A Week in Italy (itapan)

11

Once we arrived on the bridge, I handed my camera to Feli to take pictures of me. The smell in the air calmed me down and I was able to slightly smile for the picture. "Wow! You look fantastic!" Feli exclaimed. He went into many different poses in order to take pictures of me and I laughed at it. Feli walked towards me, handing me my camera back. "Let's take a picture together" I suggested. He looked at me confused and slowly came closer to me. "Are you sure?" He asked. "Of course I am, it is for the memories"

"I see...." he said softly. Feli took the camera back and pulled me in closer to him. His arm wrapped around me tightly and he held the camera for us to look at. "Say pasta!" He cheered. I laughed out a little and quietly said "paaassssttaaa"

"Yup! That one is a keeper" he giggled. He showed me the picture and I felt my face get hot. He looked amazing.... but I looked so red.... as if I was embarrassed. "You kinda look like a meatball in this" he laughed. My eyes widened as I began to think about what he said. A meatball?

"Now , ready for the last thing before we go to dinner?" He asked. I looked to him softly and nodded "yeah sure" I spoke. "We are going on a canal boat ride thing.... you see, my cousin is staying here and he is letting me use his gondola for a bit" Feli explained. "Wow!!! We are going on the water?" I asked amazed. He nodded his head eagerly at me and gestured for me to follow him. "It is not a far walk from here so let's get going" he spoke.

It was about an eight minute walk, and when we arrived to the boat, I felt nervous. I have never done this before? What do I do? "Ummm.... so how do I do it?" I asked nervously. He pulled me gently to the edge of the side rode and held his hands out for me to grab. "No worries, I'll be doing all the work" he smiled. He showed me how to step on the boat. I looked to him nervously but he kept giving me this reassuring smile.  I slowly put my foot in the boat, holding onto him tightly.

Once I had both feet in the boat, I slowly took a seat in one of the chairs. I looked at him nervously as he hoped into the boat with no problem. "Just sit back and I'll do all the work" he cheered. Feli picked up the boat pedal and began to stand at one end of the boat. I held myself tightly, the feeling from being surrounded by the water was kind of nerve wracking. "Here we go.." Feli hummed. He pushed the pedal against the wall of the sidewalk and we began to be pushed forward.

My legs felt wobbly and I sat still closing my eyes. "It's okay to open your eyes... just look all around you. You are in Italy, enjoy it" he chirped. My body felt light and I began to slowly open my eyes. I looked to him softly and he had a sweet smile. I began to look all around me and I was so shocked that my eyes widened. The sun was about to set and the lights along the canal were lighting up.

My mouth dropped and I slowly started to take out my camera. "I wish you could see how you look right now" Feli whispered. His words made me jump and I looked to him confused. "What do you mean?" I asked. He began to laugh and shake his head slowly. "I just mean that your face is priceless, I kind of wish I had a picture of you like this" he spoke sweetly. He continued to paddle us through the canal and my heart was about to explode.

He kept staring at me with these eyes... they were making me blush and I did not know what to do. I turned away from him and shoved my hands between my legs to warm them up.

"Aren't you going to take some pictures?" He asked. I jumped once more and nodded my head. "Oh yes!!! Let me do that!" I spoke. I was still turned away from him but I could see his reflection in the water. Why was he making me feel this way? I don't really know him much and this is just some small crush. I just want to jump into his arms though.... it was a very confusing feeling. My head was telling me that there was no point since I would be leaving soon, but my heart wanted to hug him so badly.

I've never been one to make such a bold move, so I doubt it would work out.  I soon finished taking pictures and I turned my body to look at him. He was still staring at me with this goofy smile as he kept pushing the boat forward with his pedal thing? "What is that called?" I asked. He looked to the stick and smiled. "It is called a forcola... it helps push the gondola" he smiled. I nodded and continued to look at him.

This scenery, this feeling, the weather, the colors, the way he looked. It was all like a work of art in the making. His hair and eyes, his soft skin.... I wanted to take everything in so I wouldn't forget it. Of course I wouldn't tell him that. "Can I take a picture of you?" I asked. He looked to me with a smile and nodded eagerly. "Yes of course! You can take all the pictures you want of me" he laughed. I smiled softly and held my camera up to began taking a picture of him. The pictures would never do him justice, but I'll always have these pictures to help remember him.