3

The night wasn't going so badly after all cards had been laid out on the table and hidden agendas abolished. Jessica had told Antonio not to judge a book by its cover and now it was time for her to practice what she preached and try to see beyond Antonio's 'typical' persona which he had originally created.

"How was your steak?" Antonio asked placing down his knife and fork down in the middle of his plate along with his napkin.

"Mmm beautiful" Jessica replied doing the same and taking another sip of wine; "You were right these sorts of places are the best" she nodded in agreement placing her glass back down on to the table.

"Dessert?" Antonio asked.

"No I couldn't" she replied, "I am absolutely stuffed". Antonio laughed.

"You know something, I am really, sincerely glad we did this Jessica, it is not often I can act in such a way with a girl, I mean I cannot believe you play video games? Most of the girls I know would not even be able to name a video game, especially the hot ones" he laughed.

"Good I'm glad" Jessica replied smiling, "I told you I wasn't your typical girl, and I'm sure a lot more play games than you think maybe if you talked to them more rather than just trying to get in their knickers you would know these things" she reminded.

"Ha. Indeed you aren't" Antonio agreed, "So tell me, what is your favourite game?"

"Erm I think...it would have to be Assassins Creed, but Halo, Fable and Tekken are not far behind and not to mention some of the old school playstation one games haha Spyro the Dragon?" she laughed "Awesome"

"Haha, so what brings you to Roma?" he asked genuinely interested.

"It is just somewhere I've always wanted to go I guess, the history and the culture has always been something I have been interested in, so when my parents asked if I wanted to go with them I jumped at the chance. They often do trips here with my university but I have never been, it's more like retreat sort of trips which isn't really my thing if I'm honest. I spent a few months in Firenze but I never got the chance to come then either" She replied taking another sip of her wine.

"Ahh I see, yes Roma is very deep in culture and history, I of all people should know" he laughed and Jessica smiled, "So you have been to Italia before? And for a few months? Why?" Antonio enquired.

"I came on an Italian language course for 3 months at the British Institute of Florence last summer" she replied

"Ahh so is that what you do at the university?" he asked

"No...I study religious studies, I just study Language on the side" Jessica replied instantly cringing upon having to say the name of her degree of choice, "It's not just about religion" she automatically defended, "I mean religion is something I am interested in, I mean it helps define people, cultures and communities as well as shape history but religious studies is so much more than that. It's about philosophy, ethics, politics, history and even science, that's what I love about it" she stopped herself before she went into too much detail and bored the poor guy to death, "I bet you are regretting you asked now?" she laughed.

"No not at all, that is very interesting, brains as well as beauty" he replied.

"Thank you" she blushed at his compliment, "I really want to do something meaningful with my life, I want to make a difference but sometimes I just feel so small" she stopped herself once more, "But anyway...you must know a lot about history?" she changed the subject to Antonio.

"Wow...deep." He replied. She hated it when people said things like that to her. "Erm...yeah I know what history I need to know to get by...I only got the job because my father owns the company" he laughed. Jessica looked disappointed.

"Oh I see...is it a job you actually enjoy? Or do you just use it to meet girls?" she added.

"I enjoy it...I suppose, but mainly the meeting girls..." he laughed again.

"Well at least your being honest about it now" she smiled, "I have to say though I am disappointed I didn't get to go to the Colosseum, it is something I've always wanted to see properly and now I won't get to" she shrugged, "Maybe next time eh?" she said sounding crestfallen.

"Well I am sure the roads will be clear tomorrow, you are more than welcome to come on the tour again?" he added trying to be helpful.

"I don't think I could handle that tour again" she laughed "No offence but I am exhausted and my parents have got us booked solid with trips and tours and everything you can think of under the sun until we go back" she sighed, "I wasn't completely blowing you off when I said I didn't have much time" she said giving Antonio a small smile. He looked thoughtful for a moment.

"Want to settle up and get out of here?" he asked suddenly seeming to want to cut the night short.

"Oh...sure" Jessica replied concluding in her mind that she had indeed officially bored him to death, she reached for her purse.

"No no, it is on me" Antonio said placing his hand on her arm to stop her from reaching, she looked up.

"No I couldn't, we can go halves." She said.

"No." He insisted sternly, "It is the least I can do" he smiled and with that Antonio settled the bill. After saying their thanks and goodbyes to Alfreido they left the restaurant and went out into the cool night air.

"Where are you going?" Jessica called after Antonio as he headed in the opposite direction from where he had parked his scooter. She looked at her watch, 9:30pm, pulling out her phone from her bag she checked for any messages or missed calls, nothing, she dropped it back in.

"Follow me" he replied turning his head and beckoning her to come, she hovered on the spot for the moment not sure whether to follow him or insist they go back to the hotel but something in that moment made her want to trust him.

"Wait up" she said as she ran after him to catch up just as he circled a corner, and there it was stood there in all its glory, the Colosseum.