From Richard Steele unto Mary Scurlock.

'Madam,

With what language shall I address my lovely fair to acquaint her with the sentiments of a heart she delights to torture? I have not a minute's quiet out of your sight; and when I am with you, you use me with so much distance, that I am still in a state of absence, heightened with a view of the charms which I am denied to approach. In a word, you must give me either a fan, a mask or a glove you have worn, or I cannot live; otherwise you must except that I'll kiss your hand, or, when I next sit by you, steal your handkerchief. You yourself are too great a bounty to be secured at once; therefore I must be prepared by degrees, lest the mighty gift distract me with joy.

Dear Miss Scurlock, I am tired with calling you by that name; therefore, say the day in which you will take that of, Madam, your most obedient, most devoted, humble servant.

Rich. Steele'

Arrival in Italy

I looked out of the taxi window, gazing on the beauty of Italia. Carlisle was right, there were many loved up couples. They weren't the kind you found in New York though. I couldn't know what it was about them for sure, but they didn't look like the ones you found back home. Everything in Italy seemed much more intimate. It was all so different, like an alternative universe.

Then again, all the truth I knew of Italy was what I had learnt from Bruno Bozzetto's animated video 'Europe vs. Italy', and that was exaggerated.

At once, I felt at peace. The long journey did not matter anymore, all my past, my loveless marriage, the writer's block; it had all vanished into thin air. Thin Italian Air.

As we drove towards my hotel, the driver was speaking, or trying his hardest to speak to me, in English. He told me about all the different sites we passed and told me where I would need to go. He also warned me about some of the restaurants, how they would take advantage of an American unable to tell what is a good price in Italy. He was very helpful and a very nice man.

He asked my name and of course I said, as always, 'Isabella, but call me Bella.'

He replied in a very rich Italian accent. 'Beautiful! It suits you very well, your name means beauty. You know that, si?'

I laughed. 'No, I didn't actually and thank you.' I smiled, blushing.

'You're welcome, Bella! Now here we are at your hotel.' He got out and opened my door just as I reached for the handle.

'Thank you...'

'Adriano is my name.' He replied as he got my bags out of the boot. He carried them up the stairs and placed them there. I followed after and he turned to me, taking my hands in his. 'Your husband is a very lucky man. Now, here is my card, if you need taxi, call for me. I will bring you to wherever you go.'

'Thank you, Adriano, you have been a lot of help and I will definitely give you a call if I am in need of a taxi.'

'Arrivederci, Bella.'

'Arrivederci, Adriano.' He blew me a kiss, using his main two fingers, and left.

I smiled to myself and picked up my suitcase, entering the hotel. It was very grand inside, very beautiful as well. I walked towards the desk and the lady spoke my name straight away.

'Isabella Swan! I am a big fan of your books!' She was a brunette with deep blue eyes. A big smiled was planted on her face. She had delicate features and a slight tan. She was very pretty.

'Wow, it's nice to know that someone from another country likes them.'

'Oh yes, Miss Isabella. Io li amo!' She paused. 'Sorry, I meant I...love them.'

'That's correct.' I smiled, reassuringly. 'I'm glad you do.'

'Thank you. Do you mind signing the book while I check you in? The name is Lidia, spelt L.I.D.I.A.'

'Of course not.' I took the book; it was an Italian copy of mine. I had never seen it in any other language before. I signed it and handed it back and by that time she was done.

'Thank you so much, Miss Isabella. Here is your room key, room 301. Enjoy your stay with us.'

'Thank you, Lidia.'

She smiled.

I took my suitcase to the elevator, where the man who controlled it took it from me and placed it down. He gave me a smile and asked for my room number. I replied and he nodded in understanding.

I opened the door to my room, gasping. It looked amazing. I had one of the penthouses. Very expensive, but very suitable. I had the money to spend so why not make the most of this trip.

The living room area was furnished with cream-coloured statues, Ruby sofas and a chocolate brown rug on the cream carpet. There were artistic paintings placed all around the suite. The bedroom had a four-poster bed with a gorgeous purple, see-through satin curtain. The bedding the same colour purple with silver embroidery. They were very thick duvets, the type a princess would have. The pillows were soft and thick. The walls throughout the penthouse cream with silver and gold spiralling patterns. The bathroom was completely made of marble. The marble floor was dark grey with white swirls. The facilities were cream-coloured marble.

I looked out from the balcony over Rome. I could see the coliseum and river Tiber. 'If only Jake could've come, maybe this would have helped us get some of the old spark back.'

I shook the thought off and turned away, a breeze flowing in, forcing me to turn back to the beautiful city of love. Nothing could fix me and Jake, not even Italy. The thought saddened me and a tear rolled down my cheek. I wiped it away and swallowed my sadness. I had heard before just to cry one tear, and only one, but in that one tear cry your heart out for it and then bottle it. Of course, Paz Vega's character in Spanglish wasn't the best role model.

I turned away from the window, in a dream-like state. I wasn't in the mood for sleep just yet. I grabbed my bag and the key and walked out. I would unpack later, but for now I wanted to explore. It was only 3 o'clock here.

I walked through all the little streets. It really was an inspirational place. There were couples everywhere, young and old, Italian and foreign. It was perfect.

I stopped at a coffee shop, managing to speak a little Italian to order that coffee. He understood my difficulties and helped me out as much as possible. I sat outside watching all the couples. I watched their body language, the way they touched and held each other, the way they kissed. It was different to how I had portrayed it in my books. I guess I had just really never felt like that. I had never been touched or held or kissed like that. The way Jake did it was the way he had always done it when were best friends and the kisses were just simple. Every little detail of these romances were passionate, they were exaggerated like everything in Italy. Everything here was done with great passion. The simplest touch of a man's hand to a woman's cheek would make any person watching tingle, as well as the person experiencing it, which I am sure is a hundred times more spine-tingling. And that was just from the touch.

The kiss, what do I say about that? I guess the only way to explain how I felt when he kissed her was that I went into complete shock when I noticed what I had done. This kiss was the kind of kiss that woman fantasize about having. It was delicate yet hard, full of love yet passionate kiss. My reaction when he slowly moved his lips to hers...I actually drew in a shaky breath. Not in my entire life had I ever done that. That was something only a person who was about to be kissed who do. The only reason I noticed it was when I had to look away, after feeling light-headed when I exhaled.

My heart was beating a mile a minute; I had to get out of there. I grabbed my bag and left.

I continued walking down the streets of Rome, wondering what it would have been like to be that girl. The kiss looked like so much, but to actually be a part of it would be a whole other story.

It had gotten darker, I looked at my watch. It read 8 o'clock. Time had gone by fast. I didn't want to go back yet though. I turned into one street. A glowing light shone ahead. Upon approach, there stood the Trevi fountain in all its glory. I had read somewhere before that if you threw in 3 coins over your left shoulder with your right hand, it would grant you true love, 2 would be divorce and 1 would be a trip back to Rome. It was worth a try. I didn't believe in true love, but who am I to disagree with love stories, I write them for a living.

I took three coins out of my purse with my right hand, turned away from the fountain, closing my eyes tightly, and with wishful thinking, I threw them over my left shoulder. I turned back once I had heard the three light splashes. I could see them floating down slowly to the bottom along with everyone else's coins. I couldn't help wondering how many of these people did find their true love.

I tilted my head to the side and sighed, then looking up at the sky. The stars shone like a million sparkles. It was beautiful, you didn't see this very often in New York, because of all the bright lights. The moon was full tonight, which added to the perfect moment I was having. I had never been so happy before in my life.

'It's a beautiful night, isn't it?' An American voice stated. I turned to look at him. I gasped, but recomposed myself quickly.

'You're...?'

'Partly. I was born in Chicago but I've lived here most of my life. I'm Edward, by the way, Edward Masen.'

'Nice to meet you, Edward.' I extended my hand to shake but he turned it palm-down and gently kissed it. A zap of electricity sparked from our fingers as he touched it. It wasn't the painful, stinging kind though; it was more of an exciting kind. I gasped and drew my hands back; he touched his lips before looking up at me. He brought his hand back down. 'I'm...'

'Isabella Swan, yes I know.'

'Oh?'

'My sister is a fan of your books; she has a poster of you on her wall.' He laughed.

I smiled, chuckling a little. 'Well then, no need for my introduction then, I'm guessing.'

'Well, other than your name and beauty, there is still more I need to learn about you, Miss Swan.'

'Please, call me Bella.'

'Okay then, Bella. Tell me about yourself.'

'Well,' I turned away a second, sitting on the edge of the fountain, then looking back up at him. 'As you know, I am a writer. I was born and grew up in Forks, and for some of my childhood, Phoenix. I'm 26 and I live in an apartment in New York, with my husband.' I drifted off when saying 'husband'.

'You're not happy with him?'

'No, no, it's not that, I...well, it's just...let me start at the beginning. I've known him since I was very young and he was my best friend. Then my parents split up when I was eight and I had to move away from him and my dad, to live in Phoenix. When I was 15, I moved back to Forks to live with my dad and me and Jake started dating. I married him out of school when I was 18 and well, I guess I realised that we weren't in love. Sorry you have a whole life story there.'

'That's fine; it helps to find the real person behind the mask.'

'Yes, I guess it does. Well, that's it; I'm in a loveless marriage that I won't speak up about.'

'Wow, okay. That must be tough.'

'Not really, you learn to deal with it. Tell me about yourself?'

'Well, I live in an apartment on the outskirts of Rome. I'm 28 and grew up for most of my life in Rome. I was told I was adopted when I was a baby by my dad, Aro, and mother, may her soul rest in peace, Sulpicia. I don't know who my real family is and I don't wish to know at the moment. I have 2 siblings, twins, Alec and Jane. And like I said, I was born in Chicago. I am a doctor in the city and currently single.'

'Wow, I'm sorry about your mother.'

'Thank you but I'm alright, it happened just after the twins were born, but we're all fine now.' He smiled.

I returned the smile.

'So how many of Rome's fantastic sites have you seen?'

'Just a few streets, coffee shop and the Trevi. I've been more focused on the people and their romances. You see, I've got writer's block and well as I'm a romance writer, I need to delve into the romance of life and, as of today, Italy. I find it very inspirational here.' I said looking around at the old buildings surrounding us.'

'Well, how about I show you the sites tomorrow? I mean, just as friends, of course.'

My eyes locked to his. They were drawn to his. This was the first time I had actually looked at him properly. He was an Adonis. His bronze hair fell in complete disarray. His emerald eyes shone in the light of the Trevi. He was beautiful.

My mouth opened to answer him. I breathed in slowly. 'That would be nice.'