Chapter 1 - Abroad

Abroad - Chapter ONE

I was born twice: first as a baby girl to Scottish and Italian newlyweds on a muggy morning in early July; then again, with a new name and face, in an emergency room 23 years later on October 10th. It has been almost 2 years and I can barely remember what my old face looked like. Pictures are my only reminder of the life I use to live. Everything has changed since then. My only constant has been my ever faithful best friend, Rayen Grimes.

Diane Arbus once said, “A photograph is a secret about a secret. The more it tells you, the less you know.” It is not uncommon for me to feel this way, especially when looking at pictures of people. Having grown up in a broken family I can remember every photo we took was filled with false happiness. I’m often left wondering if other families are doing the same. My friends that have normal and fulfilling lives, I see them fabricating many emotions, most often joy. Aren’t we all a mystery in that sense; never truly letting even loved ones see our true nature? The person closest to me often puzzled me in this manner. She is always “fine”, kind and rarely sower unless in private or provoked. The family photo she carried with her told no different of a story. There was nothing off putting about Rayne’s life per say. She came from middle income with two separated, but loving parents. In fact the two of us were attending school abroad on a full scholarship. To Italy no less, how lucky could you get? And yet as she sat on my bed across from me, reading her newest novel find out loud, there was sunken solemn plea behind her lashes.

It has not been long since we arrived in Rome. In fact we moved into the Zerro Cabot University dorms a little over 2 weeks ago. Classes began earlier this week and I feel we are settling in nicely at the private american academy. I think the most amusing part of our journey so far was how surprised Rayne was when all her teachers spoke english; assuming that she would have to know italian for her classes before hand, she studied the language like it was a final exam. Though I'm sure her not lacking in the know how of this beautiful country's language will prove to be most helpful.

In addition to Rayne and I we have 4 other ladies in our dorm. There are several dorms on each floor of a building each containing one small living area one small bathroom and three bedrooms made for two. There is a common area for each floor as well as a small kitchen. Moreover each dorm has a mini fridge, a cupboard and a microwave to make things a little easier. And if we don't feel like cooking or going out, there is a cafeteria and game room open from 6am to 8pm daily down stairs.

Rayne’s eyes floated with the words across the pages of her book, paying little mind to anything else. Even as I spoke about my day she only half listened; giving me the occasional “Mmhm” or “ya?” Pouting I crinkled my toes around the rim of her pants leg, attempting to pry her from her climactic excitement. With her back against the headboard she peiked over her paper back at me, sending me a silent ‘get your feet off me’ message. I whined as I removed the pleading gesture, “Come on Sam! Pay attention to me, I’m board.” I quoted one of our favorite tv shows in hopes of getting a crack of a smile.

“Not now, Lavinia.”

I groaned, flopping myself over the side of the bed dramatically. “Not now, Lavinia” mocking your tone I kicked her in the shin playfully.
Sighing heavily, as if to tell me I was being a pill, Rayne placed her bookmark of a family photo in the pages and closed her book. “What is it?”

“Play with me”

“Lavi…” She massaged her temples at my childish tone. “It is passed 1 in the morning. It is not time for a midnight adventure.”

I sat up and took the book from her, leaning over to place it on the table separating our beds. “Fine. Then get up off my pillow so I can take a nap then.” Whether it was for 2 or 12 hours, any time I went to sleep, I called it a nap. Heaving herself over my bent form, Rayne climbed off of mine and in to her own sheets. “What is that book about anyway?” I inquired turning the lamp off so only the dull glow of our phone chargers lit the room.

Now under the covers Rayne turned over to curl up. Having faced the wall her last words before bed to me would be muffled. “Historical Romance. This nurse gets sent back in time to Scotland during their revolution. And although she is married to this one dude back in her own time she marries this other guy.”

After a moment of pondering I turned to her more fully. “Isn’t that a tv show?”

“Yup, books are better”

“The books are always better.”

Even though classes had just started the library was somehow packed with other students with noses in textbooks or straining their eyes at their laptop screens fighting the urge to fall asleep. Seeing all these faces fighting sleep made me yawn, which caught the attention of my classmate, Davina Perviri, or as I call her, Avi.


“Are you serious right now?!” A voice broke me out of my trance of looking around the room.


“What? I was just yawning, can’t I yawn?” I said stretching my arms behind my head, then I plopped my face in my hands and looked over at Avi.


“Why would Professor Berger assign a five page paper first class and expect it due at the end of the week?! I mean we just started classes let’s see...a few weeks ago.” I said tapping my pencil on the open book in front of me. Knowing that I only had 3 and a half pages done wouldn’t sound so bad. Bad thing was that I had procrastinated up until the last minute. You had told me not to but did I listen no. So now you were in the library with me and Avi, providing endless commentary on my mistake.


I decided to get up and look for you. I figured me and Avi were going to be here late and I didn’t want you waiting up for me. Going up and down the aisles of fiction, non-fiction, paranormal, which was interesting because you weren’t in that section considering your studies. As soon as I was about to give up I found you….in the romance section. I lifted my eyebrow at the sight.


“Lavi are you lost?” I asked as I scratched my head.


“Aren’t you supposed to be working on your homework? Which I recall is due by when, exactly?” You said. Your eyes never left the novel you were so engrossed in. They didn’t need to for I felt the piercing gaze of them anyway. “Well?” You said once more, this time with a hint of irritation.


“Oh come on you know I’ll get it done. I’m three and a half pages in already and Avi is making sure I’m getting it done.” I nervously giggled as I watched you turn the pages with gusto as you remained quiet but I knew that wasn’t the answer you were looking for. “....tomorrow.”


“That’s right and what will you get back if you finish it?” You finally looked up from the book you were reading, I caught a glimpse and saw the cover, ‘Dark Gold’. “I’ll get my book back.” I said looking at you with sad eyes, trying my best to look like a puppy dog who was just yelled at.


Damn you for knowing my weakness! Damn you to Hell! That is how I escaped the world. Going to different worlds created by the minds of great authors. Before I noticed, you grabbed my arm and guided me back to the table where Avi was patiently waiting.


“I see you found her.” Avi stated. “She’s hopeless when it comes to school work and I’ve only known her for a few weeks!” She finished her observation as she followed you and I with her eyes back to my spot.


“She’s just a simpleton, aren’t you?” You said as you gently sat me down back in my seat. “Now that you have both chaperones here, you have no effin’ excuse to not finish your paper” you grabbed my pencil and dangled it in front of my face. Why you acted more like a mom than someone who was only a year older than me I’ll never know but it was reassuring knowing that I had a friend who cared.


“So what have you girls been up to? Been out to any of the bars here on campus or in the city?” Avi inquired. Davian, unlike us was from around here. Over the course of about a week or two, Davian started to hangout with me and Lavi, slowly introducing us to what she called her ‘domain’. You liked her because she kept an eye on my sorry ass in class. Let’s just say you two have the same personalities that it almost is scary at times. But it was sure as hell motivating. If I had you two onto me at the same time, well mainly you to be honest, I could get anything done. So with that invisible gun to my head I finished that paper in an hour.


“See! Now was that so hard?” you said sarcastically. Avi had left to go back to her dorm to get some much needed shut eye while you stayed with me, mainly because you didn’t want me to walk back to our dorm alone in the dark.


“Sometimes it feels as though I never left home Lavi.” You would’ve never guessed that sarcasm was dripping from my tongue like rain with the way I said that sentence. “It feels as though my mom is with me, every step of the way.” I always knew how to push your buttons in someway.


As I gathered my books and paper into my bag, I looked over at you to see your angry/pouty face. “Aw come on you know it’s true Lavi.” I laughed as your face read ‘you better fucking run!’. I took the hint and booked it out of the library, catching the look of the librarian and a few other students who had to see the two delinquents ruining their study time as we rushed out of the heavy oak doors that lead to the quad area of the school.


***


After you caught up to me outside of the library, I had stopped to wait for you. "Why are you so random Rayne?" You said as you were bending over to catch your breath.

"Life would be boring if I wasn't. Plus you get a little something extra for being my friend." I said as I turned to you and gave you a huge teeth showing smile. You faked punch me in the shoulder and I mocked pain as I held my shoulder.

You looked up into the sky. Even though we were not far from Rome's city lights you can see the stars in the sky clearly. Sparkling like diamonds. You gaze was torn from the sky back to me as you heard me say something in the direction of the student cafe.


"Lavi, look at that." I say and point to the side entrance of the cafe. Your gaze followed my finger and was welcomed by a man talking into the woman's ear, which she seemed to like. "I hate people like that. Men that seduce women in the night's embrace in hopes to get them into bed." I said as I adjusted my book bag on my shoulder. "Rayne were in Italy after all. You kinda have to expect that kind of stuff and since we're at a college cam..." I held my hands up to stop you, "and hormones are tripled by a thousand. I know." I said. As I finished that sentence, the man and the girl had moved on to each other's faces, they clearly didn't have dinner that night.


Before you tore me away from the spectacle I shouted at the couple, "Ottenere una stanza voi due!". That clearly got one of them to pay attention, albeit only the man's, very little light was around the quad at this time of night and seeing the man's face was difficult. But his eyes stood out, I couldn't see the color but his eyes told me not to interfere.

Your tug on my arm tore me out of my observation. "Rayne I'm pretty sure we should leave." I obeyed as you led me back to the dorm. Having the man's gaze pierced my back as we walked away.


(Antons POV)

College women are typically the easiest to play with. Well that was mostly Garrett's job, but I took a few liberties here and there but I took no pleasure in what lying with a woman would entail. I made that mistake years ago and now it's a stain that I can't get out, no matter how hard I try. It's just there, my past.


I go out whenever I feel restless, going wherever my feet take me. I could end up at a park, a random establishment, but the scene for tonight was a college located in the center of Rome, not far from where Garrett and I dwell. Walking around the college center in front of the library, I play the song over and over again in my head. It hadn't been long since my fingers had touched the ivory keys and melodic tune floated into my ears, my music writing had sounded flat as of late and my mind needed a rest.


An hour or two had passed. I had watched students with arms full of books and, I assumed, minds full of knowledge leaving the library. But my attention was turned to a woman across  the yard at the cafe entrance. She seemed like she wouldn't mind some attention. It wouldn't take much but a few kind words and a touch here and there and presto, she would be putty. Although that's the part I don't like even if it does give me something to do. I worked my charms, my arms had her ensnared, her eyes had a haze to them and the rest of her body told me that she wasn't going to refuse my advances. As I leaned down to whisper 'sweet nothings' in her ear a voice called out from across the way, "Ottenere una stanza voi due!".


I turned my head towards the voice, a young woman barely into her twenties it seemed, heading back to her dorm with a friend. I met her gaze with mine, the look of disgust on her face burned into my head. The woman under my arm was tugging at my shirt collar begging for my attention. But I was far more interested in woman who held my gaze. Before I could do anything though, it seemed her friend wanted to leave the scene and she followed suit. Hopefully our paths will cross once more in the future, for I will need a new distraction.

The tune of a violin filled the dimly lit apartment, the music completing the mood for the evening. The room was only lit with a couple of candles and nothing else. Why Garrett loved to be alone like this I would never know. He was always moody, I rarely saw him leave the apartment we shared but I guess you just wanted to keep to yourself at his age. I don't know if he was different before he came across me or if he's always been like this, so I assume he's always been like this.

I turned on the light as I walked into the living room taking a seat in my chair. As I plopped down I could've sworn I heard him sigh, the music came to a halt as he proped his violin next to the music stand.

"So how long have you been playing this time?" I asked as he went over to the kitchen to make a glass of water.

No answer.

I peeked over at his bow and noted the number of broken strings. "Did you give the neighbors a nice concert?" The tone in my voice was reaching the point of sarcasm. Waiting for a reply from him was as useless as trying to find he holy grail.

"Sometimes Anton I think you prefer the sound of your voice more than you would mine. So I'm shocked that you're willing to hear someone else's for a change." He said as he sat at the kitchen table.

He knew how to push my buttons that old man. I sat up and walked over to the fridge and grabbed a beer from the icebox. "You know you need to get out more and appreciate the little things in life. Come out with me one of these nights and live a little." I suggested as I took a swig from the Bud Light can.

I noticed out the corner of my eye that Garrett was rubbing his temple. Lecture in 3...2...1...

"Anton I've told you countless times. I will not accompany you on your outings or shall I call it 'playtime'. You whore yourself out and I know you know that you do, you toy with women and you somehow find joy in that." Here comes the voice raising....

"I've told you time and time again to be careful, but do you listen, no! No you don't and I'm sick of it Anton! I've taught you better, much much better!"
His face was beginning to turn red from the frustration coming out of his mouth. I knew he wanted to say more but I started to walk off to my room.

"Shall I remind you why you need to remain careful Anton?" His voice stopped me in my tracks, the one crutch he knew I had...

"The one reason why you should be careful when you go out and 'play'." I had told him not to bring it up. I knew that bastard was smirking behind my back.

"I know what you're talking about Garrett, but that one mistake will not make me stop what I do. Nothing you will say or do will ever stop me. " I stood firm, hoping that what he said had not dented my armor.

"Besides I haven't grown out of having 'playtime' just yet."

(Lavi's pov)
I never knew how Pacabels Canon in D could sound so relaxing. It carries me off to my own personal haven. Why I have to have an extra curricular course I'll have no clue, but it was of my choosing so I couldn't complain, mainly because the teacher actually seem invested in his class.

"When we look at composers we see a clear difference between their music. Mozart and Pachelbel were are two different composers who were able to show that music doesn't have to sound the same. It could sound calm and soothing, to play it safe or you could sound exciting and take a risk."

Professor Paganini could really get lost in his lectures. He would demonstrate the different tempos on his violin that he always carried around with him. He always found an excuse to use it. Currently he was playing it due to a simple question from a student in the back that wanted to know the difference between the two pieces of music.

Professor Paganini would play passionately, his hair would fall out of the messy man bun on top of his head. I admire the man, I admire how he plays, I don't even play a fucking instrument but I want to learn. I want to learn from him.

The screen of your phone lit up to alert you of an incoming message. 'Rayne I swear to god.' You thought. You quietly sighed to yourself as you read the message. "Hey Lavi, Leo wants to hang with you and I after your class. I told him your free." The text bubble read.

'Of course she fucking did.' It wasn't a lie, you would be free after this class but it didn't mean you wanted to hang out with your roommate that you saw 24/7 and your lab partner from your artifacts class. But you had to give a response but before you could...

"I would appreciate it Miss Shay if you would focus of the 18th century instead of the 21st." The voice caused you snap your head up to face a man's torso. "If you would be kind to stay with me after class." Prof. Paganini could be fucking intimidating when need be. After bringing me back to Earth the rest of the time went by slowly dreading the end of the class.