In The End

Chapter 17

The next few days are spent just me and Alessandro lying on the beach, eating carrot cake ice cream with double chocolate flakes and watching the sun rise and set. This holiday has certainly been interesting. I've had my first holiday romance, eaten ice-cream all day, watched non stop Friends in French with English subtitles (I think I prefer English though it was a nice experience) and most of all my mother and I have become much closer. I almost don't want to leave. After a third day of lying on the beach and stuffing myself full of ice-cream and homemade crepes Alessandro promises to take me on a proper adventure. He keeps his promise too. The next morning he knocks on my hotel room door, three sharp raps. I emerge wearing a simple white shirt and a black swing skirt and black high textured ankle boots that are getting a little too small but I slipped on tiny navy ankle socks so nothing would hurt too much. He smiles at me, obviously having made a big effort himself. He was wearing super skinny biker jeans, an oversized crew neck raw edge T-shirt, A PU bomber jacket and combat boots. His hair was effortlessly wavy and his eyes had a mysterious gleam to them. He grabs my hand and smiles. We don't break hands until we get to his truck. I skip to one side and get in, carefully not creasing my skirt. He drives yet another way I've never explored before and suddenly we're not in the village any more. We're in the next town on. He stops outside a line of shops. I look at him, confused but he shakes his head, smiling and gets out. I get out too and take his hand. He leads me down the footpath and stops outside what looks like a second hand bookshop. I stare at him in surprise. He leans over, his mouth right beside my ear. I can feel his hot breath fanning my face. 'I ask your mother what you like to do. She say books!' He whispers and I smile knowingly. Trust Mum to tell Alessandro what I like to do most. It's true. When I'm not gaming or on my phone, I'm reading. I always have my head stuck in a book. I walk inside the shop and as the shop door closes a tiny bell chimes. I look at the huge display in front of me and sigh. 'Wow' I whisper. 'Now that's my kind of girl. Someone who steps inside a bookshop and says "wow". I assume you're a big reader?' A voice behind me says. I turn and nod. The woman who asked me the question instantly intrigues me when I first catch sight of her. She's very small and stooped like Mia, Alessandro's mother. She has very very long straight blonde hair and very big bright red eyes with flecks of gold in them. She's wearing an odd patchwork dress she either made herself or purchased in a garage sale of some kind. The main colour is a type of dark burgundy with patches of yellow, pink, cyan, green, grey, black and indigo. She's wearing silver sandals threaded with beads and what sounds like tiny bells are on all her toes. 'My name is Esmeralda but friends call me Es' She extends her hand and I shake it. 'Nice to meet you. I'm Carmela. You speak wonderful English' I tell her and she laughs. 'I hope so. I'm English though I moved out here 6 years ago. I was born in Atherstone in Warwickshire. It's near Birmingham. I moved here though because it's always been a small dream of mine to own a used bookshop in France' She informs me and I blush. I stare round at the books and run my fingers along the spines of the books. 'Feel free to take them out dearie and look at them' Esmeralda calls from behind me. I nod at her, mouthing Thank You and walk round the many shelves. Books are everywhere. On shelves as high as the ceiling, on the window panes, piled in corners. I take out a book about famous artists that's as big as my head. I sit on one of the big squashy mismatched sofas beside the window and prop my legs out. Alessandro comes and curls up the other end, his feet beside me and mine beside his. He has an old Thomas Hardy book in his hands: The Life and Death of the Mayor of Casterbridge. He smiles at me and snuggles into his book. I flip through endless pages on artists that painted black and white paintings, landscapes, portraits, famous artists like Picasso and Da Vinci. Two hours pass and I haven't even finished 1/4 of the book. 'I'm going to make a nice cup of rose-hip tea. Would you two like to join me?' Esmeralda calls from behind her desk. Alessandro looks at me and I grin. 'We'd love to thank you Esmeralda' I reply. So a third hour was spent sipping the hot, sweet tea, eating her homemade granola and raisin cookies and having a lengthy discussion about books. For a first date (at least I thought it was anyway) it was shaping up pretty well. At 6:45 Alessandro pokes me and it gives me the signal that we have to leave. I decide to buy the artist book because I'm that drawn to it. 'Ah That book. It's especially good. I'll charge you  €2 ok?' She asks me. I stare at her. '€2 for this?. Are you certain?' I ask and she nods. I grin at her and hand the silver coin over. She packs it in a special canvas bag with a book logo on it and passes it to me with a flourish. I thank her and follow Alessandro out of the shop and to his truck. I slip the book bag under my seat and jump in. To my surprise Alessandro doesn't drive back to the hotel. He stops outside a fancy restaurant. I'm not even surprised. I grin and jump out, taking Alessandro's extended hand. We walk inside and find a seat next to the window where I can gaze out into the darkening sky. Glancing at the menu my mouth drops open. Everything is really really expensive!. I just decide on spaghetti and cheese, seeing it's the cheapest but Alessandro shakes his head. 'Go big or go home' He says and I smile. A waiter with red hair and grey eyes comes to take our order. 'Hello, My name is Bryce and I'll be your waiter this evening. Can I get you anything to drink?' He asks and sends me a wink, making me blush. 'Your best fruit wine please' Alessandro grinds out. I can tell he's mad at Bryce for flirting with me and I suppress a grin. He nods and goes away. Alessandro takes my hand and is about to say something when Bryce comes back with a green bottle and two glasses. I can't help but giggle when Alessandro looks mad. 'Here is you wine. We have two specials tonight, meatballs with a secret sauce and noodles or salmon and watercress salad' He says importantly and lays something by my side. 'I'll..um..I'll just have the salami rolls please' I mumble, not making eye contact with any of them. 'I'll take the mussel risotto' Alessandro says, frowning and Bryce writes it down nodding and making his way towards double doors at the end of the room. 'What is on the paper?' Alessandro asks. I open the paper. 'His number' I reply. Alessandro growls. I giggle. 'Leave it. I'm not going to call him'I say and he instantly relaxes. That is until the food comes. Bryce gives me my plate second and bends down. 'Call me any time. I'd be proud to be seen with someone as hot as you' He whispers and I blush crimson. Alessandro growls again but Bryce ignores him and goes away. I look down and bite into my salami rolls but the grin on my face betrays me. What a terrific day it has been. 

Hey!. Now THAT was a looooong chapter. So proud of myself. I certainly enjoyed writing it hope you enjoyed reading it. Last few chapters AWW but I've a few other ideas I'm gonna try out so don't be sad. Follow, Comment and Vote!.