"Anna? Anna? " was coming from a phone dropped on the floor.
Chapter 36
Anna came to her senses after a while. Her head hurt from the blow, she tried to get to her feet but the body did not seem to listen. Reaching for the phone, she glanced at the screen. The time on the clock didn't tell her how long she'd been unconscious - hours or minutes. The screen was flashing "18 messages from Randall Parleo".
Anna cried bitterly. Crying was not even the right word. She was weeping. Not understanding anything, feeling only the aching pain in her heart, she roared and screamed on the floor and did not want to stop. The pain was so unbearable that she gasped for air, shouted and begged the heavens to give her answers.
Randall kept calling, and she finally found the strength to open the messages and read them.
He kept asking where she was, begged her to pick up the phone, and in one long message he explained everything she wanted to know.
"Anna, please pick up the phone, I'm worried about you. Yeah, I had sex once, right after I got back to Garth. We had a welcome party and one girl kept harassing me. We danced for a long time and then we had sex that's it. I don't really understand your reaction. Aren't we friends? Why are you suddenly offline and not answering me? I'm endlessly worried, please answer me!!"
Anna read the message, it would seem that a thousand times. She suddenly burst out laughing hysterically. The situation was stupid and ridiculous, and she felt like a teenage girl with a broken heart.
Randall was still online, and she wrote:
"We're friends? We. ARE. FRIENDS??????????"
"???"- followed by a response from Randall.
"Do you sleep with all your friends, Randall? Are we fucking friends????"
"Anna, I was sure that we understand each other. I never meant to hurt you. I thought we were on the same wavelength and having a great time!"
"You are a piece of shit. I hate you."
"Anna!! Don't write to me insults, I'm telling the truth. That is why I calmly replied that I had sex. I didn't think it would hurt you. You yourself must be having attention, too. That's OK with me. We're friends and we didn't promise each other anything. Or do I misunderstand? "
Anna threw the phone on the bed. She couldn't stop crying. Resentment seemed to cut her heart. Randall had a point, but that didn't make it any easier. She was hurt, she couldn't hide it, couldn't ignore it, couldn't accept it.
She wanted to erase all their relationship from her life. Destroy all the photos, forget his name, obliterate everything they've been through together. She wanted to never fly to Italy to see him, now she hates this country, all the places, all the sights, all the people.
All of this she wanted to erase from memory or...
Rewrite?
Or... rewrite...
Or - rewrite.
She grabbed the phone and ran outside.
Chapter 37
It rained heavily. It seemed to have conspired with the girl and cried instead of her. Anna's tears dried up as if passing the baton to nature. For an hour she has been sitting in a cafe on the corner of her house and frantically flipped through the Internet in search of tickets.
Tickets to Italy.
"I'll rewrite everything." she kept saying, opening and closing bookmarks with tourist offers. The cost of tickets soared up but Anna did not care. She was looking for so long not because the astronomical prices of the trip worried her but because she was waiting for some sign, some unknown signal that she should choose this date, or this hotel, or this...
"Host Association Milan Tours".
"No fuckin way..." she pulled away when tours of the so-known platform flashed before her eyes.
"Host Association Milan Tours".
"Of course!" Anna made some kind of inhuman laugh and read aloud the opened banner.
"Host Association Milan tours" will help You in choosing the ideal accommodation with the best owners on the best terms. Need a quiet neighborhood? No problem! Cheaper housing? Easy Peasy! Are you traveling with a big company? Even better! Our super hosts are always happy to accommodate You and all your friends in their wonderful apartments for a fair price! No scam! No hidden fees! Only clean transactions, beneficial to both tourists and hosts. Hurry! Students get a 30% discount!"
The plan lined up in a second. She'd fix it. She would make the journey perfect.
She would cut Randall out of her life and pretend nothing had happened. In place of this idiotic holiday romance would be a perfect, untainted journey.
Weird? Illogical? Let everyone who thinks that, go eat shit.
"My life-my rules." Anna muttered and smiled. "A book I'm writing to myself. That's what my life is. I'm free to write whatever I want and tear out all the sheets that ruin the story. A new page, a new chapter. And from now on, I'll be the author, not everyone else."
With these heroic conclusions, the listeners of which were a cup of coffee and a laptop, Anna began to leaf through the lists of owners offering their homes for rent.
"Michaelo Razzi. Pucci Str, 35...blah, blah, blah, clean, cozy mansion, blah, blah, your own entrance... aha I see...” murmured the girl, scrolling down the suggestions and adding to favorites. “Dear reader, this is Milena Mirizzi, blah, blah... Wow! By the sea! Oh, wow, how much money do you want, Milena my darling! Blah blah...”
She faltered.
"Randall Parleo. Fizzi Strada. A charming home for lovers of Baroque style and anyone who wants to spend unforgettable days and nights in the heart of Milan."
"Asshole!" Anna blurted out and spat on the monitor.
"Yacks!!!" commented the shocked Chinese man, who was sitting nearby and witnessing the savory spitting.
"Excuse me, sir." Anna blushed and began to wipe the screen with her sleeve.
"Even more awful! Very more very more awful!" the Chinese made a grimace, trying to express his contempt. "Bèndàn!"
{Bèndàn from 笨蛋 idiot, author's remark}
"Thank you!" Anna responded, not understanding at all, and grinned.
"Shì. Shì!" the Chinese replied and turned away in disgust.
{Shì from 是 yes, author's remark }
Anna closed the promo and went on reading. Several apartments she marked as "Favorites" but then she saw this:
"Teo Reez. Apt 15-46 is the best offer you've ever seen. Luxury Villa near Santa Maria Delle Grazie for a mere penny. I don't want your money. I need your great impressions of my hometown. Yes. Such things happen!"
"Oh, Lord. This is the Teo that Bernardo and Randall were talking about. Their hated rival that steals all their customers."
She knew she would act out of resentment. She felt some dark, burning anger inside, which wanted to get out, wanted justice only in its perverted way - to make the offender as hurt.
Anna wanted Randall to suffer, to be hurt, she wanted him to lose her, to understand that he loved her, that it was not just a stupid holiday hookup or some kind of friendship with benefits or whatever else he thought it was. But it was now that she saw in a second how things would unfold. She saw where it would lead, who would be hurt.
It was clear as day, and she wanted it. And she was about to do all required for it.
By clicking "Contact the Host", Anna began to write a request to rent the villa.
Chapter 38
Teo answered briskly. He said he'd be happy to see her next week and the villa would be free to drop by. They added to each other in social networks and he briefly talked about the "Association" - almost all Anna already knew from Bernardo and Randall.
As soon as he was in friends list, Anna began to view the photos of Teo to see how the host looked like.
Teo was short of Mateo Reez, and he was born and raised in Italy, Milano. He was a tall, thin, charismatic young man three years older than Anna, dark-haired with brown eyes. Not a super handsome man for everyone's universal taste but he was not ugly either. He didn't smile in any of the photos, there was a certain "bad guy" flow with its stereotypical outfits -
leather jackets, a cigarette in his teeth, a daring look and carelessly styled hair. Almost all the photos were from some filming, concerts, and studios - Teo really was very popular in Italy as a DJ and musician. Everywhere were references to his albums, contacts and demo versions of songs.
Music was not especially in Anna's taste - to club hits she was indifferent but even not being a fan one could conclude that content was indeed dope, with catchy and memorable beats. Anna scrolled his page for a few more minutes and, closing her laptop, headed home.
The rain never stopped.
Chapter 39
"I'll call you?" a message came from Teo a few days later when Anna, having taken a shower after work, was preparing to go to bed.
"Sure." she said briefly and dialed his number herself.
He answered after a few rings and with a video. Seeing him live, Anna was even taken aback for a moment, as she expected only a voice call but in her heart she did not regret it. The photos and a video were like day and night - Teo looked completely different from the pics - he was smiling widely, dressed in a simple black T-shirt and white pants. In his hands, he had a guitar, and suddenly said:
"I want to play for you."
Two things literally put Anna in a stupor - a sudden desire of almost a stranger to play guitar for her and the second was just mind-boggling low sexy raspy voice with the velvet notes in it. She had never heard such a voice, even among famous people and musicians she admired, and this one phrase sounded in her head so loud and so delightful that she did not even bother to answer, and continued to stare at the phone screen.
Teo laughed.
"Emm. Ow-kaym, yes, I know. This is weird. But I want to play for you, I need to rehearse this song, and you will be my listener and judge."
And without waiting for the girl's answer, he started playing Iris of Sleeping With Sirens.
His voice was so amazing that Anna seemed to dissolve into the music - it was all so sweet, romantic and easy. She listened to a beautiful song, performed by this talented villa host and thought of how, from this moment on, she herself would write a happy story of the journey, full of positive emotions, such as she experienced now.
Teo finished playing, and they both laughed.
"Welcome to Italy!" through laughter, he muttered. "I wanted to break the ice and set you on a happy journey."
"Thank you!" Anna replied with a laugh too. "You're just mind-blowing! Nobody ever played guitar to me! Thanks, really!"
"Meh, thanks. This is, of course, my cover, but the song is really awesome, I want to rehearse it perfectly before the concert in Sweden. Are you packed? Coming?"
"Of course, everything as agreed. I have a plane in a day, and I'll be at the airport on Saturday."
"I'll meet you."
"What? Oh, thank you very much, but I can manage."
"??? Nonsense. You must have a suitcase full of meaningless women's things for the year ahead. I'm driving."
"Thanks," answered Anna blushing and admitted, "about the suitcase that's true. But! Only the most necessary things!"
"No doubt!" Teo replied, and they both laughed. "Only for me not to forget anything, I need your arrival details, I went video to have an idea about how you look, and not to lose you in the crowd. I have to admit, you look... exquisite!"
"Thank you!" Anna thought to herself that for a long time she didn't hear compliments, even clumsy ones, and it was very pleasant indeed. "I'll send it all to you."
"Great! I'm very pleased to meet you, Anna. I have a luxury villa, you'll be thrilled! You gonna have a great time!"
"I'm excited!"
"Perfect. Well, we'll be in touch. And yes, you're a great listener - you do not squeak with delight."
They laughed again and ended the video chat on that positive note.
Until the day of the flight, Anna tried unsuccessfully to force herself not to sing Iris in full voice.
Chapter 40
Anna had been staring at the phone for several minutes with tears in her eyes. Exhaling deeply, she brought the device closer to her lips and pressed "Record Audio Message":
"Randall, I live every day crying and I just can't wrap my head around how you could just sleep with some random girl after everything we've been through. I mean, I loved you, I really did, and what's there to hide, you know I still do, and yet you just closed your eyes to that fact and pretended it meant nothing. How comfortable that is - she follows you like a shadow, devoted fan, admires you, you can have sex with no promises. You're just an asshole. I'll redo everything that happened to me in Italy, and I'll tell you how, Randall. I'm going there again, and even if I get raped, I don't care, because you don't need me, I will tell yes to anyone, even a complete stranger. Oh, yes, I forgot to say, an interesting coincidence - you lost a rent again, my host will be Mateo! The Teo you love so much! Thank you for a wonderful journey and a broken heart."
Randall immediately clicked to listen to the voice message and, as soon as he heard, began to aggressively dial the phone number of Anna.
She didn't want to answer, having decided that everything that would happen to her in Italy would be on his conscience, and she had not planned to give him a chance to dissuade her from this absurdity.
If he did not need her, she was unworthy of love, unworthy of anything good, because everything she possessed was not enough to win the love of this handsome man.
With that thought, she closed her suitcase and headed for the airport. The phone remained on the bed, blinking and receiving messages from Randall.
Chapter 41
The flight went unnoticed, but the girl's anxiety grew as she approached Milan. Having received the luggage, she took uncertain steps to the exit, hoping not to make a mistake and immediately recognize Teo among the waiting crowd.
Anna's flight was already a few hours late and she was nervous that Teo would not wait for her for so long, and if he did, it was an ugly situation, even though the reason did not depend on her. That a person offered to help, and she made him wait so long, angered her.
Coming to the last exit gate occupied by the greeters, Anna began to look around, trying to find Teo. It was easy to spot him. He stood leaning against a pillar, and was dressed so impeccably that she almost opened her mouth—dark jeans, a leather jacket with chains, perfectly styled gel hair, and to crown it all, sunglasses and a straw in his mouth made him look like a model for some men's magazine.
Anna waved to him and he noticed her at once.
Hmmm, I hope he's not such a "bad guy" as he seems. Thought the girl and walked over to Teo, introducing herself.
Teo took off his sunglasses and hugged her politely.
"How was the flight, Anna?" he asked with a smile.
My God, what a sexy voice he has! her thoughts distracted.
"Fine, thanks. Sorry for keeping you waiting." the girl replied.
Teo took her suitcase and pointed to the exit.
"All is fine. Very tired?"
"Slightest. I slept well on the plane. Ugh, it's hot outside!"
"Yes, crazily hot today. " Teo commented. "Here's my car."
In the parking lot, a couple of meters from them Anna spotted a dusty Mercedes, in the back seat of which sat a young man.
"I have my best friend with me, I hope you don't mind?" Teo asked.
"It's okay." Anna smiled.
Teo opened the door for her. Inside the car, it was unbearably stuffy and the seat was so dusty that Anna snorted and half-jokingly pouted, refusing to sit in such dirt.
From inside the car came a chuckle.
"Your future wife is a clean freak, Teo!" the lad laughed and held out his hand to Anna. "I'm Ricardo, call me Ri. Welcome to Italy!"
Anna laughed.
Ricardo seemed a witty and lovely guy. He was also dressed up to kill and kept his shades on even in a car.
"Nice to meet you, Ri. I'm Anna." and turning to Teo, who was wiping the seat for her with displeasure, she asked if he was cleaning the seat thoroughly.
>
"As thorough as it can only be. Everything is clean. Glittering, as your eyes." Teo grinned and threw the cloth into the salon. "Sit down, Mademoiselle!"
"Merci." Anna finally settled in, still skeptical about the cleanliness of the car. "How far is it to go?"
"Not far, my villa is in the heart of Milan." Teo answered proudly and started the engine.
Not Giving Up on Forever Page 7