Chapter Four
IL Mondo Era Vuoto
(Nate's New Song)
Location: The Uffizi
Nate had never been so captivated in his life. He watched Tess through the entrance of the exibit. He laughed at her curiosity. When had she changed? Why had she changed? He straighted his appearance in a nearby mirror and ran his hand through his hair before making his presence known.
"Tess?" He questioned, trying to look like he was surprised to see her.
"Nate," She smiled warmly at him and gave him a hug. "What an unexpected, yet pleasent surprise!"
"Yes. It seems as if the fates have alligned for us," He said to her.
"I have been trying to remember you," She said quickly.
"Oh, And?" He questioned, hoping that she would recall.
"I just can't seem to remember," She said sadly. "But, what if you tell me about yourself over some coffee?" She asked him.
"What about your mother?" Nate said.
"Oh, I can get away," She promised. "Meet me at Neptune Fountain in the plaza at 9:00. Okay?"
"Yes." Nate said excitedly.
"Promise me you'll be there," She added seriously.
"I promise," He vowed. "I'd better be going before your mother sees me."
"Yes," She laughed, "That would be wise."
"Goodbye Tess," He waved.
"Goodbye Nate," She replied.
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While walking down the streets of Italy, Nate thought of a song. Connect Three was wildly popular in Italy, and the boys were all fluent in Italian. The song orchestrated in his head and the words came from his heart.
IL mondo era vuoto le ombre riempivan (the world was empty, the shadows filled it)
La luce non splendeva mai (the light never shined)
Tessa, La Luce nella piazza (Tess, the light in the piazza)
Tessa, mia luce mio cor (Tess, my light, my heart)
Ora che sono sveglio (now that I am awake)
All'ombra non vo'tornar (I do not want to go back to the shadow)
Non sapevo di sentrimi solo (I never felt myself to be lonely)
Privo del senso della vita (Missing the essence of being alive)
Era Cosi (That's how it was)
Tessa
Tessa
Tessa, Mia luce, Mio cor (My light, My heart)
L'essenza che mi mancava Sei tu (The essence I was missing is you)
La Tua Luce M'inonda (Your light inundates me)
Dormivo (I was sleeping)
Io non sapevo D'esser solo (I didn't know I was alone)
Solo Nel Buio (Alone in the dark)
Non ero vivo (I wasn't alive)
Non C'era Tessa (There was no Tess)
Ma Ora la tua luce M'inonda (But now your light inundates me)
Tessa, Mia Luce Mio core (my light, my heart)
Shane and Jason were in awe of their brother's new song.
"Wait," Shane snapped back into brother mode, "Is this song about Tess Tyler?"
"Ummm....Well.....Yes" Nate answered shyly.
"No way!" Jason exclaimed. "The Tess Tyler. The one who pushed you into the lake because you were 'disrupting her "feng shui" " He put air quotes around the words feng shui.
"She's here in Italy with her mother, and she's totally different from when we last saw her." Nate defended.
"Like how?" Shane questioned.
"Like.....I don't know. She's super nice and is curious about everything, like a child or something." Nate thought child would be the best way to describe Tess's attitude.
"So she's not "Too Cool For You" anymore?" Jason sang the line to Nate.
"Guy's can we please just discuss the song?" Nate begged.
"Technically we are," Shane said annoyingly.
"Come on guys." Nate pleaded.
"Alright, I think we've done enough torture for one day," Jason kidded.
"Yeh," Shane agreed, "This song is beautiful Nate. Truly gorgeous,"
"Yes, I want this out on the airwaves soon," Jason added. "We record it tomorrow, no questions asked." He added matter-of-factly.
Nate nodded as he looked down at his watch '8:30' He thought, 'Thirty minutes until I see her again'.
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Across town, Tess was waiting for her mother to fall asleep. She figited in her bed, thinking about Nate. That was all she did today. Think about him, see old, historic stuff, and get in touble by her mother. She wasn't a baby anymore, and it was time her mother knew it. She looked at the clock on the stand next to her '8:45' she thought to herself, 'fifteen more minutes'. She heard the light snores coming from her mother's room. Italy was very tiring, she had learned. She slowly got up and slipped on a teal skirt and a red tanktop, and shuffled around silently to find her sandles. After locating them, she brushed her hair, and grabbed her purse off the side table.
"Let's do this," She said to herself as she snuck out of the hotel room.