I woke up to my phone ringing on my bedside table. I had a bad nights sleep last night, I tossed and turned all night, I didn't dream about anything, which is okay in my book, it's better than having my bad dream but I still wish I had gotten to see more of that house. I picked up my phone and saw that it was my mom calling me which was odd, she only calls once a day.
"Mom, is everything okay?"
"Yes honey, everything is great. Listen, your dad and I talked about it and we decided that if you are going to take a leave of absence, you should go somewhere. You need to get out of Texas and away from everything so you can clear your head. We think maybe you should take a little vacation and go to Italy." I was shocked by what my mother had just said.
"This is a dream right, I'm still sleeping?" I said questioningly.
"No honey, your aunt, Tanya, has a vacation house there. I have already called her and she said it will be vacant starting tomorrow. I have already booked your flight to! You will leave tonight and we will meet you back here a week before Christmas!" My mom sounded thrilled by the news she was delivering, how did she even set all this up in one night?! The price of the plane ticket didn't matter to my parents, my dad owned a few businesses all over Texas, plus a few very successful oil rigs here and there, but I still hated when they spent large amounts on me. I would rather have just stayed home during my leave of- wait a minute.
"Mom, I haven't even decided whether or not I was taking a leave of absence or not! Plus I can't just leave, I have to call the school to set up and appointment, then-"
"I have taken care of everything. Your leave of absence lasts one full year. Now unfortunately you can't stay in Tanya's house that long, she only agreed to let you stay for a couple of months."
"Mom! You tried to send me to Italy for a whole year by myself?! How are you okay with this? If I was going to do this, then I was just going to stay at home."
"I know sweetie, but your dad and I think you could use some time away from E- everyone." I know exactly who's name she was about to say. She was about to bring up my ex Ethan. Ethan and I have class together twice a week. When we were together it started off great, he was so sweet, but then he got drunk one night and left a bruise in the shape of his palm across my face. His drinking wasn't anything new, but that was the first time he had laid a hand on me while he was under the influence. I broke things off that night once I was safely in Sarah's car. She has always been there for me. How was I going to tell her I was leaving?
"I know mom. What am I supposed to tell Sarah? Do you know how upset she is going to be when I tell her I am going to a different country without her, specifically Italy?" Sarah and I have always wanted to go to Italy together, we have been saving up for years. Together we have officially saved up to buy round trip plane ticket, no room, nothing extra on the trip, no food, just the plane ticket. We are very bad at saving money, especially when we both live within walking distance of our favorite coffee shop.
"You know how Sarah is sweetie, she will get over it eventually. Just make sure to send her lots of pictures and buy her something nice while you are there. Besides, you will have so much fun! You remember where we put the passports?"
"Yes mom... are you sure about this?"
"Absolutely, I booked so soon the tickets are non-refundable. I don't mind spending the money sweetie but,-"
"I know mom, you just don't want to waste the money." This was mom's excuse for everything. She didn't mind spending the money, but once she bought you something you were going to use it.
"Okay, okay. Now you had better get packing, your flight leaves at four." I checked the time, it was already noon!
"Mom, that's four hours from now, I can't pack everything I need for two months in four hours! I don't know what the weather is like there right now, I don't know how cold it will get in December!"
"Just pack the necessities dear, Ally can pack up the rest and send it to you." Ally is our maid and she is one of the sweetest people I know, she was basically my second mother.
"Okay, I have to get off here and pack then-" I deadpanned, "bye I love you." I couldn't deny the excitement that was seeping into my voice as I spoke. I can't believe this is happening right now!
"Okay, we love you too, text us when you land safely, I will have a driver waiting on you when you get there!" With that she hung up. My head was spinning from everything that just happened. I was going to Italy... by myself... in four hours.
I jump up at the last though, I only have four hours to pack my bags, get ready, and make it to the airport. I grab my suitcase out of my closet before throwing in the basics, I pack enough shirts, pants, and underwear to last two weeks before throwing in some extra shoes, all of my hair supplies and makeup. I grab my purse and put my passport in it along with my wallet, charging cord, and my headphones. I forgot to get ready before packing my things so I have to go through my things and find my straightener, makeup bag, and an outfit. I internally groan at myself, I do this every time I pack!
By the time I finish getting ready it is already three o'clock. I check myself one last time in the mirror, I have my usual traveling outfit, a pair of black leggings, a long sleeve dark green shirt that says Baylor across the chest in gold letters, and my tennis shoes. I grab my bags before heading downstairs to meet Ally. She offered to drive me to the airport, more like mom told her to, but I'm not complaining, I hate driving. When Ally and I arrive at the airport I pull up the boarding pass mom sent me before thanking Ally and heading inside. My flight is about twenty-two hours. I have to fly from here to Dallas, then to Milan with one stop in between. When I finally board the flight I pop in my headphones and look out the window, mom put me in first class so I wasn't sitting by anyone. I would have been fine in coach but I wasn't going to argue.
**********
It's nine o'clock in Italy when my plane lands, back home it would actually be around two. As mom promised she had a driver waiting at the airport . He was tall, probably about six foot, he wore a black suit like he was going somewhere fancy, and black sunglasses. He also held a sign with my name on it, that's how I knew he was here for me.
"Hey dude, you know it's dark outside right? What's with the sunglasses?" I motioned towards his face as I spoke. I had to look up at him, my five foot five height made him look like a giant, maybe he was a little taller that six foot. After I spoke he looked around and took his sunglasses off before replying.
"Well, your mom told me you would be here at two." He said pointedly as he grabbed my bags from the baggage claim. My mom wasn't technically wrong, she just forgot to add the extra seven hours for the time difference.
"Sorry about that, my mom can sometimes be a little..." I couldn't quite think of a word to describe my mom, she wasn't dumb by any means, but sometimes when things are last minute like they were she always forgets something.
"Yeah I get it, it's fine. I like the food here." He says over his shoulder as we keep walking.
When we made it out to the car he placed my bags in the trunk as I slid into the back seat. When the driver was finished he took his seat and began driving. I texted mom to let her know I made it and slid my phone back into my purse.
"So, what's your name, why don't you have an Italian accent, and why are you here?" I asked. It just dawned on me that even though we were in Italy, this guy didn't have an accent.
"Blake, I'm from the states, and to pick you up."
"Well, Blake, it's nice to meet you, and can you answer that last question just a little less sarcastically please?" I really was curious why he was here in Italy.
"Well, when your aunt bought her house, she asked me to stay there when they are gone to keep an eye one the house. I wasn't in a good place back home, I got into some things I shouldn't have and I was good friends with your uncle. Your aunt knew about my situation and offered to help me out... of all of it. When your mom called your aunt she said I could pick you up, which I don't have a problem with. So far you nicer than I though you would be, most people in your situation are brats."
"Well... no brats here." I whispered. I wasn't sure how to respond to all that. He did seem nice, I thought he looked young the be a driver. When I picture a driver, I see an old guy with thinning white hair who wears a butler suit. This guy didn't have the little flappy things on the back of his suit, which I do have to admit was a little disappointing. I wonder what kind of things he got into that was so bad he had to move to Italy just to get away from.
We talk for a while about little things after that, nothing of importance. Eventually an hour went by before my brain started to go crazy, what if he is kidnapping me? What if his 'things' were charges for murder? Was he going to kill me?
"How far is the house?" I asked timidly. If he hadn't planned on killing me already, I wasn't going to give him any ideas.
"We're almost there, it's only an hour and a half from the airport. Don't worry, I'm not kidnapping you. If I were going to kidnap anyone -which I would never- I would take someone who doesn't talk near as much as you." He asked with a smirk. I didn't think I was talking all that much, m=but maybe I was. I'll work on that. It was a relief to know I wasn't in a hostage situation, but how did he know I was thinking that. I didn't bother to ask, I was getting pretty tired. The last part of the trip was pretty quiet, the last thing I remember was leaning my head against the window.
I woke up when I felt the car shut off. I had a little trouble seeing the house In the dark but it was beautiful from what I could tell. It was the perfect modern day house, not quite my style but it was still amazing. I look around and see that we are well hidden from the road, even looking straight down the driveway I can't see it. I don't see any other houses through the trees. The driveway curves around to the two car garage to the left of the front door. I grab my bags out from the trunk and walk to the door, it's locked so I have to wait for Blake to park the car and unlock the door.
While I'm waiting Blake opens the door from the inside, I guess he went through the garage. As I walk through the house I'm still half asleep so I don't bother looking around, I can explore another time. After all, I am here for two months. I follow Blake upstairs to the master bedroom.
"This is your room while you're here. If you need me I will be right down the hall." Blake pointed to the door directly across from mine. Between our rooms was a overlook for the living room, I didn't bother to look down, heights of any kind bother me. I thank Blake before closing my door and heading to the shower. I rush through so I can get in bed quickly, I was exhausted. I guess this is what jetlag feels like. When I finally crawl into bed I pull the fluffy duvet over me and as soon as my head hits the pillow I am out like a light.