Isabella tried to ignore the deafening squash of her sneakers on the marble floor of Basilica di San Marco. She kept her head down, forcing herself to ignore the gilded walls, ornately carved vaulted ceiling, and beautiful frescos that illuminated the altar. If there was a time to turn invisible, it was now.
A few heads turned toward her as she crept up towards the group. A slender, tall, olive skinned girl with tiny brown ringlets pinned up like a crown peered at her with sapphire blue eyes. She flashed Isabella a bright smile and waved her over before putting one finger to her lips, as if that could keep her from alerting the whole class.
It didn't.
Mr. Romano turned, a flash of his glasses like a gun spelling Isabella's inevitable doom. She tried to duck behind Maria, but it was too late. The small man made his way through the group, which parted instantly for him.
"Ms. Esposito," he squawked, "I thought our conversation last time would have been enough, but apparently not." He pushed up his glasses and motioned with one, rigid, outstretched finger towards the arched wooden doors she had come through. "Out. You have failed!"
It felt like her feet were frozen to the floor and all she could see was that finger. Her brain, however, was a whirlwind, repeating the words over and over. You have failed. You have failed. Failed. She tried to swallow but her throat felt like one of the statues.
If she failed, if she lost this class, she wouldn't be a full time student, which meant she couldn't afford college.
As she forced her mouth to open, feeling like she had eaten slugs, Maria stepped to her side, nudging her with an elbow to let her know she was there, then flipped her curly hair in Isabella's face.
"Actually sir," Maria smiled angelically while Isabella spat out hair, "She was in the bathroom, it was an emergency."
Mr. Romano glared at her like he was waiting for his ex-ray vision to kick in. "I highly doubt that." He slowly stated. Maria draped an arm around Isabella's shoulders, as if to show she was extra sure.
When the teacher remained silent, Maria gently reached her hand behind the back of a tall guy standing close by and gave a quick tug on his shirt. He glanced over, annoyed, but when his eyes met her sapphire ones, and she batted them for good measure, he started making googly eyes at her. Isabella sighed and mentally face palmed. He gave Maria a big, cheesy smile before quickly chiming in "It's true. I saw her go in."
Isabella put her arm around Maria's back, tugging at a strand of curly hair before it shot back up like a rubber band. When the teacher looked away, studying the guy, Maria blew a giant burst of wind in Isabella's face, smirking.
The teacher finally sighed, snapping back, "Fine Ms. Moretti, I will believe you, but next time Ms. Eposito," he threw her a glare, "you must check in with me first."
Isabella nodded her head, finally swallowing down the knot in her throat.
Mr. Romano turned on his heels and immediately began lecturing as if nothing had happened.
Isabella stepped away, unlocking her arm from Maria as she breathed a sigh of relief.
"Aren't you lucky to have me." Maria whispered, smirking, hand on hip.
"Yes, very." She smiled back, "Thank you." She hug attacked her, sending Maria a step back.
Maria patted her on the back before stepping away. "Your welcome, but I can't save your butt again, you heard what he said. We need a new plan Izzy."
Izzy pulled an eyelash out and flicked it away. "Yeah, I just don't know what. The nightmares, they're just getting worse…"
"Ew." Maria grabbed her arm away. "Stop that, your ruining your poor eyelashes! What if you want to use mascara, or, or-"
"I'm not."
Maria sighed, flipped her hair and nearly taking out a, luckily unlit, candle. "You really should look into makeup, or something! Your eighteen for pete's sake!"
Izzy rubbed her arm nervously, looked down as the distorted patches of sunken skin that covered her arms became visible from under her long sleeves.
Maria pulled her arm away again. "That shouldn't stop you Izz."
Izzy bit her lip and stared at the swirling patterns on the marble floor. When Maria kept holding her arm, as if she was waiting for an answer, she just shrugged, refusing to look up.
"Fine," She snapped, "But one of these days I'm getting you into a dress, mark my words!"
Izzy had a hard time holding back her smile.
As the bell rang through the air, signaling the hour, and the end of class, the group poured out onto the now dry Piazza. Izzy breathed in the familiar, salty ocean air mixed with spices and fresh fish. The sunbeams hitting her face felt like a warm blanket, and as they teamed up with the brain numbing, two hour lecture she had just endured, she suddenly felt like falling asleep on the spot. Maria grabbed her arm though, dragging her into the chaotic market and away from the warmth. The hum of people made her stumble, the two hours of sleep she managed to steal the night before not enough to sustain her. Her eyelids, which were falling down like lead weights were attached to them, blinked in concentration as the nagging feeling she was forgetting something settled into her gut. But what?
Then the teal eyes from earlier filled her brain and she skidded to a stop. Maria yelped slightly as she was suddenly ripped backwards. Pulling her arm free, Izzy turned around, taking a few steps toward the church in an attempt to line up the booths and people. Craning her neck as she stood on her toes, her heart seemed to beat faster, the thought of the man waiting for her forcing her cheeks to blush. She almost hated how she was acting, feeling very much like she had turned into one of those silly, boy crazed girls.
"What's wrong?" Maria's concerned voice said behind her, but she was too focused to answer back.
As she took the last step and the chaotic marketplace lined up perfectly, she saw it. Her heart skipping a beat, the white marble steps glistened in the sun like crystal finally came into perfect view. Empty. Barren. Only a few pigeons fighting over a French fry occupied the steps.
Izzy sighed and turned back, trying to ignore the hollow ache as her heart dropped to her stomach. What was she hoping for anyway? It's not like she would ever see him again, he was just some guy she had accidentally ran into, literally. She fingered her mother's bracelet, carefully tracing over the gold edges and jade green center. Fairy tales didn't exist, she knew that better than anyone.
She pulled a loose eyelash out before angrily flicking it to the ground, watching as it hit one of the few tiny pools of water left and sunk to the bottom.
Maria snapped her out of her thoughts as she grabbed her arm and spun her towards her, worry blanketing her sharp features. "Izzy."
Izzy stared at her for a second in surprise. Something about Maria was… off. She thought she saw fear in her eyes. Izzy quickly smiled back, not wanting to worry her. Maria had been through so much because of her, it was only natural she was worried. After how she'd acted after… She shook off the thought.
"Nothing, nothing's wrong. Sorry I was just lost in my thoughts." Maria didn't seem to buy it, but she didn't push the point; she didn't move though either.
"You know," Izzy started, "I, uh, saw a…um, really cute guy." Her body seemed to revolt as the phrase left her lips, but she knew Maria loved talking about boys and gossip. If she talked about the teal-eyed boy, then Maria would forget her troubles. Even if it made her feel all weird and mushy, like her intestines had turned into snakes, it was worth it for Maria.
She was her soul sister after all.
A smile slowly crept up her face. "A boy, is our little Izzy finally interested in dating?" Her melodic laughter filled the air as Izzy froze.
She had no doubt her face was redder than the stand of tomatoes they stood next to.
"D-Date. H-hold on." Izzy's arms flapped through the air like she was trying to blow away the though. "I don't even know his name, much less-"
Maria grabbed her hand and pulled her through the crowd, laughing. "Come on, we're getting Gelato, my treat. And you're finishing that story. I want every. last detail!
Izzy bit her lip, her stomach was churning way too much for gelato. Seeing Maria's immense excitement, she couldn't help but laugh and smile back. No matter how red her face got, how awkward it was, if it made her happy, it was worth it.