Somewhere only we know

Chapter 10 :]

Michaelle smiled. It was great to be back in Rome. Everything felt familiar. Comforting.

They went to pick up Raoule, who was playing Texas Hold 'em with the guards.

“This ain't over!” Raoule said to a bald Swiss Guard.

“What were you gambling for anyway?” Sarah asked. “Stupid deals?”

Raoule looked as though he'd been slapped in the face.

“The Swiss Guard sword is NOT stupid! Geez!”

Valentino smiled and said, “Well, it really deepens on the guy using it.”

Both Raoule and Valentino doubled over laughing.

“Hey,” Michaelle said, “I thought you were giving us a tour of the eternal city?”

Valentino straightened up and wiped lint off his jacket and chuckled.

“Of course, of course. Follow me.”

He held Michaelle's hand again.

What's with this guy? She thought. Can't he see that I'm just not feeling it?

Valentino faced Michaelle and smiled at her, showing perfect teeth.

Michaelle smiled back, although a little uneasy.

Then he flipped his brown hair in the sunlight, as if in slow motion.

Good God, he's hot, Michaelle swallowed and bit her lip.

He led them to a pure white Ford with the Vatican Coat of Arms. It looked like a bus.

“This is the Vatican Armour Truck. It will protect us from gun fires, weapons, etc...”

Valentino explained, opening the door, “And this is our driver, Sebastiano.”

Michaelle stopped and her eyes grew wide.

“Sebastiano Mauricio?”

The gruff old man chuckled. “Si.”

“Oh my goodness! You were the bus driver for my choir in December 2005 to January 2006! Weren't you? With Ms. Pantusa and my choir director Mr. Makiling? Surely you remember me?”

Sebastiano looked confused.

Damn. He didn't speak English, remember?

Michaelle racked her brain and thought hard.

“Umm.. Dicembre 2005 e l'Anno Nuovo messa Papale! Vi hanno guidato il nostro coro. Con Maestro Makiling e Madame Pantusa. Vi ricordate di me?”

Michaelle looked desperately into the old man's vibrant blue eyes.

He nodded slowly, recollecting his memories.

Then Michaelle remembered something herself.

“Vi ricordate di me? Triste bellezza?” (“Do you remember me? The sad little beauty?”)

Sebastiano's eyes lit up.

“Triste bellezza.”

Michaelle nodded and gave Sebastiano a sad smile.

Sebastiano sat up and embraced her, patting her on the back and kissing her cheeks and the top of her head. Valentino smiled happily.

“Come va?” he asked happily. (“How are you?”)

“Bene, bene,” Michaelle replied. (Good, good). “Grazie.” (Thanks.)

“Prego, prego! Ahh, mi amore voule fede, vi ricordate di?”

“Si.”

Sebastiano smiled, showing missing teeth and clapped his hands.

Michaelle waved bye and sat in her seat. Sarah sat beside her. The truck had aisles, like what you see on a bus, but more spread apart, exposing a large area in the middle.

“Okay. You owe us an explanation,” Sarah said, smiling.

Raoule pulled out his camera in his messenger bag.

“Ya. That guy called you uh.. well I'm not sure exactly what he called you.”

Valentino smiled from where he stood at the front of the truck.

“He called her 'triste bellezza', meaning 'sad beauty.' How come?”

Michaelle leaned against the window and sighed.

“6 years ago, my choir had a festival to attend Rome. Pope Benedict was celebrating his first papal mass for New Year's. On the bus, I was lonely. I sat with no one. Until an Italian girl asked if she could sit next to me. I said sure. She made me laugh. Then one day, while I waited for her, a friend told me she died, getting run-over. I cried on the bus ride, and there was an empty seat beside me. I didn't believe it, so I waited for her, day after day. When I realized she wouldn't return, I felt more and more alone. I remember being so sad, I stayed on the bus while everyone left. I stayed rooted to my spot. Sebastiano the bus driver was cleaning the bus when he saw me. He sat next to me, on the empty seat, and asked why I was crying. I told him. He wiped my tears and called me 'Triste Bellezza.' I understood Italian, so I finally smiled. And he gave me coins, and chocolates, and flowers he picked from the parking lot... He reminded me of my grandpa.

Michaelle straightened up, fixed her facial composure, and lifted an eyebrow.

“There,” she said finally. “That's your explanation.”

“Wow,” Sarah said, “You never told me THAT story.”

“Ya. I never thought I'd see him again.”

The bus drove past St. Peter's Square.

“I wonder how James is doing,” Sarah sighed.

Michaelle smirked, “If I knew any better, I'd say you have feelings for that pretty boy.”

Sarah blushed.

“Uh, I guess I do.”

“Well,” Michaelle blurted, “how d'you get all lovey-dovey all of a sudden?”

“When you left, he... asked me questions about forensic science. I got annoyed and walked away. But he grabbed me and pulled me in for a-”

“-YOU KISSED HIM?!” Michaelle jumped, because of the surprise and because he road was bumpy, probably because Sebastiano ran over a pedestrian.

She lost her balance and fumbled over, but Valentino caught her and winked.

Michaelle quickly got back into her seat, trying to push him away.

Sarah looked at her mockingly. Then she smiled and said,

“ Um, ya, I did. Well, he kissed me.”

There were 5 people in the armor truck, and Sarah blushed, knowing that her story wasn't private.

They stopped by a flight of steps that led up to a Church.

“These,” Valentino started, “are the-”

“-Spanish Steps,” Michaelle finished.

“Very good,” Valentino nodded, impressed.

They passed by 3 more monuments and Michaelle pointed them all out.

“How do you know so much about Roma?” Valentino asked.

“It's one of the 7 Wonders of the World of fashion! Of course!!!”

And Michaelle was glad that Roma stayed the same as she left it.