A Twist in My Story

“Joe, these are gorgeous pictures,” Luciana admired the digital snapshots on his camera. They were having a late Sunday brunch at a small café near the hostel.

Last night they were both up way later than they intended to be. They had decided to go to a Spanish nightclub Joe had picked out. He hadn’t known whether Luciana would be up for it, but she didn’t protest too much if you didn’t count her slightly paled face when he first told her. He had made sure that she was with him at all times while they listened to the music for the first hour or so, sipping on their alcoholic drinks. He’d even managed to persuade her to dance with him to a couple of songs, but then she’d backed down. He could tell she felt awkward so he didn’t push it. A little while later a busty Spanish woman had come up to him and asked if he would like to dance. Joe had looked to Luciana unsure if he wanted to leave her, but she only waved him away with a smile and nod. The woman took him by the hand and led him to the middle of the dance floor. They danced together for at least five songs before he told her he needed to check on his friend. When he finally managed to get to where he’d left Luciana she was gone. He was mildly concerned, but then reminded himself that she was more familiar with the area than he was and would be fine. So he allowed himself to be drawn back to the dance floor again. When he’d finished exploring a little of the Madrid nightlife, it was well after midnight. He had crept back into their room as quietly as possible so not to disturb Luciana. Unfortunately, she jolted up the second he stepped in the room, eyes furious and pillow raised to defend herself. And then, true to her Italian heritage, she let in to him at 1 in the morning while he, true to his mixed heritage, defended himself. At 2am they both called a truce and plopped onto their pillows, facing away from each other and slept uneasily. Joe had woken up around 9am to find Luciana’s bed empty. He briefly panicked before finding her note on the TV.

Gone to sunrise service at the church. Be back for brunch. Meet you at the café.
Ciao, Luciana

A wave of guilt had washed over him. He really should get to a service sometime too…soonish. He felt like he was disgracing his mother by not going. She was always so adamant about her boys’ faith. Groaning to himself, he had grabbed his stuff and trudged into the bathroom for a morning wake-me-up.

“Thanks. I’ll make you copies if you want,” he offered spreading jam on his bagel. Things were still icy between them this morning.

“I’d like that,” she responded nicely. He gave her a quick smile of recognition then turned his attention back to his food. She felt guilty about last night. She really shouldn’t have, and had no right to, lay into him like she had. Her night paranoia at the hostel was getting the best of her and now it was beginning to dampen the fun they were having. “I’m sorry, Joe,” she said softly, placing his camera on the table.

He looked up at her dipped head. “What for? I’ve been yelled at worse before. No big deal,” he shrugged.

“But it is,” she insisted, leaning forward and laying her hand dangerously close to his. “I had no right to yell at you. That’s a job for someone special and I do not fit that category. I was just thinking lots of things last night and then when you came in I had someone to take it out on. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that. I’m not a very good tour guide if I ruin your fun.”

“It’s our fun and you didn’t. This trip wouldn’t be nearly as good without you, Luce,” he said sincerely looking into her eyes. He wanted to tell her that she was someone special, but he caught himself before he made that mistake. “So don’t worry about it anymore. What’s on the agenda today?”

Luciana relaxed as she pulled out their map to consult the sights they still had left to see. “Well there are some souvenir shops you circled and some old historic buildings that you just have to see,” she said around a yawn. “Excuse me.”

Joe reached over, took the map, and folded it. “Or we could go back to the hostel so you can nap. Sunrise service is early for someone who didn’t sleep until 2am.”

She stifled another yawn. “No, no. I’m fine. Really.”

“Lying isn’t nice, Luce. Come on. We’ll both take a short nap then go shopping before we head to the bullfight tonight,” he paid the bill in pesos before she could protest.

“Bullfight?”

“Yep. It’s a must-see in Madrid. This brochure says so. See?” he showed her a vibrant-colored brochure clearly designed to suck in tourists.

She took one look at it and knocked her head back in a loud laugh. Joe’s gullibility astounded and amused her. “You cannot be believing this, Joe” she gasped for breath. “You are such a tourist.”

“So? I’m playing the part. You could do better yourself,” he bumped shoulders with her, pleased at her looseness. Her laughter rang through the air around them some more. “You’re sleep-deprived. You need that bed pronto. Come on, little hyena.”

They made it to their hostel and room in one piece with Luciana in tears from laughing so hard at Joe’s goofiness. As soon as her head hit her pillow she was out cold. Definitely slap-happy, Joe concluded as he covered her up with the light blanket. He sat on his bed and watched her sleep. He was becoming entranced by her. Everything she did fascinated him. Her laughter was music to his ears (though he’d never tell) and he found that all he really wanted to do was make her laugh. He pulled out his camera and snapped a picture, capturing her in peaceful slumber. Then he stretched out on his bed and joined her in sleep.

Luciana awoke first and surprised herself by being drawn into Joe as he snored softly across from her. She hadn’t intended on staring at him and God knows she’d never done anything like this before, but she couldn’t tear her eyes off him. It didn’t help that she woke up on her side facing him, causing him to be the first thing she saw. His hair was slightly longer now, hanging over his forehead in soft waves. It suited him, she thought. She tucked her hand under her pillow so not to reach out and brush his hair back.

He snuggled deeper into his pillow murmuring as he dreamed on. Struck with sudden inspiration she hastily, and quietly, grabbed her sketch pad from her bag and settled on the edge of her bed to draw him. His soft lines worked well for her pencil. She wished she had her other colors and charcoals, but the pencil would have to do for now. She sat there for almost a full hour perfecting her drawing of him to the last eyelash before he blinked awake, his eyes falling on her. He groaned and stretched out his stiff limbs. She abruptly shut her pad and shoved it under her pillow, fighting down her blush.

“Hey Luce,” he yawned sitting up. “I feel much more revived now. You?”

“Absolutely,” she nodded.

“How long have you been up? You look bright-eyed.”

“Not long. About an hour.”

“An hour?! You should’ve woken me up,” he bolted up, fixing his shirt in the process. “We’ve got tons of stores to scour for presents.”

She refrained from the eye roll she wanted to give him. Eye rolls were something she picked up from him and other people she observed. She was beginning to see the usefulness of them. “You know you have customs on all your souvenirs and they only allow you to bring so much back,” she said calmly, slipping on her sandals as he pulled on his shoes.

He followed her motion and grinned at her painted toes. “Yeah I know which is why I’m mailing them to my parents. It’s for them anyway.”

“Ah, I see,” she said placating as she led them out the door armed with the map and Coke. “Just don’t go all cliché, lame tourist with the gifts. Your mother would not like a shirt with the Spanish flag on it.”

“I’m offended, Luciana,” he mocked hurt. “I’m never lame.”

She laughed once. “Right. Okay. Believe what you want but I know the truth.”

He withheld his pleased grin but his eyes glittered with amusement. “Just for that I’m getting you a shirt with the Spanish flag on it. Next time you’ll think before you say something you’ll regret.”

She spared him a sideways glance as they entered the busy market streets of Madrid. “I don’t regret it,” she said primly.

“Oh you will,” he grinned mischievously then headed into the first store leaving her to follow behind.

By the time they settled down at an outside Spanish restaurant with the tapas Joe had fallen in love with, both were several pesos lighter. He had bought tons of stuff for his family, mainly for his mother and younger brother. She had bought more sketching supplies and let Joe talk her into a pretty Spanish doll in traditional dress. And of course he kept his promise of buying her a shirt with the Spanish flag on it. She had it on now as they ate in the courtyard, waiting to go to the bullfight.

“You know I think that shirt suits you perfectly,” Joe said thoughtfully, hiding his grin.

“I look like a….like a…cow!” Luciana hissed. She hated the ridiculous baggy shirt. She’d never bet him again…and she was going to burn this shirt as soon as possible.

“Nah, cows are white with black spots. You’re yellow and red,” he smiled, biting into his supper. Immediately he grabbed his water and gulped it down greedily. “Spicy,” he panted.

Her frown turned upside-down with karmic satisfaction. “Serves you right, Joe,” she beamed delighted and took an easy bite into her food. The spiciness didn’t affect her.

He coughed and shot her an amused glare. “Uh huh. Sure, show-off. It’s worth seeing you in that shirt though,” he smiled.

She shook her head, picking at her food. “You’re impossible. Eat or we’ll miss your prized bullfight.”

He chuckled but obeyed nonetheless. He liked her feisty temper and attitude. And he noticed that she hadn’t looked over her shoulder for days now.

The bullfighting arena was amazing. Joe tipped his head back as he walked through the large entrance, camera snapping away. The Plaza Las Ventas, the Madrid arena for bullfighting, was styled in the pale red, old Spanish style with rivets lining the top. The building was tall enough to be seen from blocks away. If the outside impressed him, then the inside nearly took his breath away. From the entrance way he could see the circular sand pit where a matador and bull would soon dance. It exceeded all Joe’s fantasies formed by movies; this was absolutely spectacular. And to top it off, the murals on the walls were stunning. He half-listened as Luciana spoke about the matadors and bulls depicted on the wall. Apparently she knew fun facts about each of the fights.

All too soon though, they were herded out with the rest of the spectators into the stadium seating. The arena easily fit 25,000 people all split into 10 neat sections. Joe held Luciana’s hand tightly as they slowly worked their way to their seats in section 7. There was no way he was risking losing her here. It would be near to impossible to find her with all the bodies pressed in here.

“This is us,” he announced, pulling her to sit beside him. “Wow. There are a ton of people here. I don’t think I caught half of what they said to me as we fought our way to these seats.”

Luciana laughed, covering her mouth. “Mostly they said something like ‘stupid American tourist’.”

“You’re lying. They were not,” he nudged her playfully.

She held her hands up in surrender. “I swear. They take bullfights very serious here. You were slowing them up. Be thankful it’s not the San Isidro Festival; bloodshed has occurred before.”

“Really? Wow,” he said impressed, scanning the filling arena like a kid at his first ballgame trying to take everything in. “When’s this San Isidro Festival?”

“May 8th through June. That’s when they pull out all the fancy, traditional costumes people expect to see. But you’re still in for a good two hour fight.”

Joe turned his eyes on her, intrigued. “You sure do know a lot about this. Have you been to it before?”

Her body tensed before she caught it. “I do my research. Maybe you should too,” she answered coolly.

He looked at her pensively then nodded. “Maybe. Thank goodness it’s at night though. At least the sun’s set now.”

“Yes. I think I should take this shirt off now. Too hot for it with all these people, plus why risk ruining it,” she said sweetly.

“Not a chance, Luce,” he laughed, slinging an arm around her shoulders as he would with any friend. “Oh look! Here comes the matador, now.”

Joe leaned forward, fully captured in the moment, as the bullfight began.

Two hours later Joe was yelling with the rest of the crowd. It was a bloody spectacle. The matador and his two assistants managed to kill, actually kill, the first bull and were now working on the second. One of the assistants nearly got himself gored by the angry bull’s sharp horns. Joe couldn’t pull his eyes away. It was so bloody and violent and vulgar, but it thrilled him too.

For Luciana the bullfight held little thrill. She instead found herself concentrating on Joe and his reactions. His face expressed his excitement and pleasure, hiding no emotion. She wished she had her sketch pad with her. Mentally, she scolded herself for thinking that way, but he had a really great face to draw. Unfortunately as she berated herself over her silliness, a tingle crept down her neck. Someone was watching her. Her heart beat rapidly in panic as her eyes darted over the thousands of spectators. A few frantic moments later she froze. They’d found her.

With an exclamation on his lips Joe turned towards her. His senses immediately went on red alert when he saw her pale complexion. Unable to restrain himself he reached out and turned her face up to his. “What’s wrong?” he asked urgently. “Do you need medical attention?”

They’d found her. Her eyes darted back to where the two men stood staring at her and Joe in the next section over. Joe followed her eyes.

“Do you want to leave?” he asked quietly though it was unnecessary with all the cheering.

She nodded. “Please.”

Nodding once, Joe grabbed her hand and led her back to the entrance. Both noticed the men from the section over started leaving as well. Luciana’s panic level was rising as she sensed them moving in on her and Joe. She couldn’t think straight. Once they were out of the arena, she broke off into a dead run pulling Joe behind her.

They ran through the dark Madrid night. At close to 10pm the city was still fairly busy. Luciana zigzagged through the street vendors holding tightly to Joe’s hand. He was thankful for all those early morning runs that helped keep him in shape. He still puffed behind her though.

She turned suddenly into a dark, deserted side street and flattened her back against the brick wall. Joe followed his momentum and crashed into her. Both were panting heavily.

“What-” he heaved.

Luciana covered his mouth with her hand, ignoring his hot breath fanning her. Cautiously, she peered around the corner. She relaxed and let out the breath she was holding when she saw no sign of them.

Joe pulled her back, frustration winning over. “What was that all about? Who were those guys? Why are they after you?” he spewed question after question.

“Joe, don’t worry-”

“Don’t give me that crap, Luciana. Tell me who they were,” he demanded.

Her eyes narrowed. “Don’t use that language with me.”

“Tell me who they were,” he said slowly.

She remained silent. She didn’t need to tell him. She could take care of herself. But she had now put him in danger too so… “They are people from my past,” she answered carefully.

“Why are they after you?” he pushed.

“I’m sorry you missed the end of the bullfight.”

“I don’t care about that and don’t change the subject. Why are they chasing you?”

She sighed. “I’m tired, Joe. Let’s go back to our room,” she said, weaving around him and walking back into the busy Madrid night.

“Luciana,” he caught her arm.

“Joe, I-I can’t say right now. Please?” she begged. The weariness was all over her face and in her voice. She was tired. He nodded and held her hand the whole way to the hostel. She didn’t fail to notice that he kept scanning the area for the two men. The guilt of ruining his fun fell on her shoulders hard.

At the hostel, back safely in their room, they each took showers and did nightly routines, but conversation was limited. The excitement of the bullfight was long gone.

Rubbing a towel over his wet hair, Joe stood in the bathroom doorway. “So I was thinking we should just go on to France tomorrow. We’ve seen enough of Spain for now. We can wash our clothes at the hostel in France,” he said logically.

“Sure,” Luciana murmured with a nod as she settled against her pillow.

Joe flipped off the bathroom light, cloaking the room in darkness. He groped the five steps to his bed and dropped on to it, the springs creaking under his weight. He rolled to his back and stared at the ceiling.

Luciana lay on her side, facing him. “I’m sorry for tonight, Joe,” she said softly, keeping her voice steady.

“Don’t be. This is the kind of excitement I needed,” he responded kindly. “Get some sleep, Luce. We have an early start tomorrow.”

She made a noise of agreement then rolled away from him. She bit her lower lip against the fear building inside of her chest. They’d found her. How could they have possibly found her? She was so careful, so careful…and for once genuinely happy in a long, long time. A single tear rolled down her cheek and was wiped away.

On the bed next to her, Joe lay still and listened to her unsteady breathing. He wanted to reach out and console her like he’d do with his other friends who were upset, but he and Luciana were still practically strangers; she’d be embarrassed if he did that. He knew she was fighting with her pride, but he wondered if she knew he knew. So he continued to just lay there and hope sleep came soon.

Back in front of the now empty Plaza Las Ventas, the two men met back up.

“Hai trovato il loro, Fab? (You find them, Fab?)” Vinny asked his older brother.

“No. Li perde per le strade affollate…di nuovo (No. I lost them in the crowded streets…again),” Fabrizio answered frustrated and tired. After spending close to two months looking for her, they were so close yet so far. Yesterday they had found her as she walked easily down the street looking at all the museums and tourist attractions but then had lost her in the shuffle in the plaza. All he wanted to do was get her and go home. “Abbiamo controllato tutti gli alberghi della zona così lei e l’uomo Americano devono stare da qualche altra parte. (We’ve checked all the hotels in the area so she and that American man must be staying somewhere else”).

“Un uomo Americano (An American man),” Vinny said with disgust. “Che cosa lei pensa? (What’s she thinking?)”

“Non lo so. Luciana ha sempre pensato un passo avanti di tutti gli altri. (I do not know. Luciana has always thought one step ahead of everyone.)”

“Vedremo domani alloggio alternativo (We will look at alternate lodging tomorrow),” Vinny decided.

“No. Lei sarà andata prima di allora (No. She will be gone before then),” Fab shook his head. “Luciana è troppo intelligente per restare qui. Lei ci ha visto ed è corsa spaventata adesso. La nostra migliore scommessa è per l'americano a rallentare la sua discesa. (Luciana is too smart to stay here. She saw us and is running scared now. Our best bet is for the American to slow her down).”

“Dannazione. Lo sai che non gli piacerà questa notizia, vero? (Damn. You know he is not going to like this news, right?)”

“Si. Però nulla che possiamo fare. Saremo in relazione stasera poi portata fuori noleggio auto, aeroporti, navi, e treni domani. Deve avere un qualche tipo di trasporto e questa volta saremo proprio dietro di lei (Yea. Nothing we can do though. We will report in tonight then scope out car rentals, airports, boats, and trains tomorrow. She has to have some kind of transportation and this time we will be right behind her),” Fab said resolved as he walked back to the hotel with his brother.