Nicole's POV:

it was the day of the ball, i dreaded this a lot actually. i hated everything about it. why do i have to dress up in a ball gown and look at people i don't even know.

it was 10am when i got up. i walked to the bathroom and brushed my teeth, i walked downstairs to see enzo, alessandro and gia all in the kitchen.

"well good morning nik" enzo said sarcastically hitting alessandro. i just glared at enzo while moving my hair behind my shoulders. alessandro just stared at me, does this man have a staring problem? he might want to get that checked out.

i wasn't a morning person. at all, i'd rather stay up all night than wake up.

"good morning nicole, can i get you anything?" gia said with a warm smile.

"good morning, a cup of coffee with be fine. thank you" i said resting my hands on my cheeks. after a few minutes gia brought the coffee to me setting it down in front of me. i thanked her and took a sip of it.

i noticed gia staring at me tattoos. i looked at her and raised an eyebrow. she saw me looking at her.

"sorry i was looking at your tattoo on your arm trying to figure out what it meant" she said looking at it still

"oh it's in french. it says "Je t'aime". it means i love you, i got it in my grandmothers hand writing and her initials beside it after she passed" i said before taking another sip of my coffee.

"i'm sorry for your loss, it's beautiful" she said looking back at me.

"thank you" i said nodding my head

"awee that's sweet" enzo said while hitting my arm playfully and dramatically rolling his eyes. i just looked at him with a straight face.

"my grandmother was my favorite person. don't joke about it" i said bluntly. i mean she really was my favorite person, i loved her more than anything. i would never trade her for anyone else.

"oh....i-i'm sorry nicole" he said looking down at his food. i nodded my head and got out of the chair to put my cup in the sink.

alessandro just sat there not saying anything just eating his food. quiet the whole time. weird

enzo and gia left the kitchen leaving only alessandro and i in the kitchen. i went to walk out of the kitchen until alessandro pulled me by my wrist. bringing his face close to mine.

"i'm sorry about your loss angel" he said placing his fingers under my chin so i'd look up at him.

"thank you, but things happen for a reason" i said looking into his eyes, we stood there in silence for a few seconds until he spoke. i wish he would stop talking just so i could look into his eyes.

"the ball starts at 8pm be ready by 7, i'll have my mother bring your dress to you room by then" he said still looking into my eyes.

i nodded my head and he gripped my wrist harder but not causing any arm.

"words angel" he said in a low tone. he took me off guard when he said it, i just looked at him for a few more seconds.

"okay alessandro" i said bringing my lips closer to his barley touching them. he let go of my wrists and i walked away smirking. i walked into the living room seeing enzo and gia talking.

i sat down in the chair next to gia we talked about enzo and alessandro when they were younger, gia showed me pictures i looked up and saw enzo sitting in the chair next to enzo. i looked at enzo whos face was red from embarrassment.

"awee is someone embarrassed?" i asked him in a babyish voice poking out my bottom lip. i laughed at him and enzo just stared at me. i shook my head putting my attention back to gia. she closed the book and leaned back on the sofa

"so how did you meet alessandro?" she asked me like we were couple. i looked at alessandro who was looking back at me

"well i fist saw him at a tattoo shop that johnny owns. who works for him" i said and her eyes shot open.

i just looked at her with a confused look on my face. and then i realized.

"open your mouth nicole" she said smirking

she saw my tongue piercing. oh well. i forgot i even had it. i opened my mouth and stuck my tongue out. her mouth dropped open.

"did that hurt" she asked me shocked

"no not really, the healing process is what hurts the most" i said closing my mouth

"wait so how many tattoos and piercings do you have?" she asked me

"i have 14 piercings and 36 tattoos. some of them you've already seen" i said informing her

she gave me a confused look. almost like i was lying about something. it took me a second to realize what she was talking about. she could see the other 12 but not the other two.

"so then where are the other two?" she asked me with her brows scrunched together. i didn't get to answer because there was a knock at the door. gia walked away to go answer it

i ran my fingers through my hair letting out a deep sigh, putting my head back and placing my hand on my stomach.

"nice one nicole" enzo said laughing at me

"shut up" i said laughing at him throwing a pillow at him. i looked over at alessandro who was kept staring at me. i stared back at him until gia walked back into the living room. a small older women walked in the room with her, she was beautiful just like gia.

alessandro took his eyes off of me seeing her. the older woman walked up to him.

"sandro !! you look great darling, how is everything?" she asked him giving him a hug and smiling. enzo soon stood up doing the same, giving her a soft hug.

"everything is good, why are you here nonna? you're supposed to be in New York at the restaurant" he said hugging her back kissing her cheek.

"yes yes i know i know, i got your cousin nancy to cover it for me" she said in her heavy Italian accent.

she noticed me sitting in the chair silently not wanting to interrupt their conversation. her mouth fell open.

"oh my goodness. and who is this beautiful woman we have here" she said waving me to come up to her. i looked at alessandro who motioned his hand to his grandmother for me to stand up.

i stood up and she took my hand twirling me around i didn't know what to do so i looked at her with a confused look on my face.

"now what's your name" she asked me cupping her hands together sitting down on the sofa beside gia.

"nicole" i said sitting down in the chair i was sitting in earlier.

"that's a pretty name, and what is a beautiful girl like you doing with my sandro?" she said smiling

"oh no we aren't together" i said playing with my fingers. i was nervous, i didn't know what to. and i was getting so much validation that it was making me more nervous

"you will be one day. i can see it" she said pointing her one of her fingers at me and the other at alessandro making them meet in the middle.

"nonna stop it" alessandro said looking at her.

"i'm sorry sandro but if you don't get her while you can. she's going to be gone" she said looking back at him.

alessandro rolled his eyes and looked at his watch checking the time. i looked at the clock hanging on the wall seeing that it was 4pm. how ? time really does fly.