I started writing this after my Italian class (a few classes, actually) which is very fitting. (And later proofread while studying for an Italian test).

Intersession: From Jersey to Milan

Emily: I have bad news.

Daniel: What? Have to reschedule?

Emily: No, you'll have to deal with me for an extra week.

Daniel: … don't scare me like that.

Emily: Come on.

Daniel: … an extra week or forever?

Emily: I love you.

-o-

Milan, Italy - 8:46 AM

People say that long-distance relationships don't work, that they can't work. But people don't mention is that it teaches one how to appreciate love, affection, intimacy, and quality time. All the video calls, text messages, photos; taking an effort to make the other person feel special. It all makes the relationship stronger. It makes them cherish every moment in each other's arms, trying to win the other again.

So that's why Daniel and Emily decided to have a little vacation in Italy when he was done school for the year. Emily was studying in Milan and on a break (that just got extended) so she wanted to show him around.

Daniel walks around the airport, smiling to himself at the sight of couples reuniting. Tight embraces and kisses on cheeks. His heart swells, picturing Emily in his arms and hugging her tight. He looks over each couple, trying to spot her. Daniel didn't think he could miss Emily so much until he was so close to having her by his side again.

She had to be in plain sight, right? That's how she prefers to hide because it's minimal effort and works most of the time. Emily had his bags taken care of so at least he didn't have to worry about dragging those around with him. All he has to find is her which shouldn't be so difficult.

"Aspetti qualcuno?"

Daniel turns around at the sound of someone's voice behind him. To his surprise, Emily smiles brightly as she opens her arms for him. Without another thought, he hugs her as tightly as he could. They both shake with the excitement of being in each other's arms again, their bodies fitting into each other like the perfect puzzle. Moments like this are why he proposed to Emily, aside from her being the girlfriend one would marry. She has a certain charm and aura that comforts him, makes him feel at home even in a new country. Her hair is darker, the way it is naturally without the caramel highlights she had before. She still has her big sunglasses framed in a shade of mauve that matches her flowing light-pink shirt. With her dark jeans and sneakers, she's dressed so much simpler yet so chic and local.

"Ciao, bello!" Emily exclaims, still holding Daniel close to her and kissing him on the cheek. She pushes her sunglasses to sit on top of her head, pushing some locks of her hair back and revealing her bright hazel eyes. "You're dressed like an American."

Daniel didn't even think about what he was wearing, even when he was getting dressed. Looking down at his outfit, he's in a dark-blue half-zip, jeans, and sneakers. He remembers Emily telling him that people mostly wear sneakers here because they walk most of the time.

"Still bello," Emily says. "You know, a lot of people around here won't go anywhere unless they're wearing something Gucci. Also, never match your shoes with your handbag."

Daniel pauses, unsure of what she said but nods. "Noted."

"Did you pick up any Italian? Being immersed here basically made me fluent and I had to take classes."

"I memorized a few phrases on the flight over."

"Meno male! Thank goodness." Emily holds his arm tightly. "Can't wait to hear them. So, where should we go?"

Emily leads him out of the airport and they approach the streets. At first glance, it nearly resembles America with traffic in both directions within the airport rush but looking closer, it's Italy. The stoned pathways, roads, tourists and locals calling at each other in a flurry of languages and dialects. The odd yet pleasant scent of perfumes and colognes diffused with fresh air and exhaust fumes.

"You've lived here for two and half years," Daniel responds. "You tell me."

Emily hums in thought as she walks them over to her white and lavender Vespa parked on the side of the road. She puts on a white helmet and hands him the matching lavender one.

Daniel remembers when Emily first got to Italy. Not only did she tell him all about the sights and food, but she also mentioned when she learned to drive a Vespa. It felt like the best day of her life when he heard about it. She even told him about her rules. Emily's Vespa Riding Rules: wear pants and not skirts or dresses, hold on tight, and don't look at males unless it's il tuo ragazzo. Daniel had to look up what that meant but was glad it's him.

"Wanna go to a bar?" Emily asks as she readjusts Daniel's hands so they're around her waist tighter as he sits behind her on her Vespa.

Daniel lets go for a moment and takes Emily's hand to check the time on her dainty rose gold watch. "It's 9 AM."

Emily puts his arm back around her waist. "A bar is a coffee shop, but if you want to go to the other one then I won't object."

And they're off.

-o-

They barely entered the café when the owner, an elderly man, cheered Emily's name — or "Maria," her middle name because it sounded more Italian — and embraced her before kissing both her cheeks. Then Emily gestured to Daniel, her fidanzato, and then he was in the same tight and intimate hug. He didn't think an old man was so strong but now he was struggling to breathe.

"Gelato and wine in the morning aren't weird," Emily says as they sit at a small outdoor table under a patio umbrella.

"Wine is basically with every meal," Daniel states.

"That's a dream come true!" Emily exclaims. She scoots closer to him and links her arm with his. "Posso offrirti un gelato? Da bere?"

Daniel pauses, translating in his head to the best of his ability. "Okay, now you're offering me a beer. This is a bar after all."

Emily laughs to herself as she kisses him. As expected, she tastes like gelato. He misses having her by his side, only seeing her on a screen in a video call or on the rare moment together. She's been in Italy for over two years and she's somehow someone new yet still the girl he fell in love with, the girlfriend he proposed to, and the woman he'll marry.

"Iodine Livermorium Uranium," Daniel whispers in her ear. As if they were still on her Vespa zipping through the streets, he wraps an arm around her waist.

She leans into the nape of his neck, kissing him there. "Yttrium works too."

Daniel exhales a small laugh. "God, Em."

Emily smiles. "Iodine Livermorium Yttrium."

She kisses the side of his neck again before sitting straight when their server approaches them. Daniel's arm remains around her waist.

"You Americans always order ice in your water," the waiter says to them in a deep accent.

"Right?" Emily says. "We're so weird."

-o-

Emily's dorm made his in the Academy look like a cheap unattended apartment … which is basically what it was. Her residence building resembled a castle with a modern exterior. Minimalistic furniture, contemporary art and decor, and Emily's rich classmates he's heard about in passing. Daniel felt too poor to breathe in it this place and he hasn't even entered her room. It's technically the school's vacation time, which is why Emily invited Daniel over, but a lot of her classmates are still present and hanging out in their common room.

"I thought Poppy would've been here," Daniel mutters as he follows Emily inside.

"She's in Florence with her new boyfriend," Emily responds. "From the looks at how they're going, we might have a wedding to go to in the future."

"Stark, some bags were brought here earlier," one of her classmates calls, "they're just in your room."

"Grazie!" Emily exclaims. "By the way, this is my fiancé. È una biblioteca ambulante."

Emily gestures to Daniel and he freezes on the spot when all eyes land on him. He isn't sure what to expect but it certainly wasn't the waves and jumble of greetings he got instead. It calms him knowing they were all so casual about it.

"Come on," Emily says, leading Daniel to her dorm. "I'll let you unpack."

"Are they going to leak who I am to the press?" Daniel whispers to her.

Emily scoffs. "Nah. Trust me."

"You know I do."

"Besides," Emily stops and leans in closer to him, "I know secrets about them. A part of it is collateral and another is that everyone's a gossip."

Once they enter her dorm, she closes the door behind her. Emily takes off her sunglasses and puts them on her dresser. Next to her jewelry box, Daniel catches photos Emily has wedged on the edges of her vanity mirror. Some of them together when they got engaged, a lot of pictures with their friends. There are so many photos up that it nearly frames the mirror. It's the most personal touch in her copy-paste dorm room and it's all she needs.

"So on the way here," Daniel starts, turning around to face Emily who now sits on the corner of her bed, having pushed Daniel's bag to the side. "I learned some Italian flirting from overhearing a kid trying to talk up to the flight attendant."

Emily cocks a brow, a grin forming. "Did you?"

Daniel clears his throat because he knows his attempt at an accent will be terrible. "Sei una modella?"

Emily nods. "Impressive, babe. And I have done magazine covers."

"Ho una cotta per te. Vuoi essere la mia ragazza?"

"We're literally already engaged." Emily holds out her hands and pulls him closer when he takes them. "Sono innamorata di te."

"What?" Daniel asks.

Emily kisses him. "Bello e impossibile. I'm in love with you."

Forgive the Italian if it's wrong. I only have basic knowledge of it.