Chapter 16 - When in Rome...

                                    

                                          
May - June '87, Lake Como and Rome. 
Opening my heavy eyelids, the light that poured in from the window assaulted my tender eyes. And that was it. I couldn't get back to sleep. I turned onto my back, looking up to the traditional Italian ornate ceiling, heaving a soft sigh. Turning my head, I saw Alex still peacefully sleeping on his back. Alex's chest quietly rose up and fell with each precious breath from him. His cherubic face looked so tranquil and beautiful, his golden curls scrambled all over his ears and forehead. Watching him sleep was a favorite pastime of mine. It's not creepy. Saying it makes it sound worse. Ugh, nevermind. I twisted around onto my tummy, still watching him intently, with my head propped up by my arm. I stroked tenderly up and down his arm. Alex's eyes stirred vaguely. His lustrous long eyelashes crowned his beautiful green hazel eyes that sparkled with a mischievous glint. Alex opened his eyes with a low groan that made my insides dance with excitement. "Hey..." Alex mumbled with that gravelly morning voice. "Hey, you." I said, quite breezily, "How long you been up?" He said as he brushed away a stray curl from his face and grazing his hand against my flushed cheek. "Not long." I croaked back. "Come 'ere." Alex said as he gestured for me to snuggle into his chest. I did so gladly, landing on top of him with a grunt. "Hey, Li," He said as he draped him arm over me, still groggy, "I wanna go jump into the lake Como." As I got settled, resting my face in his chest, I hummed in agreement, "Mmm, yeah, I'd love that." Alex stroked his hand up and down my bare skin and looked at his watch. I softly brushed my legs and feet with his hairy legs tickling me, making circles in his chest. Alex chuckled with a husky hint. "What?" I asked. It had been a long time since I shaved my legs, it's true. Alex shook his head and leaned to peck me on the lips. "It's four thirty in the morning, Li." I bit my lip in embarrassment. "Oh," I said, facepalming myself, "Jet lag does some weird things." He laughed. "Come on. Let's get going. I've got to be on set at half six." Alex said, still half asleep. He crawled on all fours on the bed, towards the coffee. "But, I'm tired Alex..." I moaned slowly. Alex turned around. His face had gone from half asleep to wide awake. He slinked towards me, a cheeky glint in his eye. Before I knew it, he was dragging me out of the bed and out the door. "Ey, where you taking me?" He chuckled mischievously, "Be careful what you wish for, Li. You should know that." My eyes widened, "Wait, what?" His confident strides broke into a run, dragging me alongside. "Alex!" I screeched door the stairs and the lobby. "Buongiorno, tutti!" Alex greeted everyone who was going about their business, in a sing-song tune. As he still had his grip on my wrist, he sprinted across the street, both shoeless, towards the jetty that sat peacefully in the lake of Como. The sudden realisation hit me like a ton of bricks. "No! Alex, no!" I screamed in disbelief. "Si, Lila, si!" Alex responded emphatically. Despite all my protests, Alex still went ahead and jumped in lake Como, with me in tow shrieking. The cool water enveloped us both that made us shudder with the exhilaration. Surfacing, Alex's face was smiling at me something wicked. "You utter and," I splashed water at him furiously, continuing my sentence "Complete-" Alex's lips had already found mine, sinking deep, his hands snaked around my waist. After a long ecstasy filled moment, Alex pulled away, "You were saying?" Taking in a breath, I sighed slowly. My hands had already found themselves in his wet curls, tenderly pulling him back for another kiss. I rolled my eyes, "I can never stay mad at you. You know that, yeah?" He smiled brilliantly and nodded. "I know, my lil mushroom. You wanted to jump into Lake Como, right?" I smirked. A crazy idea filled my head. Leaning in to kiss his delicious lips again, I put my two hands above his head and pushed him down, under the water. I laughed as he emerged. He spat water at me, making me stop immediately. "Yes, I wanted to jump in it... not right now!" I said incredulously. He looked me, half stunned half amused. A moment passed between, when both of us read the others eyes. We both bobbed up and down, keeping our heads above water, the water dripping from our hair and faces. "Gah, I love how crazy you are." He said, lunging in and grabbing hold of me, closer to him. Without even thinking, I wrapped my legs around his waist, and arms around his neck. "You think I'm crazy?" I asked. "Insane." He replied. "Pfft, says you." I mumbled as he gently started to swirl us around in circles in the water. "Might as well swim." Alex suggested. "Swim with the fishes!" I yelled as I pushed away gently and started swimming, or should I say thrashing, as Alex giggled.

One night, Alex had finished filming late. I'd been wandering around Rome by my lonesome; we agreed to meet at the Trevi Fountain at two in the morning. I sat on the cool stone as the water cascaded behind me, making a kind of white noise that was peaceful. A stiff breeze stroked at my skin as I watched few other people dallying about, either drunk or happy to be in Rome. Hard to tell. "Hey Shroomy." Alex's voice creeped up beside me. "Hey, you." His arms pulled me in to his warm body, as I welcomed him with open arms. Quite literally. "How was it?" He sighed and kissed the top of my head. "Exhausting. I can't do this forever." I simpered and shook my head. "No, you won't." Looking up at him, I rubbed my hand on his chest in hopes of soothing him. Alex found my lips and kissed them. "You'd make a good fortune teller." he joked. "Or a lawyer." He started to laugh, but suddenly looked at me in shock, "What, you're saying you're good at lying?" I chuckled, teasing him saying slowly, "Maybe?" His eyes widened, "I knew it! Too good to be true!" I smiled and put my head back on his chest, "No. I just know good you're a good man. And good do things happen." He stroked my back and said the words, "You're one of the best things to happen to me." I was almost choked up with emotion. Clearing my throat, I looked him in the eyes and said "You're the best thing to happen to me in a long time." He licked his lips and nodded. "I guess two people who need each other do find each other." "Sometimes." "We're one of the lucky ones." "Luck's got nothing to do with it." I whispered as I leaned in for a kiss. Still in his arms, Alex turned to look at the fountain, all lit up in all its glory. "You know what they say about this fountain?" He asked. I shook my head. "They say that one coin means you'll return to Rome. Two coins, you'll fall in love with an Italian. Three coins, you'll marry the person you met." We both just stared at the fountain for a while. Giving out a sigh, I concluded "I don't need to throw any coins," Alex looked at me, "Cause I've got all I need. Right here." I stated, wrapping my arms around his waist, as he enveloped his around me. "Spoken like a true poet." A moment passed. "It's because you're broke, isn't it?" Alex joked making us both laugh.

Heyo, hope you guys liked this one! 💖
Sorry it took so long. Pretty sure I'm ADHD. Explains a lot. 
Lemme know if you likey,
Have a good one everyone, wherever you are 💕
Party on dudes, S. Rose Hunter.