CHAPTER 3
The days came and passed in a blur. Soon I had been living in Italy for two months, then four months, and then half a year. A full two year and half since I quit the Avengers. It was such a long time yet felt so short. Natasha visited regularly, every two weeks on a Sunday, and we did the most random things you could imagine. One day we might go on an unplanned road trip or get the train to Rome, the next we might push each other around town in shopping carts, and another week we might go paint-balling. It was fun, the best days of our lives, and we never brought up the kiss again. We became best friends, and she became my only friend. For 6 months it was like that. Then, on the week before Christmas, everything started going wrong.
"That was awesome" Natasha laughed, as we left the stadium. "You're only saying that cause of the Ice Hockey" I shot back grinning and she smirked, "I beat you fair and square, 4:0". "Only because i let you win" I replied and she laughed again, "whatever keeps you happy". Linking arms with her, we began skipping down the street. Yes, SKIPPING. We always managed to trip and knock each other over when we skipped and it was hilarious. So we skipped.
A quick movement caught the corner of my eye and I automatically turned, spotting a man clad in black disappear into a shop at the last minute. I should have taken no notice of it, just another tourist shopping in a beautiful valley. But my gut instincts told me i was wrong. That something bad was lurking in the shadows. Trying to ignore the feeling of dread, I turned back to Natasha, realising she was still talking about the Ice Hockey, "-and then you slipped and the puck went under your legs, managing to-". I didn't hear he rest of it, I got the same feeling of being watched again. Being more discrete this time, in glanced back out of the corner of my eye, pretending to be looking at a restaurant menu. The same man was slowly waking behind us, following us... "Hey, Nat?" I asked, keeping my voice low. "Yea?" She asked. "See the alley-way up ahead? When I count to three, i want you to run as fast as you can to it ok? It's... It's a race" i said, hoping my plan would work. "...ok" she said slowly and I forced a grin, "1...2...3...GO". Giving her a split second head start, I took off after her, letting her beat me there. Pretending to slip, I crashed into her, sending us both falling to the ground behind a stack of bins. But we were out of sight.
A second later, the man came around the corner, glancing into the alleyway, before slowly walking away again. My plan had worked. Unforcently. I had just proved the man had been following us, for what reason i didn't know. But he had been following us. "That was so much fun" Natasha giggled next to me and I forced myself to relax, to grin and nod at her. "Wanna do it again?" She shook her head, still smiling as I helped her up. "I can't sorry. It's already 9pm. My flight at 10 so I'm already late as it is" she explained. "Want a lift to the airport?" I asked but she shook her head again, "I'll just get a cab. You got school tomorrow remember?" I sighed at the prospect, "It's so boring, I have to teach them all about grammar and verbs and their all so stupid and its so boringgg". She laughed again as we walked back out into the street, a taxi pulling up next to her as she waved for one. "So, see you in two weeks yea?" "See you then" she replied, pecking me on the cheek and I smirked, "you missed". "I always do" she replied grinning as she got into the car, "Now you be good and NO FIGHTING with the other teachers". "But their all so stupid" i whined and she laughed, "not everyone can be as smart as Einstein. Now I have to go, see you in two weeks". "Yea, Later Nat" I muttered, waving her off, but my mind was only thinking of one thing. Who the fuck was following us?