Milan Stallion

Welcomed

As soon as she exited the airport she realized she wasn’t just mousy little Gemma anymore. Men were gazing openly, she was a young, pretty woman traveling alone, she drew her jacket to herself tighter self conscious, anxious, she was alone. But another thought entered her head. Here she could maybe be a more confident Gemma, after all she was 20 now and how about reinventing herself a bit? She had always had quite the imagination and so in her head briefly imagined a different persona. Sunglasses, high heels a Chanel scent and bold lipstick. Beyoncé had another  more feisty side to her, why couldn’t she!  Shoving back her sandy coloured hair into a loose ponytail she exited customs with her wheeled suitcase and stopped to take it all in. The noises and busyness of the airport overwhelmed her for a minute as she had never travelled alone. 

She smiled to the man with a sign with her name on and followed him out of the airport. Trailing him she listened to his cheerful whistles and conversed with him politely . She noticed his surprise that her Italian wasn’t bad. After all she stood out some, her milky complexion, fair hair and quite frankly badly put together outfit she realized as she spotted designer outfit after designer outfit, black suits and black dresses, lots of lovely jewellery. Must go shopping she told herself, clutching her purse remembering its importance. 

Once they got to the airport car park she loaded her bag and sat dutifully in the back, ready to gaze out the window for unfamiliar sights. The heat was noticeable and welcome. She took off her jacket before entering the vehicle her tight T-shirt was a good outfit choice rather than the long sleeved top she was going to opt for. The area outside of Milan was occasionally green but mostly built up and all on the motorway were moving fast. She checked her phone. It had become a bit of an intrusion lately being a means for Todd to try to gain her favour once more. Every text he sent, even the flash of the preview gave her the same butterflies she had when she first met him but for different reasons. He made her feel ill at this point. His boyish handsome face , heavy eyebrows, cheeky smile, they all caused her pain now. She respectfully remembered to message her mother, she had landed and was enroute. She would drop her a quick call this evening when in the college accommodation. Share her few musings on the place she had gathered thus far. 

The cab stopped at a large building and she paid up. An Italian student was there as advised, a pleasant, smily lady who showed her up to her room and then around the shared kitchen. Her room was next to the bathroom she noted, could be noisy for a light sleeper. Everyone traipsing down the slim hallway at night using it’s facilities. Ugh. She chastised herself. Always noticing the negatives, I mean look at this place she told herself. It was freedom. 

After unpacking she grabbed her jacket but just to hold for now the afternoon was warm still and she wanted to explore neighbouring surroundings. 

As she jogged down the entrance stairs her mind occupied on where to grab some food or even better a supermarket to cook back here, her shoulder thudded into a young business man walking by knocking his phone from his hand. The face darkened in annoyance or anger she wasn’t sure which and she nervously offered apologies in English, forgetting for a second where she was. His eyes softened registering his assailant but he tutted muttering “English”. Gemma drew her breath, this hadn’t been a good start she started again, this time in his native tongue. At that he turned to fully face her. Impressed. She blushed noticing for the first time how handsome he was, all she had seen was a suit and an unhappy face. He did some looking of his own his eyes briefly lowering to her small waist or was it her less than small chest. She wasn’t sure: her thoughts were moving slowly in her awe of his good looks. Her Italian became more rusty now, more self conscious now  but his smile when he offered it was very inviting. She didn’t realize how much she was looking into his eyes, a beautiful hazel with a definite naughty glint to them. Her own sky blue eyes averted, this was all embarrassing yet exciting. To meet someone so attractive. She felt like a teenager meeting her pop star crush, there was a giddiness year  but also at this point of feel of worship to such good looks and toned physique. 

She carried on offering her apologies even picking up his phone and dusting it with her hands in a panic. Oh what good is that doing you silly girl she told herself and gingerly handed it over. Her lips pressed right together, a grimace at her awkwardness. Their hands touching, feeling this braver persona she had wanted wash over she let her hands linger there a moment more than would be acceptable with a stranger.