ꜰʀᴇᴇꜰᴀʟʟ | ᴍᴀᴛᴛʜᴇᴏ ʀɪᴅᴅʟᴇ & ᴛʜᴇᴏᴅᴏʀᴇ ɴᴏᴛᴛ

- 11 -

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   RYAN AND I TALKED FOR THE majority of the flight, and eventually, I found out some details about him while looking into his head to see if I could trust him or not. He seemed genuine, with a certain openness that made me cautious but also curious.

As shitty as it is, I made him trust me as well. I couldn't risk it.

Overall, he's a nice guy. He always had good grades and is aspiring to be a lawyer. His parents are rich, which explains why he can afford all that stuff, and he's a drummer in a band back in London. It's an interesting mix, this ambitious student and free-spirited musician.

And now I've decided to stay in the same bloody hotel as him. Why? Why not.

The drive through the city to get there was already beautiful. Seeing the snow-covered Colosseum made me just want to stand there for hours on end. The ancient ruins cloaked in winter's touch gave me a sense of timelessness and wonder. He really was right; Rome is endearingly beautiful.

Arriving at the hotel, I managed to get a nice room with a good view.

I can't believe it.

This hotel has a wonderful view, an indoor pool, a sauna, a gym, and breakfast and lunch included. I want to live here!

I stuck to Ryan's side most of the time, but he didn't mind. He rather treated me like a dog or something, who was just following him around. It was oddly comforting.

At first, we went to breakfast. Then, while Ryan decided to check out the pool, I made my way to the nearest clothing store to equip myself with at least a jacket and another pair of everything I'm wearing.

I neither wanna be dirty nor cold.

And after that, I walked up to my room and sat on my balcony. The Colosseum is beautiful. I wonder how it must have been back then.

I miss Blaise and Theo and Draco and Mattheo and Enzo.

No, they're better off without you. You're a freak, see? You imagine a voice talking to yourself.

Get a fucking grip.

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RYAN WAS LIKE A TOUR GUIDE the last few days. He brought me to the most amazing places here and told me everything he knew. I never thought I'd enjoy that truly.

His knowledge and enthusiasm were contagious, and I found myself genuinely interested in the history and culture of the places we visited.

I picked up a few Italian phrases, and it always made me think of Theo and if I maybe made the wrong decision in leaving him. On the other hand, I have been feeling absolutely euphoric. I have been sightseeing during the day and partying my brain away at night. The energy of Rome at night is something else entirely.

I even spontaneously got a tattoo and a piercing. The tattoo is a snake in between my tits, and the piercing is my belly button. I saw someone get it done in a shop, and I knew I needed one as well. It felt like a symbolic shedding of my old skin and embracing something new.

And I look fucking amazing with it.

And now, after a week of having fun with him, I had to say goodbye to Ryan because he flew back to London.

He gave me his phone number and the name of the place where his band mostly performs in case I ever want to catch one of his concerts, which I think is adorable. His departure felt like the end of a brief, yet nice and helpful chapter.