Lizzie smiled reassuringly as she climbed into Paolo's car next to
him.
"Ciao, carina," he greeted her, leaning over to kiss her cheek softly, "I missed you."
Lizzie nodded faintly.
"I missed you, too," she admitted, feeling herself blush. He watched her for a moment.
"You look beautiful," he complimented her gently. She smiled.
"Thank you, Paolo.....and thanks for the dress. It's incredible." He smiled gently at her, running his index finger under her chin.
"It is nothing compared to you, my love," he whispered, his voice heavy. She felt her stomach turn slightly, her mouth going dry. She sighed inwardly as he leaned back over to his side of the car.
"So," he sighed, "I was thinking....dinner first. Have you eaten?"
Lizzie's voice caught in her throat, and she became unable to speak for a moment.
"Actually," she began, "I did eat."
His face fell as he turned to look at her.
"So, you are not hungry?" He asked sadly.
She shook her head slowly. Right now, food was the last thing she wanted to think about. She placed her hand on her stomach for emphasis.
"I'm so full....I didn't know we'd be going out to eat, or I'd have waited, but....Gordo and I ate dinner almost right before you came," she lied. "I'm sorry."
He nodded slowly.
"It is okay." He was silent for a moment before clearing his throat. "So, you and Gordo spent the entire day together, then?"
She nodded quickly.
"Ye...yeah, we've been going different places all day. And, like I said, we just ate dinner, so I'm really not hungry."
He nodded.
"So, you and Gordo have been spending a lot of time together, si?" He asked slowly. Lizzie nodded.
"Yeah, well, uh.....we're best friends, Paolo," she answered him, "We have been since we were little."
He stared at her, not bothering to start the car.
"You do not think it is odd to have a male as your best friend?" He wondered casually, and Lizzie shook her head.
"Well, I mean, I have a girl best friend, her name is Miranda, but she's on vacation in Mexico City. You'd love to meet her, Paolo, she's-"
"So, you and Gordo are together much of the time, then?" He interrupted her. She nodded.
"Yeah...we have so much fun together, Paolo....he's like-" She began.
"He is a guy," he finished softly. She glared at him for a minute.
"Yeah...." Her voice faded, "So?"
He shrugged, starting the car.
"It is nothing," he replied dryly. She sighed.
"It's something, Paolo.....what's wrong?" She asked worriedly. He shook his head.
"Forgive me, but, in Rome it is not usual for a girl and a boy to be best friends. It usually means that there is something more between them," he answered her.
She sighed.
"Something more? Between me and Gordo? Paolo, you're crazy.....we're just friends. In America it's perfectly natural for guys and girls to be best friends." She paused for a moment. "Anyway, you and Isabella were best friends, weren't you?"
They pulled away from the hotel and Paolo sighed.
"Si, but we were also dating," he informed her, "We had been for a while."
Lizzie shrugged, looking out the window.
"Well, then, I guess that's the difference between America and Rome," she sighed, detecting a hint of anger in her voice.
"Do you like him?" He asked after a long silence.
Lizzie caught her breath, turning to him quickly.
"What?"
He glanced at her for a moment.
"I said, do you like him?"
Lizzie shook her head, her mouth open in shock.
"No! I mean....I....I like him as a friend, but...."
"You know that's not what I mean," he said softly. Lizzie sighed.
"I liked him in like fourth grade," she admitted quickly, "But nothing has ever happened between us." She turned to look out the window, aware that she had neglected to mention the fact that back home, rumors were spreading like wildfire about Gordo's feelings for her.
"He likes you," he stated softly after a momentary silence. She scoffed, turning to look at him once more.
"No he doesn't, Paolo!" Her voice came out a little shriller than she had intended it to, "Gosh, what's up with you today?"
He stopped the car quickly, turning to look at her.
"What?" He asked.
She felt her cheeks beginning to burn as he glared upon her. The tightness in her stomach returned almost immediately, and he leaned closer to her. She shook her head quickly, regretting her words.
"Carina," he breathed softly, "I only ask these things because I love you so much. If I did not love you, I would not care about your relationship with Gordo." He kissed her cheek softly before brushing her chin with his finger, "You are so beautiful, Lizzie. I just do not want to see you get hurt, or taken advantage of in any way."
It took everything she had inside of her not to scoff aloud. He was actually worried that Gordo would take advantage of her? After everything that had happened between them? He obviously didn't know Gordo at all. She had to resist the urge to put in a word of defense for him.
"Si?" He asked softly. She nodded quickly, inches away from his face.
"Si," she repeated. He smiled, brushing her hair behind her ear.
"Good," he whispered, "Because I do not want to see my beautiful Carina hurt." His fingers traced down her arm, leaving goosebumps in their wake.
He started the car again, and pulled from his spontaneous parking spot. Lizzie bit on her lower lip, tilting her head to one side as she gazed at Paolo. She couldn't help but remember the first time she had seen him; that day in front of the Trevi Fountain. He had taken her breath away, he had appeared so handsome. Perfect hair, toned body, large brown eyes, a great smile. He had seemed like the perfect guy. And now, she almost wished she had never come to Rome. Yes, she enjoyed spending time with him, but the more they were together, the more she became frightened. He changed moods so quickly that she often found it impossible to keep up with him.
They pulled up in front of a building, and Paolo got out of the car. Lizzie followed him with her eyes, calling out to him. He opened the car door for her, taking her hand. She stepped out, the fear growing in her stomach as she recognized the building from the day before.
"What are we doing at your apartment?" She asked him nervously. He smiled.
"You will see, carina. Come with me." He took her hand, leading her into the building and the elevator. Lizzie looked hurriedly down at her watch.
"Paolo, I think-"
"Shh, carina. I have a surprise for you," he cut her off, "Just wait."
She felt as though her feet were turning to lead as he took her into his apartment. He smiled, letting go of her hand as he instructed her to sit on the couch.
"What are you doing?" She asked softly, aware that her voice was shaking. He disappeared silently from the room and returned a few minutes later, carrying a small box. He grinned as he sat on the couch next to her, grasping the box in his sturdy hands.
"Carina," he spoke softly, "Lizzie......" She looked at him, forcing a small smile onto her face.
"Si, Paolo?"
He took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a moment.
"I wanted to make this night perfect," he admitted, "I was going to do this over dinner, but seeing as though you are not hungry, I must do it now. I wanted to give you this, and I...." His voice faded, "I wanted to ask you something."
She nodded, her heart pounding in her chest.
"Well, what is it?" She wondered, straightening her posture as he scooted closer to her. He sighed, pushing the box into her lap before speaking. She looked up at him expectantly, her hands shaking.
"Open it," he encouraged her, "I bought it especially for you."
She nodded, looking down at the long box before opening it. She gasped as she realized that it was a necklace. The golden chain had a locket on it. She picked it up, examining the small word that had been engraved into the gold.
"Lizzie," she read softly, her fingers trembling as she struggled to open the small clasp. His fingers covered hers, managing to open the small trinket. He placed it in her hand, smiling softly at her as she lowered her eyes to the two small words inscripted inside.
"Ti Amo?" She wondered softly, "Paolo, what does that-"
"I love you," he explained gently, "It means I love you in Italian."
She felt her mouth go dry, tears beginning to burn her eyes. Her hands continued to tremble as he took them into his, covering the locket.
"Do you like it?" He asked hopefully. She stared down at their hands, smiling weakly at him.
"Paolo, it's beautiful," She began, "I love it, but I.......I can't accept it, Paolo."
His face fell immediately.
"What? Why not, carina?"
"Be.......because, it's so expensive, Paolo! I could never pay you back for this......it probably costs more money than my entire house is worth!"
"But, Lizzie, you must accept it. I do not want you to pay me back. I.....I want you to accept this as a gift. As my girlfriend."
"Ciao, carina," he greeted her, leaning over to kiss her cheek softly, "I missed you."
Lizzie nodded faintly.
"I missed you, too," she admitted, feeling herself blush. He watched her for a moment.
"You look beautiful," he complimented her gently. She smiled.
"Thank you, Paolo.....and thanks for the dress. It's incredible." He smiled gently at her, running his index finger under her chin.
"It is nothing compared to you, my love," he whispered, his voice heavy. She felt her stomach turn slightly, her mouth going dry. She sighed inwardly as he leaned back over to his side of the car.
"So," he sighed, "I was thinking....dinner first. Have you eaten?"
Lizzie's voice caught in her throat, and she became unable to speak for a moment.
"Actually," she began, "I did eat."
His face fell as he turned to look at her.
"So, you are not hungry?" He asked sadly.
She shook her head slowly. Right now, food was the last thing she wanted to think about. She placed her hand on her stomach for emphasis.
"I'm so full....I didn't know we'd be going out to eat, or I'd have waited, but....Gordo and I ate dinner almost right before you came," she lied. "I'm sorry."
He nodded slowly.
"It is okay." He was silent for a moment before clearing his throat. "So, you and Gordo spent the entire day together, then?"
She nodded quickly.
"Ye...yeah, we've been going different places all day. And, like I said, we just ate dinner, so I'm really not hungry."
He nodded.
"So, you and Gordo have been spending a lot of time together, si?" He asked slowly. Lizzie nodded.
"Yeah, well, uh.....we're best friends, Paolo," she answered him, "We have been since we were little."
He stared at her, not bothering to start the car.
"You do not think it is odd to have a male as your best friend?" He wondered casually, and Lizzie shook her head.
"Well, I mean, I have a girl best friend, her name is Miranda, but she's on vacation in Mexico City. You'd love to meet her, Paolo, she's-"
"So, you and Gordo are together much of the time, then?" He interrupted her. She nodded.
"Yeah...we have so much fun together, Paolo....he's like-" She began.
"He is a guy," he finished softly. She glared at him for a minute.
"Yeah...." Her voice faded, "So?"
He shrugged, starting the car.
"It is nothing," he replied dryly. She sighed.
"It's something, Paolo.....what's wrong?" She asked worriedly. He shook his head.
"Forgive me, but, in Rome it is not usual for a girl and a boy to be best friends. It usually means that there is something more between them," he answered her.
She sighed.
"Something more? Between me and Gordo? Paolo, you're crazy.....we're just friends. In America it's perfectly natural for guys and girls to be best friends." She paused for a moment. "Anyway, you and Isabella were best friends, weren't you?"
They pulled away from the hotel and Paolo sighed.
"Si, but we were also dating," he informed her, "We had been for a while."
Lizzie shrugged, looking out the window.
"Well, then, I guess that's the difference between America and Rome," she sighed, detecting a hint of anger in her voice.
"Do you like him?" He asked after a long silence.
Lizzie caught her breath, turning to him quickly.
"What?"
He glanced at her for a moment.
"I said, do you like him?"
Lizzie shook her head, her mouth open in shock.
"No! I mean....I....I like him as a friend, but...."
"You know that's not what I mean," he said softly. Lizzie sighed.
"I liked him in like fourth grade," she admitted quickly, "But nothing has ever happened between us." She turned to look out the window, aware that she had neglected to mention the fact that back home, rumors were spreading like wildfire about Gordo's feelings for her.
"He likes you," he stated softly after a momentary silence. She scoffed, turning to look at him once more.
"No he doesn't, Paolo!" Her voice came out a little shriller than she had intended it to, "Gosh, what's up with you today?"
He stopped the car quickly, turning to look at her.
"What?" He asked.
She felt her cheeks beginning to burn as he glared upon her. The tightness in her stomach returned almost immediately, and he leaned closer to her. She shook her head quickly, regretting her words.
"Carina," he breathed softly, "I only ask these things because I love you so much. If I did not love you, I would not care about your relationship with Gordo." He kissed her cheek softly before brushing her chin with his finger, "You are so beautiful, Lizzie. I just do not want to see you get hurt, or taken advantage of in any way."
It took everything she had inside of her not to scoff aloud. He was actually worried that Gordo would take advantage of her? After everything that had happened between them? He obviously didn't know Gordo at all. She had to resist the urge to put in a word of defense for him.
"Si?" He asked softly. She nodded quickly, inches away from his face.
"Si," she repeated. He smiled, brushing her hair behind her ear.
"Good," he whispered, "Because I do not want to see my beautiful Carina hurt." His fingers traced down her arm, leaving goosebumps in their wake.
He started the car again, and pulled from his spontaneous parking spot. Lizzie bit on her lower lip, tilting her head to one side as she gazed at Paolo. She couldn't help but remember the first time she had seen him; that day in front of the Trevi Fountain. He had taken her breath away, he had appeared so handsome. Perfect hair, toned body, large brown eyes, a great smile. He had seemed like the perfect guy. And now, she almost wished she had never come to Rome. Yes, she enjoyed spending time with him, but the more they were together, the more she became frightened. He changed moods so quickly that she often found it impossible to keep up with him.
They pulled up in front of a building, and Paolo got out of the car. Lizzie followed him with her eyes, calling out to him. He opened the car door for her, taking her hand. She stepped out, the fear growing in her stomach as she recognized the building from the day before.
"What are we doing at your apartment?" She asked him nervously. He smiled.
"You will see, carina. Come with me." He took her hand, leading her into the building and the elevator. Lizzie looked hurriedly down at her watch.
"Paolo, I think-"
"Shh, carina. I have a surprise for you," he cut her off, "Just wait."
She felt as though her feet were turning to lead as he took her into his apartment. He smiled, letting go of her hand as he instructed her to sit on the couch.
"What are you doing?" She asked softly, aware that her voice was shaking. He disappeared silently from the room and returned a few minutes later, carrying a small box. He grinned as he sat on the couch next to her, grasping the box in his sturdy hands.
"Carina," he spoke softly, "Lizzie......" She looked at him, forcing a small smile onto her face.
"Si, Paolo?"
He took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a moment.
"I wanted to make this night perfect," he admitted, "I was going to do this over dinner, but seeing as though you are not hungry, I must do it now. I wanted to give you this, and I...." His voice faded, "I wanted to ask you something."
She nodded, her heart pounding in her chest.
"Well, what is it?" She wondered, straightening her posture as he scooted closer to her. He sighed, pushing the box into her lap before speaking. She looked up at him expectantly, her hands shaking.
"Open it," he encouraged her, "I bought it especially for you."
She nodded, looking down at the long box before opening it. She gasped as she realized that it was a necklace. The golden chain had a locket on it. She picked it up, examining the small word that had been engraved into the gold.
"Lizzie," she read softly, her fingers trembling as she struggled to open the small clasp. His fingers covered hers, managing to open the small trinket. He placed it in her hand, smiling softly at her as she lowered her eyes to the two small words inscripted inside.
"Ti Amo?" She wondered softly, "Paolo, what does that-"
"I love you," he explained gently, "It means I love you in Italian."
She felt her mouth go dry, tears beginning to burn her eyes. Her hands continued to tremble as he took them into his, covering the locket.
"Do you like it?" He asked hopefully. She stared down at their hands, smiling weakly at him.
"Paolo, it's beautiful," She began, "I love it, but I.......I can't accept it, Paolo."
His face fell immediately.
"What? Why not, carina?"
"Be.......because, it's so expensive, Paolo! I could never pay you back for this......it probably costs more money than my entire house is worth!"
"But, Lizzie, you must accept it. I do not want you to pay me back. I.....I want you to accept this as a gift. As my girlfriend."
