I'm New to This

I felt a hand shake my shoulder roughly, waking me from my pleasant dreams. I rolled over and grumbled sleepily.

“No, io non voglio alzarmi.”

“I don't care that you don't want to get up Valik, we have to leave soon.”

I sighed when I realized who was trying to get me up. Blaithe. My foster brother. I had been adopted into his family seven years ago after my parents died. We had grown to become best friends, but sometimes, I still wanted to hurt him. And for him trying to get me to speak that ridiculous language he called English.

“No, Blaithe. Not getting up.” I repeated in English. Or rather...as best as I could. My English was still very patchy, despite having lived in America three weeks now.

We moved here because Blaithe's parents missed their home. And me, being under their care, had to come along. We were set to start school in a few days, after the weekend, but i don't think my English will have improved any by then.

“Val...” Blaithe whined. “Please? I want to go check out the mall, it's the weekend.”

I grumbled and rolled over to face him. His brown hair fell messily into his green eyes and he had a small pout on his lips. By any means, Blaithe was good looking, if we weren't related I would date him. Well, we aren't biologically brothers, but still, it just wouldn't be right.

I had told him as much when he came out to me last year by trying to kiss me. I gently rejected him then but, being Italian, I do still kiss him sometimes, in an affectionate sort of way. It's just the way I am. A lot of others in my school back home were like that too. I think it has something to do with Italy being a very romantic place, everyone is just naturally more touchy feely there.

“Ho pensato che si è andato già?” I asked him, then realized I still spoke Italian. I tried again. “I thought you had...um... già... già...” I frowned, I couldn't remember the English word.

“Already?” Blaithe filled in.

“Sì. That one. Thanks.” I mumbled as I got out of bed.

“I wanted to,” he walked over to my desk and sat down in the chair, waiting for me to get ready. “But...I was waiting on you.”

“Oh. All right. I have to get dressed.” I walked over to my closet and started pulling out what I was going to where. Light grey skinnies and a black v-neck t-shirt is what I had settled on.

“You still aren't saying that right Valik. It's alright not...all right. There's no pause.” Blaithe corrected. He spoke perfect English and Italian, and although being born American, he spent his later years in Italy which meant he picked up the accent. Mine was much thicker though, having been born there.

My complexion also gave away my nationality. I had lightly tanned skin, free of imperfections, as well as raven black hair that was too long and fell into my eyes. My eyes are the colour of the Mediterranean, clear, crisp blue-ish green. I don't think I've seen anyone else with eyes like mine.

“Whatever.” I grumbled as I got dressed.

Blaithe laughed. “You figured that one out quick.”

“Yes, it is very...suiting? Is that right?” I looked to Blaithe for confirmation.

He nodded.

An hour later we found ourselves at the local mall. It wasn't huge or anything, but it wasn't tiny. Just the right size to be able to spend an afternoon looking through the shops without getting bored. We wandered around until we found a shop worth going in.

Blaithe headed over to where the shirts were and started browsing. I found interest in the belts, however. I had been meaning to get a new one, but didn't have the time before moving.

As I was looking, I felt someone tap me on the shoulder. I squeaked a bit in surprise and turned around. I came face to face with the most beautiful boy I had ever laid eyes on. His black hair was messy, but perfect, and his eyes were a brilliant green, by far brighter than Blaithe's.

“Oh, sorry. I thought you were someone else.” he said, a look of surprise covering his soft features.

“It is ok.” I had wanted to say more. But I couldn't think of anything I could say without slipping into Italian.

“Oh, wow! You're accent is amazing.” he smiled.

I blushed. “Thank you.”

He leaned against the wall next to the rack I had been browsing through. “So did you just move here? I don't think I've ever seen you around.”

“Sì...um...yes.” Curses. I can't even say yes without saying it in Italian.

“Wow, how long have you been here?” he asked.

“Tre weeks.” I mentally slapped myself. “Three, I meant.”

He giggled. “It's cute when you do that.”

“Do what?”

“Slip into Italian.”

I tried not to blush, but it was difficult. Luckily Blaithe showed up and rescued me before I made a fool of myself.

“Hey Val, watcha doin?” he asked, stopping next to me.

“Questo ragazzo è venuto da me pensando che fossi qualcun altro, ma non è stato e ora stiamo parlando. Potete aiutarmi con questo? Tu sai che io non parlo bene l'inglese. Per favore?” I said quickly. I didn't want to chance that this guy new Italian.

“Valik, davvero? Non è possibile farlo da soli? Bene, ma chi può dire io non rovinare le traduzioni?” he grinned. He wouldn't make me look like an idiot on purpose. Would he?

“Non lo faresti.” I glared at him, if I was going to have to be stuck in this country, I should at least be able to meet a guy I liked.

“You never know.” he winked.

Our banter was interrupted by the guy I was talking to. He seemed a little out of place with me and Blaithe speaking Italian.

“Um...should I go? You two seem to be arguing...I think.” good, he doesn't know Italian.

“No, no it's fine. Valik was just pointing out something to me.” Blaithe clarified, waving his hand dismissively.

The guy looked to me, “Your name is Valik?”

I nodded. “Yes. And you?”

He smiled lightly. “I'm Lexis. I know it's a bit of a girls name, but I like it.”

“As do I.” I smiled. He had such a pretty voice too. Very soft and delicate, similar to that of his features.

Although the moment was ruined by Blaithe, again. He can't seem to get that I didn't need his help with English at that particular moment.

“Well I'm Blaithe. Nice to meet you.” he held out his hand to Lexis.

They shook hands, but otherwise Lexis didn't seem too fond of Blaithe. Not that I blame him. I live with him and even I'm not too fond of him sometimes. But I still loved him like family.

“So, Valik...I was just going to get lunch with some of my friends. Did you and Blaithe want to join?”

I may not speak English very well, but I understood it fine. Some words were still hard though, and I was dreading having to take English when I enrolled in school. They were to have me placed in a special class just because English isn't my first language. That, and they probably wouldn't let me take the Italian class they offered. But I suppose that it's fair.

I nodded and smiled. “That would be nice.”