Spring was moving quickly in Brindleton Bay, as the temperatures were beginning to climb higher and higher. Summer, and Summer Semester, was on their way. Venezia had been diligently checking her mailbox since sending in her application for Britechester. But as hours turned into days, and days turned into a week, Venezia feared that maybe she hadn't been accepted into Britechester afterall.
"I don't know Grant." Venezia said quietly one night, she was sitting on her bed talking to Grant on the phone. The two had been becoming closer friends, the very same with Venezia and Julia.
"What don't you know Veni?" Grant asked.
"I don't know that I get in to Britechester." Venezia replied, her broken English really stood out when she was worked up. "It's been long time since sending in."
"Veni, it's only been a couple weeks hon. Don't stress yourself out, I'm positive they will accept you." Grant reassured his friend through the phone. Venezia wasn't buying it. How long did it really take for letters to come in the mail?
"And anyways, there are thousands of applications they have to go through Veni. They won't just not respond to you." Grant stated. Venezia could see the grin forming on his face through the phone, she wanted to smack it off of him at that moment.
"You're supposed to say, that it comes today." Venezia sighed deeply. She exhaled slowly, trying to calm her frayed nerves. These past few weeks of waiting had been an extremely stressful time for Venezia. Julia and Grant were doing everything they could to keep her from going crazy.
"It comes today." Grant declared, chuckling. Even Venezia cracked a smile, and giggled at how serious he had tried to sound. She couldn't stay angry, when Grant was so adorably funny.
"Haha, made you laugh Veni." Grant said quietly.
"Only because you are jokester." Venezia noted.
"Who taught you the word jokester?" Grant asked. Venezia could feel Grant staring at her through the phone, it was like he was in the room with her.
"Julia taught me it." Venezia admitted. "Julia say, that word have your picture next to it in il dizionario." Venezia chortled. "I look, but did not find."
"Oh Veni, sweet, innocent Veni." Grant chuckled again. "That was a bad joke on Julia's part. You won't actually find my picture in the dictionary." Grant explained. "Unless.... have you checked next to the word cool, or awesome?" Grant laughed.
Grant and Venezia had talked on the phone for a few hours before Grant finally let her go. He had go to run some errands with a friend. He asked if Venezia wanted to hang out later. He quickly mentioned of there being someone he wanted Venezia to meet. Of course she had accepted his invitation. Grant even said Julia could come hang out too if she wanted.
What was going on between Julia and Grant, that made their friendship so strange? It puzzled Venezia. If it was Julia making jokes about Grant, it was Grant making jokes about Julia. Did they crush on each other?
Still, stress about Britechester aside, Venezia was excited to spend time with Julia and Grant. This time they would be located at Grant's house. Venezia had never been over there, and was trying to picture what it looked like.
Julia picked Venezia up from her home, early that afternoon. When they got the okay from Grant, they made their way over to his home. Grant also lived in Brindleton Bay, so he wasn't but a five minute drive. The car stopped, and they had arrived at Grant's home.
The girls quickly got out the car, and quickly stopped at the site they saw.
"He has a boyfriend....?" Julia whispered, and Venezia quickly turned to look at Julia. Julia was grinning. Venezia could see the sparkles from her tears where the sun was hitting them.
Grant has boyfriend? He never told me.
It was true, Grant had a significant other, who was the same gender as him. Though Venezia was shocked by the news, she was nothing but happy for her friend. He seemed so happy with his lover.
"Veni! Julia!" Grant called, waving. "There's somebody I want you to meet." Grant's boyfriend instantly turned around to see who Grant was talking to. When he saw Venezia and Julia, a big smile was plastered on his face.
"It is so GOOD to finally meet you two!" He said, his cheeks turning a rosy pink. "I'm Brent. Grant has told me SO much about both you!"
Venezia smiled at Brent. Grant had such a sweet boyfriend, Venezia was extremely happy for her friend. All this time she thought Grant had a crush on her, he was just being an extremely amazing friend to her.
"Mi chiamo, Venezia." Venezia stuck her hand out to Brent, and shook his firmly. "I'm sorry, my English is not good."
"This is a judgement free zone, Veni." Grant calmly explained to his friend. "This is a safe zone. You will always be safe, with open arms here."
"Grant you sly dog! I'm so happy for you." Julia hugged them both, and then pulled Venezia in to join the group. The group of friends stood on the front porch hugging, and laughing, and sniffling with tears of happiness for the loving couple. They deserved all of the happiness in the world.
"Babe, let's get in the hot tub yeah?" Brent looked at Grant, and Grant looked at Julia and Venezia, waiting for their approval.
"Veni?" Julia asked. Venezia nodded in agreement, and they made their way to the backyard, where a beautiful hot tub, sat untouched. Brent quickly turned the hot tub on to start heating it up.
"Have to let it heat for a minute, we don't use it much." Brent chuckled at Venezia.
"So, you really are from Italy!?" Brent asked excitedly. "I've been to Italy ONCE, and it was so BEAUTIFUL there. Why ever would you come to America?" Brent laughed, and Grant shot Venezia an apologetic glance. Venezia was not offended at all.
"Sì. I am from Val Bregaglia, in the region of Lombard. Up by Alps." Venezia explained her history once more. And though it should've been easier to tell, after being here for so long, the truth was it was always hard to talk about home.
"Brent..." Grant said quietly.. "Easy on the interrogation hon"
"Worries no, Grant." Venezia said, assuring her friend that the questions didn't bother her. Brent was someone important to Grant, which means he was going to become important to Venezia. Grant and Julia had already became two important people to her.
"You see, my mom moved here because dad died in the war." Venezia explained to Brent, he stared at her with wide eyes. "Mom have nothing, except me and some clothes. Mom was young. About my age. She work and work to build us nice home. Sickness took my mom, so young." Venezia looked down at the water in the hot tub. Focusing on the bubbles that were forming in the center, was all she could do to keep from bursting into tears.
"I'm-- I'm so sorry Venezia." Brent consoled her.
"Thank you." Venezia smiled at Brent.
"People please!" Julia chimed in. "Positivity! Have we forgot that we are here celebrating?!" Grant pushed a wave of hot tub water at Julia, soaking her face, and her hair was damp.
"Shut up Julia. Celebrating what?" Grant laughed.
"That you have a boyfriend! I wasn't aware you were able to attract such fine men Grant. LUCY you got some 'splainin to do!" Julia did her best Ricky Ricardo impression. Everyone cracked up at Julia's failed attempt. Even Venezia knew who Lucy and Ricky Ricardo were.
"Jealous that I found a boyfriend before you did?" Grant winked at Julia, and laughed. Venezia giggled at Grant's clap back. These two were constantly throwing insults at each other, yet neither one of them ever got offended. It was almost as if the two had an understanding of each other.
"Just you wait, when Veni and I are rooming together in college, we're going to have ALL of the boys, and the professors!"
"You know what I think?" Brent asked the group. "I think we should grill and have a picnic!"
The group excitedly agreed to have a picnic in the backyard. Brent, hopping out of the hot tub, carefully made his way over to grab a towel to dry off.
"Wait, Brent." Venezia called to Brent. He turned around to look at Venezia.
"Yes, Veni?"Brent asked.
"Would you mind if I grill?" Venezia asked, smiling. If there was one thing Venezia knew how to do best, cooking was it.
"As long as you DON'T mind, Grant and I would be so very delighted to try your cooking." Brent smiled back at her, so sweetly.
"It is no trouble." Venezia's grin grew bigger. "Follow me to the kitchen, I'll help you decide on the meal." The two quickly dried off, and made their way inside to decide what to throw on the grill.
*******
"Okay. Little marinade." Venezia said herself as she gently marinated the chicken cutlets on the grill. A family recipe that stuck around for YEARS prior to Venezia and her mom. She would never tell another soul what was inside of this marinade. The cutlets sizzled on the grill, as Venezia seasoned, and flipped them. A delectable aroma, wavered around the backyard. It was sweet, and savory, and Venezia could feel her mouth watering. Her stomach rumbled, she couldn't wait for everyone to try her meal.
"Uno, due, e tre!" Venezia counted as she flipped the cutlets a few more times. They would soon be ready for everyone to eat. Her friends all watching her throw together the meal from the hot tub.
"Smells delicious Veni!" Brent called out.
"Agreed!" Julia and Grant said at the same time. "Jinx!" They called again. "Jinx again!"
"Enough!" Julia could barely keep her composure, she was laughing so hard.
"Okay, it's ready!" Venezia called to her friends. Brent, Julia, and Grant all jumped out of the hot tub, and raced over to the picnic table. Venezia had sat the plate of grilled chicken onto the table. Grant hurried indoors to grab plates and silverware for everyone to use.
Venezia waited for everyone to grab their food, before grabbing hers. That was the typical Italian way, and she thought of how her mom used to do the same. Once everyone had their helping, she grabbed her food. Grant took his first bite, and Venezia watched.
"Oh my goodness Venezia!" Grant said in between bites. "This is absolutely amazing. You've out done any Italian restaurant here, by a landslide." Venezia giggled. She loved when she made food for new people. It was always pleasing to hear the compliments to the chef.
"Any plans for the rest of your day? Veni? Julia?" Grant asked the girls. Julia shook her head no.
"I have some laundry, and gardening work to do." Venezia replied. That was true, but her main concern was going home to once again check the mail for her letter from Britechester.
"Oh, sounds like you have a busy rest of the evening then." Grant chuckled, and looked at Brent. He blew Grant a kiss from across the table.
The group finished their meal silently, with small chatter here and there. Venezia and Julia helped Grant and Brent clear the picnic table, and bring the dishes inside.
"Would you like help with dishes?" Venezia asked Grant, who was rinsing plates off, and sticking them in the dish washer.
"That's okay Veni, you've been so kind to us today. YOU were supposed to be the guest!" Grant leaned his head on her shoulder, and smiled.
"You treat me kind every day and more Grant. And Julia too, and now Brent." Venezia patted her friend's head, and he went back to loading the dishwasher. Julia had come out of the bathroom, changed back into her normal clothing.
"Are you two about to head out?" Brent asked, ask he walked into the kitchen. He walked over to Grant, and smacked his bottom.
"BABE!" Grant said, eyes wide in horror. His face turned bright pink. "Later..." He whispered. Brent chuckled.
"He hates when the attention is on him." Brent explained.
"Yes, I think we are going to head home. Veni has some housework to do." Julia smiled. "I'm going to help her get it done, so she isn't stuck doing it all night."
Brent and Grant lead the girls back out onto the front porch. The friends began their goodbyes. Venezia hated goodbyes, goodbye felt like forever. She was more of a 'see you later' type of girl.
But once again, the friends all pulled into a group hug. Something that would become their way of saying "I love you." Something that would become the group's coping mechanism. They pulled apart, and the girls headed back into Julia's car. Grant and Brent waved to them one last time, and Venezia watched them disappear inside of the house again. Julia drove off. Venezia kept watching Grant and Brent's home until it became smaller, and eventually out of site.
********
"VENI, LOOK!" Julia pointed at the mailbox. She quickly jumped out of the car, and ran over to the mailbox. The red flag was up, signifying that today's mail had arrived.
"MAIL!" Venezia shouted excitedly. She hurried over to Julia, who was staring at Venezia excitedly. The sunlight reflected off of her eyes, turning them into two brown pools of honey.
Venezia slowly opened the mailbox and pulled out the pile of envelopes.
"Well!?" Julia asked. Venezia slowly shuffled through each envelope one by one.
Electric bill, pass, water bill, pass. Julia screamed excitedly, causing Venezia to jump five feet in the air.
"BRITECHESTER ENVELOPE!" Julia shouted!! "OPEN IT!!!"Julia's excitement was buzzing around Venezia's brain, she couldn't focus. Slowly she opened the envelope, and pulled the letter out of it.
"Dear Venezia...." Venezia began to read the letter. She stayed silent as she read the remainder of the letter. She folded the letter and stuck it back inside the envelope. Julia could barely contain her emotions.
"Veni...?" Julia asked. Venezia looked at Julia, trying so very hard to keep a straight face, but she caved.
"I WAS ACCEPTED TO BRITECHESTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Venezia shouted at the top of her lungs. Julia and Venezia instantly grabbed each other for a hug, and bounced around. Both girls, laughing and crying at the same time. This was an important moment for Venezia.
"Come here Veni! Let's take a pic!" Julia pulled Venezia near here, and quickly snapped the picture.
"Veni, the look on your face is priceless!" Julia laughed. "Congratulations beautiful girl, you GOT IN TO BRITECHESTER!! WE'RE GOING TO BE ROOMMATES!"
Venezia thought back to the day, when Julia first pulled her into a hug, how awkward she felt. Today, Venezia pulled Julia into a hug. The girls hugged tightly, and Venezia let the tears of happiness fall.
"Mom, I hope you're proud of me." Venezia said.
"She is so proud of you, Veni. Grant and Brent will be too." Julia said.
"Sono orgogliosa." Venezia felt her mother's voice hit her ear. She felt a pang of sadness.
"What do we do now Julia?" Venezia asked.
"We celebrate! Let's go make some drinks!" Julia pulled Venezia inside her house, and quickly shut the door behind them. Venezia Bertucci would soon be starting her very first semester at Britchester, majoring in Language and Literature.
This, was how Venezia's family legacy would begin.
to be continued......
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