1 The Test Part 1

Hey, what's the problemo?" Ash asked. He glanced at Alessia with a curious glint in his intense, galaxy purple eyes.

"Yeah, I am caught in an emergency situation!" Alessia replied, as she plopped down on her couch in the living room. She felt nervous and desperate feelings stirred in her stomach.

" What is it?" Ash questioned, as he sat down on a cushion opposite of her.

"So you know that I have always wanted to achieve the title of Mafia Princess. . ."

"Go on, "Ash said. " The tournament to decide who wins the throne is tomorrow, and I desperately need help!" Alessia exclaimed.

"Take a deep breath, and tell me everything. I will help you sort it all out. After all, I am your boyfriend," Ash said calmly.

"OK, here it goes . . . ." Alessia mumbled.

"So, once upon a time, there was a little girl named Alessia. She grew up in a privileged mafia family, yet she wasn't a privileged child. She had to work hard, day by day, bit by bit, book by book, to accumulate all the knowledge she needed in her head. She learned how to hold a gun at 4, mastered hand-to-hand combat when she was 7, and finished mastering all the weapons when she was 11. As if that wasn't enough, she graduated from Yale University with a master's in political science when she was 12. Yet, it still wasn't enough. It still wasn't enough for her to be crowned the mafia princess, even though her wealthy dad was the boss. No matter what she did, she could not beat her perfect cousin, Jackson. He was smart, cunning, good-looking, and accomplished all that Alessia accomplished at the same age, same time. Despite their similarities, their differences were like the yin and yang. Jackson was the yang, with icy gray eyes and straight pale blond hair, while Lessie was the yin, with smooth silky black curls and dark purple eyes. Jackson was the mature one, who charmed all the girls, while Lessie, was carefree and skateboarded with the boys. In duels, Jackson and Lessie would always tie. No matter what, she couldn't beat him. No matter what, he couldn't beat her.

The End," Alessia half-heartedly said as a look of boredom crossed her face. The room was filled with an awkward silence.

After some time, Ash suddenly laughed. "That's just silly," he said.

"What's so funny?" Alessia snapped. She felt annoyed that her boyfriend would just laugh at her problems. It was just plain rude! Plus, she desperately needed help with this! She has the big, important test to determine who would get the Mafia throne tomorrow!

"Easy, Less, if you really want to be the Princess that bad, than who is your cousin Jackson to stop you, when you are obviously so determined to win! What can he do to stop you?" Ash said, with a smile on his face.

"Hmm, yeah, since Jackson isn't better than me, he can't really do much to me," Alessia pondered.

"Less, take a chill pill, you have nothing to fear, you can do this," Ash reassured her. Alessia quietly whispered, "Yeah, I guess."Ash could sense Alessia's discomfort and doubtfulness, so he walked over, and sat down next to Alessia.

He took her hand in his, and looking deeply into her eyes, he said, "You can do this Lessie, we ALL believe in you." Then he sealed it all with a kiss.

* * *

Alessia lay awake in her bed. "They all believe in me, but can I really do it?" she doubted. "No, I MUST do this, I can't keep running away. All I have to do to get the crown is win both rounds. They believe in me, so I will also believe in myself," she said aloud. Then, she put on her most confident smile and prepared herself for the biggest event in her life. 5 minutes later. . . . . " AAAAAAAHHHHHHH panic attack! I can't do it!" Alessia screamed as she rolled around in her bed, twisting her bedsheets into a cocoon around her.