I do not own GG or any of its characters, fortunately.
As always, I ask kindly for forbearance.
New Beginning
Chapter 2
Dan! Dan Humphrey! Someone called out.
Dan heard it and turned around with his surprised face. He saw tall, corpulent man around 30, with tanned skin, dark hair, a little beard and characteristically Roman nose. He looked like a stereotypical Italian man.
"Bongiorno Daniel. I'm Fabio Cassanero." He greeted with Dan by a handshake. "Bongiorno! Nice to meet you." Dan smiled. "Welcome in Rome. I'm happy you decided to take part in our project. I work in Literature Institute and I'm going to escort you to your apartment." Man introduced himself with strong Italian accent.
"No, I should thank you for an invitation. How could I not take such an opportunity." Dan said politely with a smile. "What do you mean apartment?" he asked after the moment. "I thought we will live in campus maybe in hotel… Those were arrangements, initially. I have even an address." Dan showed to Italian man a piece of paper which he has in his hand. "It's only couple weeks, by the way."
The man seemed to be a bit confused. "First of all, I will help you with bags." He grabbed Humphrey's luggage without hesitate. "Please follow me to a car. It's few steps from here." Fabio showed a direction to his guest, pointed his finger at silver Lancia. Meantime, when they walked together, a conversation went on: "This address is out of date, for sure. Did you check your mails lately?" he asked. "Schedule, form and… time of lasting of this writer's program are changed."
Dan stopped putting bags to a trunk and stood still next to a car. What is going on? I'm starting to worry. "Yyyy. Honestly, I receive only bad news recently, so I'm avoiding my computer and iPhone. I'm offline purposefully. I don't check any letters or messages. My mistake. I'm sorry." He said openly.
"No worries. It's nothing scary. Get in the car, during a drive I will try to explain to you everything."
And he did. It turned out that changes were considerable. Literature Institute, School of Film and Art Academy started to cooperate.
"Listen to me, Dan." Fabio said. "Project for young, good promising writers has been connecting with program for talented actor or actress and with program for painters or photographers. People around the world from different branches of art and with other interests have been mixed with each other."
"Mixed with each other? What do you mean Fabio?" Dan asked carefully.
"That only means that you will live with actress, painter and photographer from various countries in the apartment. That is all. It's about 'inspiration and motivation'. Everything else is the same. You will meet and work with writers. It still includes lecture and kind of classes for improving your skills." He said, tried to calm Dan a little. "But it will last a little bit longer…" he suspended the voice. "Twelve months."
"Year?!" Dan raised his voice. "Are you kidding me?! I'm not prepared for such a long time here."
"Mamma mia Daniel!" he said helplessly. "You will live in one of the most beautiful part of Rome called Quartiere Coppede, located away from the hustle and bustle of the city canter, in a amazing old building, which architecture combines elements of art deco, baroque and mannerism, you will feel there Middle Ages and even ancient Greece, completely for free. Is an experience like that available in United States? I don't think so." Fabio stopped his speech for a minute. "Your only duty is write novels, eat amazing Italian food and take a rest. It's heaven on earth. And don't even try to say that Italian people can't care about artists and their brain wave." He ended with a smirk.
After a second thought Dan agreed with a driver. "You are right. It couldn't be any better. I have nothing to complain about. The longer I will be outside New York, the better."
"Now I like your words. Here you have your new address and names of roommates." He gave to Dan a piece of paper with a list of names.
Daniel Humphrey – writer, USA; Gustavo Gonzalez – painter, Argentina; Pola Winiarska – photographer, Poland; Emma Waters – actress, South Africa.
"Wow. There are people not only from different countries but also from different continents. It's great, really great. It's an occasion to learn about other cultures, customs, and languages. We can get to know new thing about the world and break down stereotypes. Excellent. I waited for that." Dan said. "I hope it help me overcome my writing blockade."
"Bravo. That is the main point of the project." Fabio parked the car on the sidewalk, in front of the orange building. "Here we are. It's your home for the next year." He pointed at the magnificent house with a garden. "Your keys. People from Argentina and South Africa will arrive in a next week, as yet only you and girl from Poland will be here."
"Oh my God. Are you sure it's right place?" Dan asked incredulously.
"Yes! Stop being so surprise all the time. Go and choose a room, until you are alone." Fabio ordered during taking out the bags. "Arrivederci!" he said, getting in the car.
"Bye Fabio. Thank you for a ride and help."
Fabio just saluted and drove away.
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.
.
Dan opened a wicket and stepped on the path made by stones. Near the fence on both sides, grown beautifully smelling elder, two kinds of this tree: white and purple. In the right corner, was a small terrace with a wooden, rocking bench, a table and few chairs. Huge lawn was evenly mowed.
Wonderful.
Dan turned around once, totally amazed. Sky was blue, birds sang, pure nature in the middle of big city. Perfect place to work and create.
Idyll.
He jumped on the steps and approached to an oak, carved door with petite, vertical, stained glass. He opened it and saw a spacious hallway with stairs.
"Hallo?! Anybody is here?!" He asked just in case. He didn't get an answer.
Dan looked around. On the ground floor were three rooms; a living room – really big one, in the middle were two flowery sofas with pillows and matching armchair and mahogany coffee table, next to a door was commode, a little further was bookstand, everything was from the same set. Walls was cream-colored, on one of them hang a picture depicting a still life. Between the big windows stand a rack with flower bowl on it. Fabric of curtains was similar to this on the couches. Kitchen was also fully furnished and equipped, everything was brand new and ready to use, starting to oven and fridge ending to cups and cutlery. A bathroom looked impressive too. Tiles was dazzling white, there were sink, mirror, toilet, shower and washing machine. Dan guessed that upstairs probably was a bigger bathroom. And he wasn't wrong.
I can't believe it.
He had no problems with choosing a room. First one was too large. For the painter and his easels would be more suitable. Second one with huge wardrobe was definitely for girls. He moved into third one with big desk and couple of shelves. This one was definatelly accurate for him. To fourth he didn't even step in. He started to unpack.
I'm starveling. I should buy something to eat.
.
.
.
When he came back, door was open. That's meant that expected mate was there. He went to the kitchen to left his shopping. It seems that someone prepared to cook. He moved toward stairs. Upstairs, Dan heard water in the bathroom. From a repealed door in an adjacent room, he could see suitcases and photographic equipment.
"Oh… Hi!" Girl said, gathering a robe around her nervously.
Dan turned around and saw a woman with towel in her head and in wet robe.
"I'm Pola Winiarska." She held out her hand to him to greet.
"Hi! I'm Dan Humphrey. Nice to meet you."
"I'm sorry for 'this'." She pointed on her whole appearance."Fabio told me that you are already here and I hoped that I made it before you back." She smiled and looked suspiciously. "Didn't… didn't we meet earlier…, at the airport? Yes! Of course, you helped me collected my thing from a floor." She clapped her hands.
"That was you? Factually! I didn't recognize you in this outfit." He smiled.
"I have to repay for this. You must be hungry, so do I. Just give me a minute and I will cook something for us." She suggested convincingly.
"Really you don't have to do this. It's not necessary."
"I don't accept a refusal. One second and I'm in the kitchen." And she disappeared in her room.
.
.
.
What she said, she did. Pola made pasta with fried vegetables and meat, and with feta cheese. And they ate at the kitchen table, sitting opposite to each other.
"This is delicious. Thank you. You have to give me a recipe."
"It isn't big deal. I'm happy that it taste you. Recipe is very simple you add and combine everything what you have in the fridge. My friend Karolina told me about it. We called it 'student dish' because it's cheap, simple and nutritious. Everyone can quickly do this after all day classes."
"Clever." He smirked.
"Yeah, well." She improved her cardigan playfully.
"You are from Poland?" Dan asked.
"Yes I am from the most beautiful but a little forgotten country called Poland." She said proudly. She stood and took plates.
"No. Leave it. I will wash the dishes." Dan objected, put plates into a sink and grabbed a washing-up liquid.
"It's June, it's Italy and I'm cold a little, weird. Do you want some tea? We could drink together in the living room." She asked timidly.
"Yes. Why not. Thanks." He answered.
.
.
.
They sat and talked for awhile this evening. Dan sat comfortable in the middle of the couch with the cup on the pillow. He wore dark jeans and bright shirt with wrapped sleeves to the elbows, as usually. Pola squatted on the armchair with blanket on the laps and the hot cup of tea in her hands. She wore light make-up and had slim jeans, white T-shirt with ACDC print and black cardigan. Dan couldn't deny that she was beautiful woman – slim body, pale skin, dark, wavy hair little bit longer than to shoulders. Her face was oval, cheeks full, eyebrows black. He noticed her spectacular brown, big, bright eyes with really long eyelashes, even without mascara and adorable laugh. Yes, she beamed and laughed a lot. Actually, she didn't look any worse than Blair, Serena or any other girl from UES, she even had something more, special… warmth, kind of sparkle, unfeigned naturalness, which he really missed in some way. But he wasn't interested in her, that was just objective observation. Still between the lines of conversation, thoughts about Blair came, and he became sadder immediately.
"Are you a fan of ACDC?" Dan asked unawares.
She looked on her chest. "Well I'm fan of good music in general. They represent it so I'm wearing their shirt, but I can't say that I'm a fan. I listen to music a lot, it's true. But I like many bands presenting various kinds of music."
"Like what?"
"Well, from The Cure, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, during Radiohead, Coldplay, Foo Fighters, Red Hot Chili Peppers to The Killers, Wakey! Wakey! etc." She listed it in one breath. "I'm certain that I forgot about someone important."
"It's really various."
"Yeah." She shrugged. "Changing a topic, don't you think this place is amazing. I'm so impressed. I never thought that they allow us live in such lovely house. You can feel a history here." She said.
"Yeah, you right. This place is… magical."
"I love historical buildings. Imagining that one hundred years ago someone sculpted front door, or decorated façade or planted trees. I know it silly… I hate when place like this are devastated."
"No, it's not."
"History always fascinated me." She paused. "I'm so excited. In Rome are so many thing to sightseeing. All remnants of the Roman Empire, museums, galleries, theaters, festivals even Vatican…" She pondered a second. "I have to make a list, I won't miss anything."
Dan was amused by her excitement. "Do you like stuff like that? Because honestly… I do."
"Then we have a something in common. Of course I like it. My mom said that I will be the happiest living in the museum. And she surely was right. If you want we could explore the city together. Unless, you have another plans. I won't impose myself, I just thought that it will be nice doing it with someone else, especially when we are alone here."
He wasn't completely convinced about it. He supposed to do this with Blair, but that is never gonna happen, never. Past should stay in the past. He knew that he couldn't stay in his room forever. That's why he answered: "It's great idea. I don't have plans, so I'm totally in. Just be careful, because I can tire you, taking on every event in the city." He joked.
"Really? I don't think I will regret it." She replied squinting her eyes and taking a sip of tea. "Great, I can't wait!"
"So you are a photographer. Did you graduate an Art School, right?" He asked.
"In fact, no. I studied International Relations at the University of Warsaw. I just like taking pictures. With this program was very strange situation, because no one wanted to go. So professor asked me. I had nothing to lose, so I agreed. I'm not professional, but it's not a problem. I will realize tasks and maybe I will learn something useful."
"But family, boyfriend? It's a year, a long time?"
"I'm an orphan and single." She said just like that.
"I'm so sorry. I had no idea." Dan replied abashed.
"Don't be, really. My father died when I was two. My mother and my older brother died five years ago in a car accident. Truck driver was drunk and… you guess the rest probably. People usually are surprised that I talk about this so calmly. I just don't want to be self-pity about it anymore. In a relationship I'm not from a really long time, so it wasn't a hard decision to come here. My friends convinced me that it's great chance. And for a first time in my life I risked, rented my flat and left my ordered, predictable and quiet life." She explained. "And you writer, why you here?" She blinked.
"Well, it's true I'm a writer. I published two books so far and I just got an invitation. That's all story." He sighed.
After a moment she said: "I don't want be meddlesome, but you look dejected."
"Things in my life are very complicated right now." He didn't want talk about it, she noticed that. But he continued. "My parents are divorced for years. My mom lives in Hamptons. I lived with my father and little sister in New York during a high school. Then she moved out, Jenny isn't so little any more, she travels around the world and mostly residents in Tokyo. My father works in San Francisco. Besides it I have a half-brother, and… two foster siblings, but I'm not in touch with them right now."
"I understand. Then what do your sister and father do?"
"Jenny is a fashion designer, dad is a musician, but now he works in recording studio."
"Wow. Creative and successful family." She grinned.
"I love them really much, they are my everything."
"Yeah I can see that. They are lucky that have you." She said pleasantly. "It's getting late. I won't bother you anymore. From Poland isn't so far to Italy, but you probably had pretty tiring flight. She stood up from an armchair. "Goodnight!"
"Goodnight! Thank you for a dinner and… 'tea time'."
"Thank you for washing up." She smiled and went. She turned around on the stairs, holding a handrail "Dan. If you want to talk with somebody, you know where find me. One thing I can promise you – I'm better listener that talker."
Dan simply nodded. He didn't feel resentful about this proposition, rather he felt relief that he had someone here, despite the fact that girl was practically strange for him. That was weird feeling, he knew that, but he accepted it. He sat couple moments more on the sofa. Then he took shower and went to bed.
TBC, I hope