Isabella walked out of the airport in Rome rolling her large suitcase behind her. She got into a taxi and gave th driver her address. The she took out her cell phone and dilles.

"Hello" a female voice came to the phone startling her at firs.

"Umm hello may I speak to Paolo porfavore?"

"Alright just a moment" the girl answered. There were voices in the background and then Paolo came to the phone.

"Paolo here."

"Paolo, this is Isabella."

"Isabella?"

"Si I am back in Rome."

"Why did you leave the States?"

"It is a long story. That's part of the reason why I want to speak with you."

"Alright…do you want to meet me?"

"Si. How about tonight at seven on the corner of Burling Way."

"Works for me."

Isabella nodded to herself. "Alright I'll see you tonight" she said and hung up.

The taxi pulled up in front of her apartment building. The driver got out of the car and got her suitcase out of the trunk. She got out as well and handed the driver the money that she owed.

"Miss Perichi?"

"Si?"

"May I have your autograph?"

She took the pen and paper that she was handed and wrote her name down briskly. Then she handed them back to the driver and taking her suitcase walked away with her hair flying in the wind.

Miranda woke up in the hotel room which Paolo had pervaded for her and at first didn't realize where she was. She looked around dazedly. Sun light coming through the peach curtains made the cream colored walls glow.

Suddenly everything flowed back into her mind. She threw back the puffy blankets and came to the window. She parted the curtains letting the light flow freely into the room. She started half blankly out of the window at the shopping plaza below.

Miranda went to the phone and dilled Lizzie's private line phone number. She herd the answering machine. "Hey it's Lizzie. I can't come to the phone right now so leave me a message and I'll call you back ASAP. BEEEEEP!" Miranda paused for a moment and then put down the receiver.

She fell back on the bed and closing her eyes thought about her night with Paolo. How they had made out and how awkwardly quiet he was for the rest of the time she had seen him that night. He was….a mystery to her to say the least. And everything from the half smile and the deep dozy eyes to the way he spoke and what he said fascinated her.

Approaching the corner of Burling Way Isabella noticed hat Paolo was already there. She smiled slightly at the thought. When they were still going out whenever they met anywhere he would always be there waiting when she arrived. She waited until he saw her and holding his gaze approached him switching her hips from side o side. She noticed with some guilty pleasure the way his eyes watched her skirt as it bounced from side o side.

"Isabella" Paolo acknowledged her.

"Paolo" she said back. "Let's go to the fountains."

They walked to a cluster of brilliantly lit fountains and set down at the edge of one.

Paolo watched Isabella's every move. Her green cheerleader-like mini skirt bounced on her hips freely and flintily. She had toped it with a black, shoulderless, velvet, long sleeve top. The knee length high heel boot were the same green as her skirt with black zippers on the sides to match the top. Her emerald long earrings danced every time she tilted or tossed her head. Her chestnut curls framed her face magnificently setting off her skin tone perfectly. Her cheeks were pink and her full lips glossy. Her already beautiful, large, dark eyes were enhanced with eye liner and framed with long, curly, dark lashes toped with thin neat eyebrows. All this made a magnificent picture on the fair canvass that was her flawless skin. The fragrance that hung around her was enticing. All in all Isabella was as perfect as a picture.

"So what did you want to speak to me about?" Paolo asked shaking off the first dazzling impression.

"I…I just wanted to talk about some things that have been going on since we broke up. Since then we haven't had much…pleasant contact."

"May I ask why you came to the states?" Paolo asked his curiosity getting the best of him.

"I went to see Lizzie."

"Come on Isabella" Paolo pressed "we both know that is not true."

Isabella stared at him in amazement but then added compliantly "And David."

"David?"

"You know Lizzie's friend, Gordo."

"Gordo?" Paolo looked faintly amused "Why?"

"I felt attracted to him."

Paolo laughed not able to control the outburst. "You? Attracted to Gordo? Are you kidding me? You do realize that Gordo is by far not your type of guy right?"

"I came back didn't i?"

"That doesn't mean anything since you do whatever you want whenever you want."

"You are absolutely impudent!" Isabella protested.

"And you are impossible." Paolo shot back a half smile lingering on his face.

"I wanted to try something different alright?" Isabella pouted defensively.

"So when did you realize he was good for you?"

"What is this ten questions?"

"No but you wanted to talk so if you want me to be honest with you you could try being honest with me.

"We spent a night together alright? He nice, almost cute, and smart but just not my type as you said" Isabella admitted.

Paolo nodded the amused look till on his face. "So what did you want from me? Except for money and sex."

"Shut up Valisari" She snapped.

"Ooooh burn" Paolo said sarcastically.

"Ok Mr. Sarcastic tell me what you're going to tell the administration when they find out you left the States a week or more early."

Paolo shrugged. "I don't know…I'll think of some cheesy excuse."

Isabella gave him a teasing good-luck-with-that kind of smile and changed the subject. "I herd you've been dating a lot since the IMVA's."

Paolo took his of off her and looked away into the distance. "Si it is true. I have been going on many dates since that night. But most of these girls were…well they weren't worth a lira. I was never in love with any of them. I guess I was wrong but I only wanted one thing from these girls anyway."

"Sex?" Isabella asked softly.

"Si…I was a kind of get away from the reality that I was screed over. I don't mind telling you this because you being you you've probably already figured it out on your own."

Her hand on his shoulder surprised him. "Paolo whatever happened to us?"

"Us?"

"You and me?"

"I do not know. I wish I did. One night you just decided it was over. You know I thought about this the other night. We had so many good times together. But you've changed."

"Some times change is for the best."

"True but what good came from you changing?"

"I didn't change Paolo I just got older. You changed in that same natural way. I am more then sure we could have all that green time together again."

"I wish for I have missed you."

"Me too. That is why I have come to talk to you. I don't want this fighting to go on. It is ridiculous. We've made mistakes…but they don't have to stay with us forever."

"So is this the part where I'm suppose to ask you to be my girlfriend again?"

She edged closer to him. Their eyes were locked and for a few seconds there was a pause as they started into each others eyes their faces several inches from each other.

'I had told Allie I didn't love 'Bella that I was mad at her that I need to move on. But maybe just maybe…I still love her. God she's gorgeous!' Paolo though. He had half a mind to kiss her pink lips. To hold her close but… That was in the past. 'I WON'T give into this. I need to move on I…' He shook his head turning away from her. "I can't 'Bella I can't."

"Why I thought you wanted this?"

"Isabella we can't. To much damage has been done it's just not…" He turned to look at her "…possible." With that he stood up and walked away.