We went on our first search for Feliciano the next day, Monica giving directions Arthur, who took them silently, and me in the back, writing away about our adventures so far. I looked up for a moment, seeing Monica look back to check on me, her hand bouncing to the beat of the music, and I smiled. I was really enjoying this trip, even if Arthur and I didn't get along the greatest I could see great friendships forming from our time together.
Arthur and I stood back while Monica sat at a chess table talking to our first Feliciano of the day. But, we were clueless as to what was going on because they were speaking Italian. I could catch a little bit of what he was saying and translated for Arthur, "He said, 'I'm sorry I'm not the Feliciano you are looking for.'" I paused for a moment, watching him put his fingers together and kiss them, much like chefs did, "And something about a fish dinner."
Arthur just looked me and nodded, "So where are we off to now?" I shrugged and watched as Monica stood, getting a kiss on the cheek and walking away from the pair playing chess. She smiled at us when we went to walk beside her, "I love all this attention I'm getting from men, even if its because I'm looking for someone." I giggled and Arthur just scoffed and put his sunglasses back on.
Now, we stood near a boat dock, Arthur in between us girls. We watched as a small boat with only a few passengers came up. An elderly man stepped off, wearing a very small speedo and a button up shirt that wasn't buttoned, but tied at the bottom, and started to help the passengers off. When we all put together that the elderly man was Feliciano, Arthur looked at his grandmother, who was just whispering 'Oh no.' and 'Goodness.' and chuckled, I turned around, putting my hand on Arthur's arm to push him towards our car.
"No, no. We have to talk to him, that's what this little trip is about right?" Arthur chuckled again, grabbing my hips and turning me back around, positioning me in front of him so he could push me forward. I covered my eyes and stepped backwards , feeling my back hit his chest. "None of us are going to talk to him, because - because he doesn't have any clothes on!" This time I heard Monica chuckle and she grabbed my arm, "Let's go then, darling."
I sighed as we got back in the car, buckling my seat belt, "I could have went my whole life without seeing that." Arthur let out a hearty laugh as he started the car, "This trip was your idea, Amelia." I reached up and smacked his arm lightly, a smile on my face, "It may have been, but I wasn't expecting people with no clothes on."
We were pulling into a driveway, but not just any driveway, one with a huge gate and with the biggest house I've ever seen at the end of it. "Well, wouldn't this be nice Gran? Going from a man who works the fields to a man who owns them. And, you'd get to skip the messy bits." Arthur said and shared a look with Monica, who just chuckled and looked forward again, "Life is the messy bits, love." Arthur looked into the rear view mirror at me and smiled, and I couldn't stop myself from smiling either.
Again, we stood back while Monica spoke to another, our last for the day Feliciano, but this time it was different, with this huge yard we could go exploring for a bit, letting them have their privacy. And when we got back, they were finishing up, smiling and saying their goodbyes. Monica handed me the rose she was given and I looked at her, "What is it with you and Italian men? They fall at your feet." She just shrugged and gave me the biggest smile.
"It's a shame, I think I could have been happy here." Arthur said, unlocking the doors for us, "Happy? Did your grandson just say happy?" Arthur just rolled his eyes at me, opening his door, "I said 'Could have been.' Let's not get carried away, I do have a reputation to uphold." I giggled and slipped in the car.
The car ride on the way back to the hotel wasn't the most pleasant, a fight, that I don't even remember, had broke out between Arthur and I, even after we got along so well earlier.
"Arthur, why don't you tell Amelia about your legal work?" Monica suggested while we all sat around the small dinner table, drinking wine and eating dessert. "Oh, no, Gran. I don't think she would have much interest in that." He sat back in his seat, taking a sip of his wine, "Oh? Try me." I said, because I did have in interest in it, it was something to hear about other than food. "It's just the sort of thing like defending the defenseless, persevering human rights." I stared at him for a moment, mouth slightly agape, "You seemed surprised."
"I am, I didn't have you pinned down as the save humanity type." I said, and Arthur glanced at Monica, who was silently sipping her wine and eating. "Oh really, then what type did you have me pinned as?" He asked me while he was leaning forward. "Well, I was leaning towards elitist Oxford prick, but I guess a self-satisfied do-gooder works as well." I smiled at him the same sarcastic smile he is always giving me and he nodded, more hurt by what I said then he was trying to let on, "I guess you're a poor judge of character then." I took another sip of my wine ignoring him and looking as Monica took a shot of something I didn't even know she ordered, "Well, Art, she does work with facts. And now I'm off to bed."
Arthur gave her a hurt look and I smiled, covering my mouth to hold in my laughter. Monica and Arthur stood, she gave me a kiss on the forehead and told me goodnight, but only patted Arthur's cheek and refused his offer to walk her to her room, telling us to be nice to each other. I finished the rest of my wine and filled both of our glasses back up, "She's awesome." I said, tapping Arthur's glass with mine when he held it up. "I respect your usage of the word this one instance." I just smiled and took a large drink, "I'm flattered, thank you for approving."
He nodded, "Let's hit the sack shall we?" I lifted an eyebrow at him, I understood the saying, but, the way he said it was off. "I'm sorry, I guess I..." Arthur trailed off, he seemed a bit nervous, especially now that he was chuckling awkwardly and looking like he wanted to punch himself. I don't know, maybe it was just the wine getting to me, "Well, as much as I would love to stay and drink a whole bottle of Carpazo..."
"No, no, go to bed. You should, it was a long day. Goodnight Arthur." I said, not really wanting him to stay after our fight from earlier. He put his wine done, seeming very hurt by how harsh my words came out, "Right, goodnight Amelia." He stood and I said another goodnight, watching him until I would have had to turn. I took another drink of my wine as I heard him walk down the couple of stairs, but turned around when I heard him walk back up, "Forgive me. Where are my manners?"
"You know, I've been wondering that since I met you?" I retorted, and he gave a slight nod, "Yes, but I don't know what it is, you seem to bring out the very worst in me." I smiled, knowing that he was trying to apologize for all the teasing, sarcasm, and everything we'd done to each other the past few days, "Somehow it's my fault." I said, still smiling. And he smiled back, "All of this is your fault. You wrote that blasted letter." He looked down, putting his hand on the wall before looking back up.
"Nonetheless, may I walk you to your room?"
"You know, I'm not the buttoned-up, buttock-clenching killjoy you seem to make me out as." Arthur said, trying to explain himself as we walked slowly to my room. "Right, and I made you argue that true love was bullocks." I said playfully, and he smirked at me and replied just as playfully, "Guilty. But, I'm just genuinely worried for her. I know she may seem carefree, but her life hasn't been all that easy. Is it that unreasonable for me to be worried?"
He looked at me, knowing that I would tell him it wasn't, because I cared for Monica just as much as he did, even if I hadn't known her for a long time. She was like the mother I never had. So, I just smiled at him, stopping in front of my door, "No, but I have a really, really good feeling about this." He smiled back, putting his hand on my arm, "Let's hope you're right. Goodnight Amelia." Arthur leaned down, giving me a small peck on the cheek before walking to his room.
I felt my cheeks grow hot, and I stepped into my room, 'Why did he do that? And why do I feel like a teenager who just got kissed after her first date?' I smiled and tossed my stuff on the chair, quickly changing into my pjs and laying down, my laptop sitting open on the other side of the bed. I thought back over the day, starting to type what I had written, but my thoughts were cut short by my phone ringing.
I jumped up, secretly hoping it was Arthur calling me, but when I looked at the name I felt my heart drop, it was Lovino. I just set my phone down, not understanding why I was so sad, my fiancé was calling me, I love him. But, I didn't get up to answer it, I would have been so much more happier if it was another man.
This chapter isn't as long, but the next is going to be one of the longest, if not the longest, I've already gotten it written and I'll upload it sometime tomorrow! :)
Tell me what you think, tell me if you love it, hate it, you don't care, just tell me!
