Love's Requiem

I went up to the room draping the jersey over the chair by the window, I still didn’t feel tired, and so I went out on the balcony taking a seat against the house watching the snowfall. I ended up sitting out there for a good two hours until I finally felt tired, so I retreated back in to bed. Of course when I woke up to the sounds of my aunts, mother and grandma downstairs I realized I had only gotten maybe three hours of sleep.

“Let the circus begin.” I sighed getting out of bed and heading downstairs letting Alex get more sleep.

“Isabella, Isabella go with Tetka Marina to get the fish from the market!” My mom shouted to me as I came down the stairs.

I grumbled and turned right back around to throw on a hoodie and jeans. I walked to the market with my aunt to buy a few pounds of dried cod for dinner that night. The smell alone was making my stomach turn as we headed back to my grandma's house.

"Isabella stop complaining so much!" My aunt barked at me while I whined.

"It smells like a strip club at last call!" I continued.

"And how would you know what that smells like?" She asked looking back at me.

"I had to pay for community college some how." I smirked.

"What are we going to do with you?" She mumbled shaking her head.

Once back at my grandma's I was given the greatest job ever, helping my grandma boil and prepare the fish as well as peel potatoes. The only upside, Denis had come over to help while I was out with my aunt.

"Come on you know you missed this." Denis laughed while we were peeling potatoes.

"Oh of course I love not being able to eat all day and smelling fish, its the greatest thing
ever." I said rolling my eyes, as Alex came downstairs finally awake.

"It smells like a strip club at last call." Alex mumbled running his hand through his hair.

"I said the same thing!" I Giggled.

"Hello Alex," Denis smiled as he put another finished potato in the pot we had on the floor between us.

"Hey," Alex smiled as my Grandma mumbled something about the fish.

"How are you liking Croatia now?"

"I kind of don't want to leave." Alex laughed.

"Hungry?" I asked noticing him looking around for food.

"Yeah." He nodded taking a seat.

"I'll make you something." I told him getting up, and pulling out two eggs and some blood
sausage from the fridge.

I groaned as I smelt the sausage cooking in the frying pan, so did my stomach.

"Are you okay?" Alex asked as I put the plate of food in front of him.

"We have to fast until after mass tonight." Denis explained, as my dad came in the kitchen.

"Sretan Božić ujko Andrej." Denis smiled.

"Sretan Božić," My dad smiled, as he looked at Alex. "I see you've been reunited with the bakalar, Isabella." He laughed while I made a face.

"Sadly," I mumbled, making him smile.

"When she was a little girl she tried hiding it in her shoes." He explained, heading for the fridge.

"It would have worked too if my cat wouldn't have went after my feet." I mumbled making Denis and Alex laugh.

"His family doesn't fast?" My dad asked in Croatian once he noticed Alex eating.

"No, they're very americanized kind of how I wish we were." I joked.

"Alex, where did you say your father was from again?" He asked Alex, as he got Denis and I something to drink.

"He's from here." Alex said after he finished chewing.

"Meaning Zagreb?"

"Yeah, he grew up here but then moved to America when he was still young."

"So your father's parents are Croatian?"

"Uh well," He paused to think.

"Yes dad, they're full blown hrvartski." I explained, as he nodded.

"I see," He nodded and headed in to the living room where Niko was watching TV.

"That was close." Alex mumbled.

"Yes, Mister Gaskarth it was." Denis smiled, "Nice band myspace." He added.

"Shh" I hushed him, "Name your terms."

"Free CD."

"Done." Alex and I said as Alex got up and headed in to the living room.

"It's amazing how you actually have this still going after almost two years."

"I know, I'm screwed though if Monica finds out." I told him as we went back to what we were doing.

The rest of the afternoon and evening Denis and I helped set everything up for later th at night when the family would come over, as well as I helped my Grandma, aunts, and mom cook.

"So why aren't you in there with the rest of the animals?" I asked Denis while I was tying a red, blue, and white ribbon over the wheat, as I motioned to the living room where Alex, my dad and Niko were playing each other in Chess.

"I'd much rather spend as much time with the only female cousin of mine that I like and get along with." He laughed.

"Aw thanks." I smiled as I glanced down at my watch.

"I'd get up stairs and start getting ready, so you can still squeeze in a nap." He suggested after we put out the candles, Christmas braid, and bread.

"Good idea." I nodded as I headed upstairs to shower and get dressed.

After I showered I changed in to a black long sleeve dress, purple tights, as well as a pair of black boots. I pushed my hair back with a purple headband, and changed my necklace.
When I came downstairs, my dad and Alex were playing chess. I took a seat next to my dad and moved Alex's rook.

"Check." I said simply.

"No helping Isabella!" My dad groaned as he moved his king.

"But that's no fun." I said slumping back in to the couch.

"It's very fun try it." He told me as Alex beat him.

"Move over pops and watch the pro." I said replacing the pieces.

Three minutes in to the game I already had Alex in check.

"What the- how did you do that?" Alex exclaimed confused.

"Many years of practice." I told him letting out a yawn. "It's 9, I'm going to take a nap." I told him as I rested my head on the arm of the couch, closing my eyes.