|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon May 15, 2006 4:17 am
 Israel awoke the morning after the drama with Xel ending up in the hosptial, but then she really hadn't been asleep actually. She was afraid of the nightmare that had haunted her after her father's death. She knew it had been dredged up from Xel's near death experience. Glancing over at Sora she stifled a yawn. At least one of them had found enough comfort from the other to get some sleep. Gingerly she pulled out of Sora's arms. It was almost ten and Giani would be by any moment to pick her up. She looked down at the sleeping boy and caressed his cheek lightly. She hated leaving him alone like this, but he looked like he could do with some real sleep and didn't want to wake him.
Sighing lightly she got up off the bed and got changed. When she went into the bathroom to wash her face she smirked at her reflection. She looked like hell. She felt even worse. Quickly scrubbing her face clean of tear streaks, she applied some mascara and that was it. Even though she thought she looked pale, she just didn't have the energy to bother with the rest of her make up. She walked out of the bathroom and scribbled a note for Sora, telling him she would be out for the day and if he needed to crash in her room again he was welcome to. She taped the note to the door and slipped out. She had just enough time to grab a banana for breakfast and pour a glass of milk.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 15, 2006 4:24 am
Giani was a few minutes late down to Israel's room. Earlier that morning he had given his bike a shine and taken the helmets down. He had no ide where he was going to take Israel, just that it would be fun to get away for a bit.
Bounding up the stairs to her room he gave a confident knock on the door.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 15, 2006 4:32 am
Israel's heart skipped a beat at the knock. Despite everything that had happened the day before, she was so incredibly happy to see Giani. She poured the rest of her milk down the drain and set the glass in the sink to clean it later. Tossing her banana peel into the garbage she went to the door, wiping her hands on her jeans. With one quick glance to her closed bedroom door, she hoped that Sora would be alright with her abandoning him, and pulled the door open. Giani's bright smile immediately brought one to her own lips. Patting her pockets to make sure she had her wallet and key she gently put her hand out on his chest to move him back so she could close the door behind her.
"Buona mattina," she said smiling up at him, and moving to slip her arm in his.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 15, 2006 4:42 am
Giani kept his smile as Israel appeared, though she looked terrible.
"Morning Dolce." He said looking her over. "Rough night?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 15, 2006 4:47 am
"Now is that really a way to start a conversation?" she asked with a small smile. Maybe she should have taken the time to deal with her make up, she thought. Tugging slightly on his arm to lead him towards the stairs. She hurried past Xel's door and slowed again to enjoy Giani's company when they were past it.
"And yes. It was," she said looking up at him, then starting down the stairs, letting his arm go to hop down them quickly. At the bottom landing, she turned and waited for him.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 15, 2006 4:56 am
Giani grinned and followed her down the stairs, taking her arm again once they reached the bottom he smiled, not wanting to pry into what had made her look so shaken.
"Well, then we shall have to have a nice relaxing day to make up for it." He said leading her over to his bike and handing her one of the helmets.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 15, 2006 5:02 am
"I can definitely use a nice relaxing day," she smiled as she took the helmet from him and slipped it onto her head. She waited for him to get onto the bike then used his shoulder to help pull herself on. Wrapping her arms tightly around his waist, she settled comfortably against him, resting her head against his back. As they left Aquila's gates behind she forced herself to leave everything that had happened with Xel and Sora with them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 15, 2006 5:14 am
Giani drove for what must have seemed like an hour into a bigger city, one with a few high rises, a couple of Malls and a harbour. He came to a halt outside a large circular white building. Stopped the bike and got off after Israel.
"Welcome to the Ishikawa Gallery of modern art." He said pointing to the building. "THey have a special exhibition of some of Frida Kahlo's work. I thought you might enjoy it."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 15, 2006 5:21 am
Israel had actually dozed a bit on the way there, but was wide awake and felt refreshed when she felt him stop the bike. She hopped off and looked wide eyed at the building. When he explained what it was and what they were doing there, she smiled very brightly and slipped her arms around him to give him a quick hug.
"I've always wanted to see her work. My mother abhorrs it and wouldn't take me to go see it whenever it was on display in New York," she smiled, pulling away and slipping her arm through his and started towards the building.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 15, 2006 5:29 am
"Ah your mother obviously has no sense of passion." He said hugging her arm as they walked into the building. The exhibition was slightly on the expensive side, but as they were high school students they got a reasonable discount.
"Want to talk about it?" Giani asked as they entered the main hall of pictures.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 15, 2006 5:38 am
Israel giggled at his assumption about her mother, which was entirely true and followed him in. At the first painting, she stopped and glanced up at him at his question. She thought at first about playing dumb and start to talk about the painting, but she knew better. Turning her eyes back to the painting she studied it for a moment, taking in the use of color and shading.
"It's long, silly, and complicated, topped off with a friend nearly dying last night," she said a bit too nonchalant.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 15, 2006 5:44 pm
Giani blinked and looked away from the painting he had been studying.
"Your friend nearly died?" He asked. He must have heard wrong, her tone was too carefree for her to have just said what she did.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 15, 2006 6:39 pm
Sighing a bit, she dropped her eyes down to the floor. She wondered if this was really the place to be talking about this.
"Yeah," she said, the brightness from her voice gone. "He uh... informed me yesterday that he had a weak heart since birth, and he's been under a lot of stress. Well... when he left my room I heard him collapse in the hall. He was going into cardiac arrest. The emergency people came and brought him back and took him to the hospital. He's stable now," she said softly. This was not how she wanted to spend her time with Giani. He always seemed to catch her when she was sad.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 15, 2006 6:45 pm
Giani's eyes widened as she explained what had happened.
"Sorry, I shouldn't have asked." He said putting a comforting arm around her shoulder. "He's in the best place, so I'm sure he'll be fine."
Giani smiled as they moved onto the next bright painting. "Remember, these things just make us stronger." He said pointing to the paintings.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 15, 2006 7:36 pm
Israel leaned into Giani, comforted by his closeness. She studied the painting, smiling faintly. She knew what he meant. Frida Kahlo had suffered and produced the wonderous works before them because of it. But the paintings weren't sad and tortured. They were bright, colorful, honest.
"I know... but it doesn't make it any less terrifying," she said glancing up at him, then back to the painting.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
