A/N: I've never been drunk, so I don't know what it feels like. I'm making things up, so bear with me.
"Goodnight, honey. Don't stay up too late." Mr. and Mrs. McGuire said while hugging Lizzie goodnight.
"Don't worry; I'm going to bed in a few minutes." Lizzie promised as she shut the door of her hotel room. Lizzie lay down on her bed and thought about the events of the night. More specifically, when she kissed Gordo. She wondered what had made her do it. It wasn't like she really liked him as more than her best friend, right? Before Rome she thought she was really in love with Gordo, but look how easily Paulo had come between them. The truth was Lizzie really needed to talk to Gordo. The sooner, the better. Slipping a sweatshirt on she climbed out of bed and walked out into the hallway. This wasn't going to be easy.
"Lizzie!" A voice called from behind her, making her jump.
"Isabella? What are you doing here? I thought you went home!" Lizzie whispered.
"Go home already? The real party is just beginning. Come downstairs with me and I'll show you."
"Well I was just going to go talk to Gordo and then I was going to go to bed. I've got to get up early for my flight home tomorrow."
"And waste your last night in Rome?" Isabella pleaded.
"I guess a few minutes of fun couldn't hurt, right?" It was her last night in Rome; she deserved to have some more fun!
"Let's go!" Trying to ignore the voice inside her head telling her this was wrong, Lizzie snuck out of the hotel with Isabella. She followed Isabella down a narrow alley and through the back door of an old building. "Welcome to the party!" Isabella cheered as she opened the door.
"Where are we?" Lizzie asked warily. She was beginning to regret her decision to come.
"This is my friend Joseph's house. After a big concert he usually has some friends over."
"Look, maybe I should go back to the hotel. What if my parents notice I'm gone?"
"Don't worry so much. Hey, why don't you go talk to that guy? He's pretty cute."
"The one over by the speaker?" Isabella nodded, and Lizzie started checking him out. Isabella was right, the boy was cute. He was tall with dark blonde hair and deep brown eyes. His skin was tan, and he looked about 16. Lizzie decided to take Isabella's advice and go talk to him.
"Hey," He said with a light Italian accent when Lizzie approached. "My names Paul."
Ignoring the first thought the popped into her head after hearing the name 'Paul,' she introduced herself, too. "My name's Lizzie."
"Yea, I know. I saw you on TV tonight."
"Oh. Right."
"Looking, I can barely hear you in here. Let's go outside." Lizzie followed Paul out into the same alley Lizzie and Isabella had come by.
"Let me go get a drink and I'll be back. Do you want anything?"
"Can I have some coke or something?"
"Sure." Paul disappeared behind a shadow and appeared a few seconds later with two cups. "This is all they had."
"Okay, thanks." Under normal circumstances, Lizzie may have thought more about taking the punch from Paul. However, she was still contemplating the conversation she didn't have with Gordo. She took a sip and savored the tangy citrus flavor. "Mm, this is good." Lizzie hadn't realized how thirsty she was, and she downed the whole cup.
"Do you want another?" Paul asked.
"That would be great." He emerged from behind the building once again holding a cup of punch for Lizzie.
"Thanks. So, tell me more about yourself. Where do you live?" Lizzie took another sip of the drink.
"Well, I'm from Rome. I've been living in Kansas with my mom and step-dad for the past few years, though."
"That explains why you speak English so well."
"I speak another language, too."
"What language is that?"
"The language of love." And with that, his lips abruptly met Lizzie's. At first she resisted the kiss, but the scent of his cologne was over powering and his arms felt good around her. After Paul finally pulled away Lizzie realized what she had just done.
"I don't know why she just did that. I need to go home."
"Don't be like that, baby."
"Don't call me baby, you don't even know me!" Paul grabbed Lizzie's arm and tried to keep her from leaving.
"Get off me." She ordered firmly. After she got free Paul screamed what Lizzie assumed were Italian curses and stormed back into the party. Shaking, Lizzie figured she should get back to the hotel. Feeling a little dizzy she began walking down the alley. At the end of the road Lizzie knew she was supposed to turn, but she couldn't remember which way. Her judgment was getting worse by the minute, and she was having difficulty distinguishing her rights from her lefts. Suddenly she stumbled into someone, or something.
"Lizzie?" A voice called out. It was Gordo.