text: Two weeks in and the best thing about Italy was still the wine. After a day of wandering through cobbled streets Kieran loved nothing more than nabbing a bottle from the Cantu's collection to share with Galilea. At first he was worried about getting caught, but Galilea assured him that her parents would never notice. Her father was a diplomat, and on a night like this he'd be at some important event with his wife; Galilea could never keep track. A part of Kieran felt bad stealing from the family that so generously offered to host his stay in Rome, but knowing their hospitality they'd probably have offered him a few glasses if he wasn't underage. Galilea emerged from the cellar holding a dark red bottle above her head. "Check this one!" She squealed as she handed the bottle over. "Today we only drink good stuff!" Kieran let out a mischievous laugh as he examined the bottle. "Damn, Lea, where'd you find this?" Galilea looked puzzled for a moment. "It was underground in the cellar. Did you not look when I was going there?" Kieran saw her wide eyed expression and realised she didn't get the reference. He found it endearing when she didn't understand him. "It's a joke from back home," he started to explain. "But nevermind that, grab some glasses and I'll put on some music." Galilea nodded and happily skipped off to the kitchen. Kieran watched her and smiled to himself. It was refreshing being surrounded by a different culture and different people. Hanging out with Lea was great, and Kieran didn't mind at all that she struggled a bit with English. in fact, he liked that about her, but he wasn't sure why. He connected his phone to her bluetooth speaker and shouted to the kitchen. "What music are you in the mood for?" "Whatever" she yelled back. "Play what you are thinking." At first Kieran was annoyed by her indecisiveness. Then he realised this was an opportunity. Galilea was the only person he felt comfortable goofing off with. Most girls took themselves too seriously but with her, things were different. Everything felt natural. He wanted to play something mellow, so he found a Drake playlist and put it on shuffle. "Ooh my favourite!" Galilea said as she stepped back into the living room. She was holding two wine glasses and a bag of marshmallows. "Get over here, join the party," Kieran said as he took a seat on the couch. He turned up the volume, secretly glad that she liked his choice of music. "No no, let us dance," Galilea said as she poured the wine. Any other time, Kieran would have laughed at the suggestion; he hated dancing. But on this night, with this wine, he made an exception. Especially for this girl. "Alright," he agreed. "But I'm not nearly drunk enough. Let's make a toast." "Nice idea!" He stood up and took one of the glasses from Galilea. He raised it as he looked into her soft, dark eyes. He thought of making a silly, joke toast, but the moment was too perfect. He wanted to capture this night in words he would remember. "To youth and being young." "Youth and being young." Galilea repeated. Their glasses clinked and she held his stare with the music swirling around them. They both gulped down the Chianti and Galilea opened the dancefloor. She waved her hands wildly and tossed her dark hair about. Kieran chuckled to himself. She was no ballerina but dammit, she was fun. He set his glass down and tried to match her energy. She took his hands and laughed as they tried to move in sync. ~ A few glasses later Kieran returned to his spot on the couch. He felt warm from the wine, and his body felt lightweight but heavy at the same time. Galilea joined him, sitting much closer than she ever would if her parents were around. She buried her head in his chest, and Kieran put his arm around her. "Your body is smelling bad today," she teased. Kieran wasn't fazed. "It's all that jumping around you got me to do. I really worked up a sweat there." Galilea giggled and looked up at Kieran. Her cheeks were red from the wine, and from this close he could see the freckles around her nose. She watched his smile as he spoke, seemingly entranced. "Your mouth is so pretty when you are happy." "What?" Kieran responded. He didn't quite catch what she said and turned down the music. Galilea giggled some more. "Your mouth, when you are happy. How do you say in English-" "You mean my smile?" "That's it, your smile. It is beautiful." Kieran paused briefly, then looked back at her. "Why, thank you, Lea." She looked back at him, and slowly began to draw closer... Then the music stopped. And Kieran's ringtone started playing from the speaker. "Crap," he said, fumbling to find his phone. He declined, and leaned his head back on the couch. "Who was it?" Galilea asked. "I'm not sure, I didn't actually check." The phone rang again. This time he looked, and it was his sister Tobin. She probably wanted to check in and see how the trip was going, but Kieran decided that could wait. He declined again. "I will get my phone and it will be the music," Galilea said as she got up. As she left, Kieran received a text from Tobin: "Hey. Call me when you can. It's urgent." Kieran sat up, slightly concerned. He called Tobin. "Hey Kieran." "Hi Toby, I saw your missed calls. Is everything alright?" Tobin hesitated. "Something's happened. Are you sitting down?" "Yeah why, what is it? Is Dad okay?" Kieran could hear that Tobin was flustered. "Uh yeah, Dad is fine. Dad's okay. It's Gaston." Gaston worked with Kieran at the store back home. They became good friends, and Gaston's family paid for Kieran's trip to Italy. His blood ran cold. "What happened?" Tobin sighed heavily. "They found his body this morning." "What? No." "The police think he shot himself. I'm so sorry Kieran." Galilea re-entered the living room, holding her phone and another bottle of wine. "Are you still there Kieran?" Tobin asked. "Say something." Kieran looked around the living room, searching for something, anything to tell Tobin in response. "I-I have to go. I'll call you back." He hung up abruptly. Galilea had been standing in the doorway, unsure if she should intervene. She broke the silence. "Are you okay?" Kieran got up, and strode towards the door. "I have to go." He brushed past Galilea, but in her drunken state she stumbled back and dropped the wine bottle. "Kieran!" She yelled as the bottle crashed at her feet. Her phone clattered next to it. "I'm sorry, Lea, I have to go." Kieran repeated, fumbling with the lock to get outside. Tears were starting well in his eyes. "Where will you go?" Galilea asked, but she was answered with a slammed door as Kieran disappeared into the night.