Giorni in Roma (Days in Rome) - Chapter Three

The next morning, Madison woke to the sound of her telephone ringing. It was rather late in the morning too, so she didn't mind.

"Hello?" She asked drowsily.

"Madison! I've called you five times, are you alright? It's almost twelve." Giovanni asked seemingly very concerned.

She rolled out of bed and started picking out an outfit. "Oh, I'm fine. I was still sleeping."

Giovanni chuckled. "When in Rome... anyway, can you come down to the front desk? I need to talk to you."

"Alright, just give me half an hour," she quickly threw together a blue blouse with jeans and slightly curled her brown hair. Once she walked out of the elevator, Giovanni urgently waved at her.

"Madison, do you by any chance have the list of loft complexes for the other journalists?"

Madison gave him a strange look. "Yes, I do, but why do you need it?"

"Oh, I just have to send it back to George. He doesn't have a copy and needed one."

She reached into her bag and handed him a photocopy sheet. "Alright, here you go and I will see you later!"

"Off to explore Rome I see," Giovanni said as he faxed the sheet to George in England.

Madison nodded and skipped out to the Italian streets. She looked up to the sky and it was like heaven. The sky was undeniably blue with inflated clouds moving around slowly. She spun and the tops of historical buildings came into view. Madison decided that in order to get a better understanding of the city, she would walk, instead of taking a cab. She continued to spin and jump around with her head perched up high, that is, until all the contents in her bag collided with the ground.

"Oh gee, that's embarrassing," she muttered to herself as she knelt down to gather up her things. She then noticed something was missing. "Where did my journal go?" Madison turned this way and that searching for it, but the journal was nowhere to be seen. Suddenly she felt a tap on her shoulder.

Her journal was displayed in the hands of a young man. He didn't look Italian but for all Madison knew, he could've been French or Swedish or something else.

"Thanks," she said quietly, taking back her journal.

"No problem. I saw you drop your things and this journal happened to swing by me," he spoke in plain English.

"Wow! You're fluent in English! But you don't look like you work at a fine establishment," Madison said excitedly. It was true though. He didn't look like a cab driver, or wore clothes like Giovanni. He dressed normally in a button down navy shirt and khaki shorts. Also, his professional camera draped down his neck. His hazel eyes shone in the sunlight while Madison noticed his slightly spiked dirty blonde hair.

"Uh, yes, I speak fluent English," he said, almost revealing a little snicker. "You seem surprised to hear that, why?"

Madison was flustered. "Well, I haven't met a single person who isn't Italian that speaks English since yesterday when I got here. Where are you from?"

By now, they were both walking towards the little outdoor café at the end of the road. Little circular tables with stained glass were placed around with red umbrellas on top of them. "Well let's sit first and then we can talk. I currently live in Australia but I'm technically from the States," he said, indicating that it was her turn to tell him her background.

"Oh I see. Well I'm from the States too, but I live in England," Madison extended her hand for a proper introduction. "Madison Gemmy, please to meet you."

"Ryan Hanser. I'm in Italy on a photography program. How about you?"

"I have my own little column in Capital Magazine. Actually, I share it with four other journalists that mean the world to me. I'm here for six months to write a review about the city," she looked at Ryan and noticed he was staring at her very intently which made Madison feel a little uncomfortable. "Uh, what's your photography program about?"

He laughed. "Well photography of course. I'm a macro photographer. You know, floral designs and such."

"Interesting. Well I actually have to go now. So much Roma, so little time," she started to get up from the chair but Ryan grabbed hold of her arm.

"Not before you promise to see me again," he grinned. "Say Friday? By the Trevi Fountain?" He asked, hoping she would say yes. Ryan also decided to add something else. "I mean, if you haven't been there already. It's a really nice spot for writing."

"Well I have to admit, I've been meaning to go there. Alright then. Seven o'clock. I'll see you there," she broke free of the hold and waved before walking off.

Alright, so I guess I agreed to meet a total stranger by the Trevi Fountain? Rome really has all the surprises, doesn't it? I suppose the next surprise I get will be top of anything here so far.

Madison was sitting on the stone steps near the St. Peter's Basilica Cathedral. She noticed people here and there, and even tourists that probably didn't know Italian were smiling and laughing as someone took their picture. Another group of people sat with wide smiles as an artist painted their picture. Perched at the top where musicians playing classical guitar to make some extra cash. To Madison, they were just having a good time, and maybe that's what they were doing; having a good time.