Okay, sorry for the delay in updating. This chapter was extremely challenging to write (i'm blaming all the dialogue). At least I already have Chapter 5 and most of 6 done, so those will be out in the next few days. Thank you so much to my friend who read it over and the reviews of Maddi Paige, zenfrodo, leyapearl and Caranath! Per favore, Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own the Hardy boys.

Capitolo 4

Surprisingly I was not that terrified running for my life. A smile actually began to creep across my face as we made it in a timely matter back into the apartment. I really took a good look around their humble abode. Huh, those words just seemed to flow, at least some part of my brain is working. Anyways, this place seemed to gather every unique item they have ever come across. Bookshelves and counters were covered with various trinkets.

The girls sprawled out on the furniture panting. I chose to make light of the situation, "Well that was fun, wasn't it?"

In reply I received a rude gesture, something in the language of panting (I think shut up), and a few choice words in Italian. I was amazed at myself that I could know another language. It didn't seem like me. I'm not the scholarly one, some dark-haired kid was.

"Water. Now," Stefania directed me as I was just standing there watching the girls catch their breath. I went into the kitchen and eventually found some cups and some water. I asked if the wanted ice and they each answered me with an irritated "NO!" I just brought warm glasses to them, while giving a cold drink to myself.

"Magari ritorneremo domani? Poi conosceremo di più di lui e questo uomo non sarà qui." (Maybe tomorrow we'll return? Then we will know more about him and that man won't be there) I heard.

"Sì, d'accordo. Oggi noi possiamo rilassare e impariamo di più di lui. Anch'io devo andare il lavoro a presto. Ho il turno della notte," replied Stefania. (I agree. Today we can relax and learn more about him. Also, I must go to work soon. I have the night shift). I only understood some of what she said, so I gave her a half-hearted grin and took a seat.

The blond, Livia, I think, looked at me. She asked, "Tomaso, you remember any-fing?

I closed my eyes and really allowed my mind to go to work to make sense of the flashes I've had. "Well," I began, a little uneasy, "I keep getting flashes of this brown-haired guy. Maybe he's my best friend or something?"

"Maybe," Clara agreed, "Nothing else?"

"No."

"È va bene. (it's okay). We are thinking to go to that place tomorrow. Stefania have work tonight and we not go there at night," Livia said.

I smiled and asked, "What are we going to do tonight?"

Clara responded, "Relax. You have a injury. It not bleed now, but still bad."

It was a little sore, "Do you have any medicine?"

"Sì," Livia responded and jumped up. A few seconds later she ran in the room with a bottle and handed me some pills. I downed them with my water and gave her a "Grazie".

Stefania stood up and said, "Cambio I miei vestiti, ciao." (I'm going to change my clothes, bye).Then, hastily left the room.

Silence had crept up and invade the comfortable living space. Neither of us knew what to say, so twiddled our thumbs and looked around the room. Livia finally gave up and flipped on the TV. She was rapidly flying through the channels and then angrily threw down the remote.

"Che è il problema?" Clara asked.

"Ho bisogno di trovare il partido di calcio. Non abbiamo finito." (I need to find the soccer game. We didn't finish it.)

"Oh, dai me," (give it to me) Clara said and quickly found the sports channel that was giving highlights on it. She smiled, satisfied that her passionate roommate was content. Then her glance came over to me and she looked me straight in in eyes. "Tomaso, have you questions?"

I paused and asked, "Clara, why did you decide to help me. I don't really get it. Wouldn't most people just leave me there?"

Clara smiled and set her cup down, "Sì d'accordo. (I agree). Many people may leave you, ma (but) I saw you are American and wanted to help. You look very sad and bad in that, uhhh ummm, in the alley. We didn't know if the people who did that to you would come back and didn't want to be hurt more. You look very young."

"Thank you so much. I think I was just surprised to be saved by three devastatingly lovely young women".

Clara blushed, while Livia rolled her eyes and gave out a huff. "Oh you are quite the charmer."

"NO!" Livia screeches and throws the remote down again.

Clara asks, "Che?" (What?)

"Hanno perduto questo gol! Era così vicino!" (They missed that goal! It was this close!) Livia excitedly responds, gesturing with her hands.

"Really? Who's playing?" I wondered.

"Oh, two big Italian, um, come si dice?"

Clara filled in, "rivals."

"Sì, they big rivals!"

"Who do you root for?"

"Team blue."

"Are they any good?"

"Yeah, they my favorite team."

Clara piped in, "Livia, you are forgetting the vowels! Your sentences do not make sense."

"E?" (And?- like Soooo what?)

"Uh, you are a lost cause!"

"Grazie!" Livia responded before stalking off to the kitchen.

"She is a drama queen," Clara told me as she retrieved the remote and turned the TV off.

"Clara," I began and she gave me a "mmhmm". "How do you know English so well?"

"Well, I'm studying it at a higher level at school. Most Italians only know the basics they learned in middle school."

"Wow, what made you choose that career path?"

"Well, I like languages. They come naturally to me. Math e scienza (science) do not."

"You speak it very well, do you want to go to go somewhere else to teach or use it?"

"I don't know. I can either teach it here or teach abroad. I would like to stay in Italy. I like it here."

"I agree this country is absolutely beautiful. I like the way the cities are set up. Completely different atmosphere than the United States."

"Yes, it definitely is."

"So, Clara, do you find it hard to learn another language?"

"No, I enjoy it. They all share some basic sentence parts, only the structure is different."

"Wait, do you know more than just English?"

"Does she know more, HAH!" Livia laughed as she reentered the room with a smoothie and took up residence on the couch.

"Wait… what?" I asked, confused, there was obviously some sort of inside joke.

"Well, she knows three. Francese e spagnolo. (French and Spanish)," Livia continued, smiling at the embarrassment it was causing her friend.

"That's amazing!"

"Yeah, I guess so. I learned them in school. Some family lives in Spain and I see them every summer, so I know the language pretty well."

"I can't believe you can keep shoving more languages into your brain. Isn't it extremely hard to speak it though? Being able to keep up with the locals?"

"Yes, it is really difficult learn another language without constantly using it. The key is to immerse you in it."

"Do you plan on immersing yourself in an Rnglish- speaking country, like the US?"

"Sì, that's all she talks of sometimes."

"Livia, I do not."

"Do too, we'll ask Stefania later."

Clara rolled her eyes and turned to me, "Next semester I signed up for an abroad program."

"That's exciting! Where at?"

"New York, I think."

"Wait, If you're going to JFK, beware, it takes plenty of time to go through security and get your bags. It is an extremely busy airport!"

"Wow, how do you know that?"

"I go there a lot, traveling with my family."

"That's interesting. Maybe you took that airport when you came over here?"

"Yeah, probably! Whoop, whoop, I'm remembering!" I shouted and jumped up from the couch, simultaneously knicking my shin on the coffee table and let out a howl of colorful language. Livia giggled, while Clara ordered me to sit down and she ran out of the room.

"Here, put foot on table," she handed me an ice pack and situated pillowed around me to make me comfortable.

"You're a maid," Livia told Clara, who blatantly disagreed and they went into a fast discussion in Italian. I paid more attention to my aching leg and laid back. Eventually they stopped and looked at me.

Clara spoke first, "I'm sorry you had to see that. She doesn't think before she thinks. It's a serious problem."

"One that you always remind me of,"Livia whined.

"Yes we most certainly do," Clara said as she smiled.

Choosing to not be in the middle of another argument I changed the subject, "Livia, I feel like I know a lot about Clara, but not you."

She cleared her throat, then asked, "What do you want to know?"

"Well, what are you studying?"

"Fashion."

"That's fascinating, why?"

"I like it."

"Oh, really. You do look very trendy."

"Thanks."

Clara barely surpressed a giggle that caught my attention, I asked, "what is it?"

"It's just her one-worded answers. It's just comical."

"Oh," I responded, blushing a bit at feeling foolish. "So how did you become roommates? You seem to be study completely opposing subjects."

Livia cleared her throat and began, "I answered add that was looking for a girl to room with them."

"Yep, that's about it."

"Oh, well, how does Stefanie fit in here?"

"Well, she's working her way through Culinary School. Her job now is just helping a family friend with catering over the summer. She wants to try everything."

"No way! Does she cook a lot?"

"No, not much."

"Definitely, a no," Livia said.

"Oh man, but that's still pretty cool. I have a friend that loves food, he dreams of becoming a professional chef. He's a pretty big eater."

"What's his name?"

"Uhhhhh, well, you see, I don't know. I just get flashes of his laughter and us always poking fun at his eating habits."

"Oh, well, maybe if we keep talking about stuff you will remember more?"

"Yeah, that sounds like a great idea!"

Ready to ask more about them living in Italy, I was rudely interrupted by a booming voice from the doorway.

"Che succede? Non ci sono una risposta tutto il giorno. Vengo prenderevi alla festa. È niente! Niente! Perchè?" (What happened? No responses all day. I come to take you all to the party. Nothing, nothing! Why?) a man's voice rings and comes closer to the living room. It continues as a body enters the room. "Alo? Alo? Dove tu? Livia? Chi è?" (Hello, hello? Where are you? Who is that?) The man finishes, pointing a finger at me. I sputter some nonsense and look at the girls for help.

Livia saves me by jumping up and embracing the animated man. Then turns to me and says, "Giovanni, this is Tomaso. Tomaso, my boyfriend, Giovanni."

I stand up, forgetting my throbbing shin and shake his hand. The couple sits on the couch and gets into a quick conversation. Unsure of what was going on, I glanced at Clara who just smiled as I sat down.

"Che è il problema?" Stefania shouts as she enters the room dressed for work.

"Niente," Giovanni states. Stefania glances around the room, resting her questioning eyes at me for a few seconds longer than everyone else.

Directed at Giovanni, Stefania asks, "Perchè sei qui?" (why are you here?)

"Prendovi alla festa." (Take you to the party).

"Oh, mi dispiace. Noi domenticamo (We forgot), oggi siamo molto occupato con lui (we've been very busy with him today) ," she responds and nods towards me. I look back at Giovanni, to see his response. I was just waiting for him to interrogate me, why is some random foreigner hanging out with his girlfriend and her roommates. I'm going to look so stupid.

"Capisco, Livia ha detto che trovate lui." (I understand, Livia told me that you found him)

"Sì," Stefania was cut off before she could continue.

"Non capisco perchè non avete lasciato lui. Lui vede va bene. Perchè lui non lasciava?" (I don't understand why you didn't leave him. He looks okay. Why hasn't he left?)

"Giovanni, ferma! (stop)Lui non ricorda nessuno.(He doesn't remember anything). Noi aiutiamo ancora può ricordare! (We are helping him until he can remember) " Livia said taking his arms off of her and getting off the couch. She squished herself next to Clara and crosed her hands over her chest, looking extremely irritated.

"Scusi me," Giovanni said and turned to me, "I sorry, but I protect my girl."

"It's fine man, I understand," I quickly responded, understanding that this was one chance and was never going to happen again. "So what's this festa you keep talking about?"

Everyone laughed, and I could feel my face getting redder by the minute.

Clara spoke first, "It's a party. One of our friends invited us over tonight."

I understood. They wanted to go, but didn't want to leave me alone. It could be that I am a foreigner, need to be taken care of or that they're worried whoever did this to me will find me. So I jumped in before they could say another word, "You guys have to go! Giovanni sounds like he's been waiting all day for it!"

Giovanni grinned and gave me a nod, but Livia spoke first. "Tomaso, you can come."

"Really?" I asked, unsure, which was met with "sì"s and nods.

Livia pointed out, "If he comes, he need clothes."

"Yes," Clara said.

"Oh!" Stefania said as said sped out of the room.

Livia addressed her boyfriend, "Can he use yours? We don't have time for the store."

"Sì, vai il mio appartamento ora! Avete comprare alcuno vino per stasera."

"Ma, no, Clara e io vestiamo primo, poi noi andiamo," Livia stated.

"Va bene," Giovanni agreed. Livia took Clara to go change, leaving me awkwardly sitting in the living me with her suspicious boyfriend.

He broke the silence first, "Do you know Italian?"

"Yes, I know some. It is hard to understand when you speak it fast," I replied.

"Oh," Giovanni replied and paused, looking unsure of what else to talk about. He was saved as Stefania rushed in.

"Ciao, Tomaso, Giovanni. Ho lavoro, gli vedo stasera! (I have work, see you this evening)" she said as she grabbed a water bottle and sprinted out the door.

We both laughed at the frantic girl and Giovanni grabbed the TV remote and began to flip through the channels. This is how the girls found us when they were finally ready. Livia looked significantly taller and lean with her extremely tall heels and body hugging dress. Clara took my breath away with her now wavy hair, flower tucked behind her ear, and beautiful outfit.

Giovanni and I both stood up and walked with the girls out of the apartment. Going to his apartment and changing didn't take that long. What took time was finding the perfect drink to take. Apparently it was a tradition for them to bring a bottle to the gathering, while the host would take care of the food.

I just went with it and was glad we finally left the busy streets. The apartment complex was a decent size, but I wasn't so sure how many people it would be able to hold. I could hear the music and the commotion of a good amount of people.

Inside looked packed from what I could see when the host opened the door. He was very excited, hugging the girls and Giovanni. He stopped and gave me a once over before asking, "Chi è?"

"Marco, questo è Tomaso," Clara says and I approach him with a grin and a hand to shake. After a firm shake, Marco returns the smile and invites me in. He takes me along as his little pet, introducing me to all of his friends while giving me a tour of the house. I just smile and wave. First of all, I barely knew what anyone is saying. I was feeling a bit closterphobic in the apartment. My head was throbbing a little bit. The wine shoved on me wasn't helping my case.

Eventually, I sneaked around the amazingly increasing number of people, and took up residence on the terrace. It was a spectacular view into the nightlife of the town. The lights of the night captured the history and grand style of the various buildings surrounding the square.

I was brought out of my thoughts by a tap on my shoulder. The lovely young woman with curly brown hair smiled and said "Ciao". I nodded and grinned. She sat down next to me and introduced herself, "Maria."

"Tomaso," I said, shaking her outstretched hand.

"Sei un americano?" Maria asked. I nodded my head and she continued, "Parli l'italiano?"

"Un po'," I replied, suppressing a laugh at the dawn of comprehension on her face.

"Oh, you look like an American I met."

"Really?" I asked, intrigued. "Where did you meet him?"

"At school. He was studying abroad for his first year of college. Also, you look a lot like him."

"Wow your English is really good," I commented, causing her to blush. "How much do I look like him?"

"He had blue eyes and muscles like you. You have darker blond hair. I worked with him in a program that helped international students assimilate to the Italian culture. È un proggetto."

"Sounds interesting," I replied, eager to learn more about her and this guy. "Have you talked to this guy lately?"

"No, you see, I kind of turned him down in a big way, so I kind of avoided him."

"Oh, I get it. You said I looked like him, right?"

"Yes," she replied giving me a weird look at my obsession with this guy.

"How can you be sure I'm not him?"

"Well, it's dark out and there's barely any lights up here. If you were, I'm sure you'd be running out on me, rather than listening to me."

"Oh," I said.

"Tomaso!" screeched a voice from the doorway. I looked up to see a concerned Clara. "Come on, let's go!"

I told I'll be right there and turned to Maria, "Can I have your number?"

Surprisingly enough, she scribbled some numbers on a napkin and gave it to me, saying "Ciao Tomaso!"

I was grinned from ear to ear as pushed past the people and finally made it outside to Livia and Giovanni who were locked in a tight embrace. As we approached the couple they broke apart and we followed them into the night.

A/N: Sorry it was really long! Please review:)