Victoria's Secret Angel

Twentyfour

The flight seemed endless as I sat at the window seat wide awake. I tried resting, but I was so nervous about seeing Tony. The closer I got, the more sure I was about how crazy the idea was to come here. Why did I take Mia's advice! And not to mention that strange girl's advice...

I try to massage the frown out of my face and focus on the positives. I'm in Italy! This is the farthest I've ever been away from home, and the most amazing place. The Leonardo De Vinci airport is amazing! There's something about the Italian language that really is romantic.

I retrieve my luggage from the conveyer belt and grab a pamphlet with a map inside that gets bigger as you unfold the pages. Squinting in confusion, I study the roads as best as I can, turning the map as I do. I sigh in frustration as I glance at the giant clock on the wall. It's no use. I suck at map reading.

Opening the map once more, I try again. So, from what I saw on the news, Tony is staying at the St. Regis Hotel with his mom in Rome. How hard could it be to get there? I trace the line that leads from the airport from the hotel, but end up stopping at a cluster of roadways. Well, the taxi driver should no what to do here.

I give up on the map and settle on finding a taxi service. I converted the money I had to euros and I believe I will have enough. A stand in the front of the airport has a bunch more pamphlets with hotels and travel information. I silently give thanks that most of this is in english.

When I finally find a number of a local, English speaking taxi service, I give them a call. Just twenty minutes later I'm outside and a taxi driver pulls up in front of me. "I'm looking for a Kendal," the driver says in a bored tone.

I smile and wave, "that's me!" He nods and pops open the trunk of the car. I pile my luggage in and hop into the back seat, letting the driver know where I want to go.

As we drive, I admire the scenery out the window. On one end, I see the ocean and beach that goes for miles. When it finally disappears from my view, I can see farmlands of green grass and a few goats and cows. Soon stone buildings start popping more and more, eventually forming the outer city. They all look like rustic, picture-perfect Italian houses.

My eyes wander away and into the taxi. I glance at the meter and my eyes practically pop out of my head. "Stop the car!" I yell. The driver looks stunned for a second but then promptly pulls the car over. "That's what I owe right now?" I ask, pointing at the meter. The driver nods. I run my hands through my hair in frustration and slump against the seat. We are only half way to the hotel and the fee already drains the money I have.

After coming to terms with not being able to afford the rest of the ride there, I get out of the taxi with my luggage. I hand the money reluctantly to the driver. He shakes his head and mutters "and you were gonna go to the St. Regis," before speeding off.

I can't believe this is happening! I was so stupid not to think this out more...and now I'm broke in Rome without a place to stay for the night. What am I going to do?

Hauling my suitcase behind me, I trudge up and down the sidewalks of the city. It must have been hours since the taxi driver dropped me off, and I don't even know where I am. The sun is setting and all the little shops turn their outside lights on. Some begin to close.

Giving up on the map and the seemingly endless roaming, I plop down at an empty table outside a small cafe. I should be excited, excited to be in Rome, the city of romance, and excited to be looking for Tony. The thing is, in my mind, I would of found Tony by now and we would be catching up in his fancy hotel. But no!

Not caring where I was (There weren't a lot of people out and about anyway) I let my tears slip out, sobbing into my hands out of frustration.

And to prove the universe really does hate me, a couple of men circle me, eyeing me. I glance up at them cautiously, but ignore them, hoping they were just drunk and would stumble home.