I won't be tired. Aren't we having dinner? All of us, as a big family, or something to celebrate this event? I wasn't sure since I hadn't heard anything yet.

  No one is sure yet. Both sets of parents are trying to cancel their evening plans. If they do, then we're going to New York for dinner. If they don't, we're eating with your grandparents. He shrugged.

  The way the parents could easily dismiss the event angered me to no end. But I had little time to be upset because the guests were showing up, and the lines were being formed.

  In a few minutes everyone was moving. I watched as everything slowed down and the moment of truth got closer. Our group of four people walked up onto the stage and stood there. I watched all the people I've known since I was a little girl, file into the awaiting rows of seats.

  Kelly looked like she was going to cry, I knew everything was changing for her- her entire life was going to be something different. I saw Dominic saunter in and I knew that he had changed my life more than anyone could have. He looked satisfied to be there, but not stressed out. I saw all of Kelly's clique sit together, and they all had hope in their eyes for their break. I smiled at the ever growing group of students and guests.

  “Please be seated,” our overly stressed principal said. He waited for everyone to be sitting down and then he began his speech about how wonderful the class was, and how he was sure we'd all go and do great things and contribute to this world. It was really long winded and I could see the audience had the same thought because the bodies began to slump in their chairs- I started to see yawns circulating. It made me want to giggle, I didn't though.

  He finished on a note about dreams and the audience woke up to give him a round of applause. “Next, please welcome our valedictorian, Emma Hutchinson.” There was a swell of applause from both the students and guests.

  I stood up and walked to the podium. I felt my nerves coming and pushed them back- my voice would not shake while I gave this speech.

  “Welcome ladies and gentlemen to our graduation. It has been a year of great accomplishments. We have grown from the children that our parents raised, into the young adults that are about to leave this fine establishment and take on the world. Our long awaited future is calling to us. Our futures seem a little brighter, and definitely scarier. The unknown for us now, is if we will make it. I believe that we will. I've grown up with every one of these students, and I have seen all the awkward phases, and interesting choices, we have all made throughout the years. Now we are going to put our current knowledge to the test and go out there into the real world. We are all going places in our lives, whether it is to college, or modeling, or work, we are going on to the next step on this road. Our futures are bright with the hopes of our dreams and nothing is impossible for us. I believe that we will follow these dreams and turn them into reality, but this is the starting point for that. I realize that where I stand right now, someone else stood not that long ago, and they went off and began on the road to their dreams, and there was someone before them also. It is a long line of people that we follow out of these high school grounds into the waiting world. We welcome the future with open arms and open minds. I would also like to issue a challenge to the classes that will come after us; reach for the stars, if you fail, you'll land on the moon. Never give up on your dreams, even if they seem impossible. Once again, welcome to our graduation.”

  It was short and sweet and was greeted with tons of applause. I bowed slightly and sat back down.

  The class president was still a green hue and now had a sweat sheen across his forehead. He walked shakily up to the microphone, then began his speech about what a great year the senior class had had and all the wonderful things he knew we'd all be doing after graduation.

  His voice shook through the entire thing and I began to wonder how he had been elected president- to be quite honest, I didn't even know we had one.

  At the end of the speech he thanked both my family and Dominic's for their generous contributions and then he sat down as quickly as possible.

  “You did fine,” I beamed at him.

  “Thank you,” he said and then went back to calming down.

  Next our names were called and we shook hands with our principal and the cheery office aid handed us our diplomas. It took about fifteen minutes for the entire process to happen. I thought it would have taken longer, or felt more important … or something.

  Our principal welcomed us as a graduated class and we threw our caps in the air. Somehow it didn't have the same umph I thought it should have. Once again I felt cheated.

  I wandered off the stage and found Dom. He found our families sitting together. After a little debating it was said that, unfortunately, the parents both had to leave right away for business arrangements. I could've spit. It was okay though because I would get to spend the evening with my grandpa- someone that I didn't get to see as often as I used to, and I missed him.

  Our parents disappeared shortly after we arrived home. Once again, Dom and I both were annoyed at this factor. Grandma had to go into the city because of an emergency with a human friend, so Grandpa ate with us.

  It was silent for a while and I was afraid that maybe I had offended him by not having as much time for him, like I used to.

  “Don't even think it, my dear,” his warm and wise voice said to me.

  “But I know I've not been there a lot.” I looked down at my plate.

  “Yes, but you've had things to plan and you are coming to know yourself again. It is understandable.” His smile crinkled around his eyes.

  “What will you do when I move to Italy?” I was afraid to leave him all alone with just my parents and my grandmother, without my sanity to calm it all down.

  “I was thinking that your grandma and I would travel over there for a bit and make sure that you've gotten settled.” He looked away.

  “That would be awesome! Then Dom can have some time to do professor stuff without worrying about me.” I beamed at the most important men in my life, well minus one that wouldn't be mentioned.

  “Do not worry about me, Em. I will always make time for you and work. But I am very glad that they decided to join you. My family will, of course, be much obliged if you stay with us for as long, or as short a time, as you like.” Dom was being very polite.

  “Actually … we'll be temporarily renting a villa close to the school. That way if you two ever have a late evening on shore, you don't have to find a neighbor to ferry you over to your house.” Grandpa's eyes were lit with excitement.

  “You are so brilliant, Grandpa!” I ran swiftly over to his side of the table and kissed him on the cheek. “I'm so glad you're going to be there. I'd miss you too much.” I clung to his neck.

  “Ah, no need for this. We'll be there a few days after you.” He smiled again.

  “Yeah! Isn't that great Dom?” I squealed at him.

  “Yes, it's wonderful, Emma. I am so glad that you won't have to worry about being away from your family too much.” He smiled at me.

  “So, on to another subject,” I giggled. “Chris told me that Kelly's first location shoot will be in Italy! She, of course, will have other stuff before that, but it's her first one out of the country! She'll be able to visit about middle semester I think.” I giggled with delight.

  “Oh, Emma dear, that is wonderful.” Grandpa was pleased.

  “Then we can show her around and maybe sh
e'll fall in love with a nice Italian.” Dom winked at me.

  I laughed.

  The evening turned into a rather wonderful affair. I was really happy because the future was looking brighter and I would have my awesome Grandpa with me in Italy. I couldn't think of anything better.

  And so I went to bed dreaming about the school term to come, the new setting for both Dom and I, and the adventures I might have with my grandpa.

  The next day was filled with packing. I wanted to pack my entire room up and ship it to Italy, but it was illogical since I already had some of the stuff there.

  I stuffed all my clothes and shoes into one huge box. In the next box went all of my books and movies- even though I was sure Dominic had every movie I had, plus about a million more.

  I packed two other boxes- the first contained all of my memory stuff and the second held all of my stuff that made me feel better and comfortable. I felt a little silly packing my childhood stuffed bear, but he couldn't be left behind and he was the only thing that could always make me feel better.