Sabina x Lucilius

1

I opened the door to the insula and walked out into the noisy and hot Subura street. Sitting on the ground next to the ianua was Manius. He held out his hand and asked for spare change. I handed him a few coins and began making my way to the forum.

I knew that I needed to buy myself a new stola since I had gotten my other one dirty when I was preparing glires. Once I arrived in the forum, I saw a boy around my age being carried around in a lectica. He had brown, curly, hair and he was wearing a white toga. I watched him enviously, wishing my family was rich enough to have servants. His eyes locked with mine and my breath hitched in my throat. I quickly looked away and down to one of the forum stalls. When I looked back up, he was still watching me.

I shook my head, trying to stay focused on my task. I went over to the forum stall and picked out an orange stola. I gave the businessman pecunia and stepped back out into the busy forum.

I walked over to the fountain and sat on the ledge. I fiddled with the hem of the stola I had just purchased. I couldn't seem to get that curly-haired boy out of my head. Subito, he appeared next to me. The charioteers lowered the lectica and he got out, standing beside me.

"salve," he greeted me. "ego sum Lucilius."

"salve," I blushed. "mihi nomen est Sabina." Lucilius held his hand out. I took his hand and gave it a firm shake before dropping my hand back to my side.

Manius grabbed the bottom of his toga and asked for spare change. Lucilius snapped at one of the charioteers, who opened a purse and gave Manius some coins. He's so kind, I thought to myself as Lucilius gave the coins to Manius.

"Tonight I'm having a cena at my house," Lucilius said. "I would love it if you would come."

I blushed and looked down at my feet before meeting his piercing chocolate eyes.

"It would be my honor," I responded.