I've never celebrated thanksgiving before. I grew up in the UK and we didn't celebrate it over there. I knew what it was from television and stuff but this was my first time properly celebrating it.

"Since it's your first time, why don't you start by saying what you're thankful for?" Dad suggested.

The food was served and I was stunned to see a ginormous turkey. I took a bit from everything and it was absolutely delicious. Mom was a amazing cook and did it all by herself. I didn't see any staff around the house, not even Greta. It was just our family and I preferred it like that.

"Don't say some stupid shit." Silas warned me.

I rolled my eyes at him while dad slapped him against the back of his head. Silas grunted like a toddler but I liked seeing him get scolded.

"If you don't want to, that's alright." Theo patted my back.

I sat between Victor and Theo, my favourite siblings. I felt shy to say what I've been wanting to say. Everybody was looking at me and I could feel a blush rise up my cheeks.

"Euhm..." I started.

My heart was beating so hard against my chest that I felt like it would explode. I knew what I wanted to say. I knew what I was thankful for but I was so shy.

"I'm thankful for meeting mom and dad."

There I said it. I meant hit with all my heart. It was hard keeping my gaze up. Theo laid his arm around my shoulder and kissed my cheek.

"You did well." He assured me.

I think I love him. All this time he's been so nice to me and treated me like I was family.

"Thank you, baby. That was very sweet of you." Mom spoke.

I smiled up at her. She looked so happy that it made my heart burst.

"You're next, princess." Dad urged Amelia.

We were doing this per age.

"I'm thankful that I get to spend thanksgiving with my family."

She smiled sweetly at dad and he kissed her forehead. Amelia was always tied to his hip and loves him dearly.

"I'm thankful that I got to meet Elena." Victor spoke next.

I swear that I look like a tomato now. I was about to burst.

"I'm thankful for mom's cooking skills." Nicolas was chomping down his third plate of the night.

Everybody rolled their eyes at him while mom gave him a warm smile. I noticed that she loved watching us eat her food. The pride in her eyes was very obvious.

"I'm thankful for the new motorbike dad is going to buy me." Leonardo smirked.

Dad rolled his eyes but chuckled. We moved on to Theo who gave me a warm smile.

"I'm thankful that we have Elena back in our family."

I grinned at him and he squeezed my cheek.

"Ugh." Silas winced.

"That's why Theo is my favourite and not you." I snapped at him.

He glared at me but then smirked.

"We all know that I'm your favourite."

"I didn't know dementia came that early."

The twins were amused and even dad had to bite back a smile.

"I swear if you two start again." Hector muttered.

When Silas and I start bickering, it could go in forever. We both enjoyed it too much to stop it. Only Hector could make us shut up, because the guy is terrifying.

"I'm thankful that I got another little shit to bully." Silas winked at me.

"Stop calling her that!" Mom scolded him.

He just shrugged and I rolled my eyes at him. He thinks he bullies me? I bully him! It's not the other way around.

It was Hector's turn but his phone rang so he left the table. His phone never stopped ringing so I was surprised to see that this was his first call in the evening. Dad looked annoyed but mom spoke up.

"I'm thankful that I got to cook for all my babies." She smiled.

No one protested when she called us her babies. It was also nice to see how happy she was.

"I'm thankful for my children and my wife. I love you all very much." Dad spoke.

Amelia hugged him tightly and I just felt very warm inside. I was still getting used to being a Cassano but this truly helped me accept it more. My parents were amazing and loving people.

How could I not be happy?

"I apologise for that." Hector entered the dining room again and sat down.

"Who was it?" Dad asked annoyed.

He wanted to be with his family without any interruptions. That's why he took Leonardo's phone away, since he was on it the entire time.

"Alexander Ferrari."

His annoyance immediately disappeared and he nodded. I had no idea who that man was but it made all the guys tense slightly. But I saw Amelia's eyes widen with an excited gleam.

"Alright, topolino, it's your turn."

I snickered at the nickname. Hector really wasn't a little mouse.

"I'm thankful for my siblings for allowing me to look after them."

He was the legal guardian over all the minor siblings. Since our parents lived in Italy and we live here.

"You're a good guardian to them, sweetie, I'm sure you'll make a fantastic father some day." Mom complimented him.

I couldn't help but laugh. And so did the twins. I couldn't imagine Hector ever finding a woman and then having kids. He was a workaholic and barely showed any emotions.

"Elena is teaching me how to be a father to a difficult child." Hector commented.

"I'm literally the best hypothetical child you'll ever have." I laughed.

"My children won't be failing PE." He smirked.

He just smirked. Any type of emotion coming from him still took me by surprise.

"As I've stated before, running is for losers." I shrugged simply.

That made dad laugh.

"It's alright to not be good at one thing. Hector told me that you're a very bright girl and that you have excellent grades for your other courses." Mom smiled.

Did he really say that?

"But that you also don't study." Dad added.

Of course, I shouldn't expect anything nice coming out of Hector's mouth regarding me.

"It's completely unfair! She does her homework last minute and never studies but still gets better grades than me." Amelia complained.

"It's not my fault that I have immense brain power." I shrugged.

She rolled her eyes at me. It was the truth. My brain just worked differently. I don't mean to brag but I'm good at memorising things. Once I learn something, I don't forget it. That's why school is so easy for me.

"She'll start studying." Hector assured our parents.

"I'd like to see you try, old man." I snapped at him.

When he stated something, nothing would ever change his mind. He had different tactic to get us to do shit. His first tactic was that scary glare and when that didn't work, he took away our stuff. Nicolas only just got his phone back after a month. He got punished because he stayed out until three in the morning without telling anyone.

Drunk Nicolas is fucking hilarious, though.

"Wow, you two really do look like each other!" Mom commented.

Hector and I were glaring at each other but when she made that comment I snorted in disgust.

"I'm obviously prettier." I stated.

It was the truth.

"I agree. Hector's quite ugly." Silas smirked.

"Me too!" Nicolas exclaimed holding his phone dear to his chest.

Hector just rolled his eyes while we laughed. We continued dinner and chatted happily. I wondered a long time if I could ever be part of this family.

Now I feel like I belong here.

///////////////////

"You're fucking cheating!" I yelled at Nicolas.

"Language." Hector and Silas snapped at me.

I ignored them and glared at Nicolas. We were playing monopoly and he kept cheating. It was pissing me the fuck off.

"You just put houses wherever you want behind our backs!" Amelia pouted.

He must be an idiot if he thought we wouldn't notice. He'd subtly place houses on spots that weren't even his.

"I bought those places!" He argued.

"No, you didn't!" Amelia snapped.

"You're just jealous because I'm winning!" He shrugged his shoulders.

I groaned out in frustration. He was being difficult. The twins, Victor, Amelia and I were playing monopoly while our older brothers sat on the couch drinking wine while talking. Our parents sat a bit further next to the hearth, cuddling. It was quite cute, to be honest. My mom sat in my dad's lap and he kept whispering things in her ear that made her giggle.

"Stop fucking cheating, idiot." Leonardo snapped annoyed by his twin.

"Language." Theo repeated.

That wasn't going to stop the twins from cursing each other out. It was quite amusing and I couldn't help but laugh when they jumped each other.

"Boys." Mom called out.

They huffed but stopped fighting. Victor went to sit between them, just to be sure. I was still giggling and I wiped the tears away. I love a good old fight.

Amelia's phone rang next to me and she picked it up. I glanced at it slightly and immediately stopped giggling. Why was she still talking to him? I thought that after Leonardo beat up Chase, she would stop talking to him. I didn't know what happened but I did know that Silas probably gave her the scolding of her life.

"Hey!" Amelia protested when Leonardo grabbed the phone out of her hand.

"Why the fuck are you still talking to him?!" He snarled at her.

Oh shit.

"Because I want to. I don't own you any explanation!" She snapped.

Double oh shit.

"What's wrong?" Theo asked.

"She's still talking to that asshole!" Leonardo exploded.

Amelia paled when Silas got up from the couch and stalked over. He took the phone from Leonardo and his face darkened.

"What did I tell you, Amelia?" He demanded.

Out of all people, this girl decided it was a good idea to hide behind me. Now I was also victim to Silas' terrifying glare. Damn, I piss him off but I never want to piss him off this much.

"Answer!"

She laid her arms around my waist and hid her head against my shoulder. Shit girl, what do you want me to do?

"Maybe if we all just calm down-"

"Fuck, Amelia, are you an idiot?!" He yelled at her.

Damn.

I could hear her whimpering.

"What's going on?" Dad demanded.

They came over. Mom bowed down next to us and tried to comfort Amelia but she was stuck to me. I don't even know why. She hates me!

"She keeps talking to this guy that I told her to stay away from!" Silas grumbled.

For the first time this evening, I noticed that my dad could get mad as well. He gave Amelia a stern look but she was hiding behind me.

"Let's all just calm down. You're upsetting-"

"Calm down! Mom, do you even know what that asshole wants to do with her?" Leonardo exclaimed.

"We're just chatting!" Amelia exclaimed.

She finally looked up from behind my shoulder. Mom brushed her hair out of her face.

"You won't find anything weird in those text messages." She even added.

"That's because you deleted them."

Oh, no. Hector is getting involved. Her grip on my waist tightened as she gazed at our older brother. Hector still sat on the couch with a glass of wine in his hand. He truly looked unbothered but I saw that icy look in his eyes.

"How do you know?" Her voice was shaking.

Hector held up his phone.

"I have access to all your text messages."

I slapped my hand in front of my mouth.

Fuck.

August keeps sending me pictures of his potential sugar daddies.

Did he see that?

Wait, did he also see all the tik toks I send of weird middle aged people dancing?

I'm not even kidding you when I tell you that my for you page is fucked up.

"All of us?" Nicolas questioned.

He nodded.

Nicolas and I shared a panicked glance. I wasn't sexting with a boy or anything but I had a feeling that Hector may be disturbed by the shit that I get sent or that I sent.

"T-that's invasion of privacy!" Amelia stuttered.

Oh, girl, just let it go.

Don't fucking push Hector.

The guy knows everything.

"I don't think it is when an older guy sends my little sister pictures of his penis."

I may or may not have snorted. Not because I was laughing at Amelia or the fact that Hector said penis with such a straight face.

But I just think dick pics are the funniest things in the world.

I also think that penises are funny. Like the way they jump up when erected.

How do people find that hot?

But while I tried to hold back a snort, chaos erupted. I saw Silas grab his jacket and car keys while swearing that he was going to kill that boy. Leonardo followed close behind.

No one really stopped them, so I guess Chase is just going to die.

"Amelia?" Dad sounded really disappointed.

"He sends them to me! I didn't ask for those pictures!" She was panicking.

"Did you send something back?" He was panicking.

"No!" She screamed.

Perhaps she really liked Chase but I couldn't figure out why. He literally groped her during the Halloween party and sends her dick pics. I didn't know the whole story but it was kinda of obvious that the boy wanted to fuck.

Do I believe in suppressing women's sexuality?

No, fuck that bullshit.

But don't trust men!

Have all the sex you want, but have it with someone you trust.

I've never had sex before but I always watch these videos of people who already had sex. I like to listen to advice. Most people said that sex is all about trust and I really stand by that.

Imagine showing your body to someone you don't even trust.

Imagine showing your body to someone at all.

Couldn't be me.

"Why didn't you block him?" Mom asked softly.

She was the only one that wasn't screaming at Amelia.

"Why can't I like him?" She cried.

"You're fifteen." Hector replied.

I know a few people my age who already had sex. Personally, I'll wait until I'm at least eighteen. I know that I'm not ready for something like that yet. Maybe Amelia was. It's her choice but I still think that fifteen is too young.

"Why do you even like him, Amelia? He sends you disgusting texts. Do you like him because you think he's cute or do you like him because he's the first guy to talk to you after getting beat up by your brothers?"

Now shit. That's deep.

Amelia turned red and then burst out in tears. Hector stared at her before he got up and walked outside, probably to stop the capital murder that was about to happen.

"Come on, dear, let's go upstairs." Mom assured her.

They went up. Dad, Theo, Nicolas, and I were the only ones left. I grabbed the popcorn and Nicolas came to sit next to me. We ate it together. Theo and dad were talking while we watched television.

"What a nice ending to thanksgiving, don't you think?" Nicolas chuckled.

"Quality entertainment if you ask me." I grinned.

A few minutes later Hector walked back in with Silas and Leonardo. I guess their plans fell down the drain. Leonardo dropped down on the couch next to us and Silas came to sit on the couch right behind us. Nicolas and I were still sitting on the ground.

Suddenly Silas grabbed my head and tilted it backwards so that I looked at him. My mouth was still filled with popcorn.

"If you ever have a boyfriend, kid, I will rip him to pieces. Understood?"

Shit, muscle man is really pressed.

"You're kidding, right?" I felt slightly uncomfortable.

Mainly because I had one big fat crush on Daniel and I wanted to literally marry him one day.

"Consider yourself warned, Elena." Hector replied.

I turned to him. His cold eyes focussed on me. It was the same stern look he gave me when I crossed the line.

It was very clear. When I date someone, that person was going to die.