Another Beginning

• THREE •

"Ha! Ha! Ha! Funny!"  I crumpled the tissue into a ball and throw it back at her. 

She is laughing at our banter, ducking as she tries to avoid the ball of tissue I threw at her.

Her laughter is so contagious.

I found myself uncontrollably laughing with her, soon, even the Italian cab driver is laughing with us.

Oh this girl!

She's so much fun.

I've never met a woman like her before. All the woman I have met always wants to impress me. They are always sweet and ladylike, never treated me as just a normal regular man. But Katie is different. Here is a girl who is laughing so hard, she is snorting like a sailor, and I like it.

"Va bene la mia bella coppia, Colosseo è qui."  The cab driver announced.

"Oh! We're here!"  Katie clapped,  looking out the cab's window.   "Wow!  That is so magnificent! I can't believe I am seeing it in person."  She beamed, admiring the Colosseum  in front of her.

She opened her purse and reached for her wallet.

I covered her hand, preventing her from getting some money.

"I got this."  I tell her.

She tried to open her mouth to protest, but I put my index finger on her lips preventing her from talking.

Her lips are soft.

I felt some tingling in my fingertips when I removed it.

I pulled some Euros from my wallet and gave it to the cab driver.

"Grazie, Signore." I tell him as I open the cab door, letting us out.

I reach for Katie's hand immediately as soon as I got out and she placed her soft hands on mine. Although, she immediately let it go so she can fix her tote and the camera that is slung around her neck.

Why did I feel a little disappointed when she did that?

"You know, I can pay for my cab fare." She said, a little upset.

"Hey, I know. But for me it is not right to let a woman pay if she is with a man. That's how I was raised." I explained.

"Sheez! I know we are in a very historical city, but may I remind you that we are now in the year two thousand sixteen, women has already earned their keep!"

"I know, but may I also remind you that chivalry is not dead, in my book that is." I smirked.

We walked towards the booth, to get our tickets. There is already a long queue.  I followed Katie as she walk at the end of the line.

"Very well then, kind sir."  She replied,  in a very heavy British accent, mocking me. 

Why do I find her mocking me so cute? Normally when people does that to me, I feel agitated. 

"I mighty suggest, that this cobblestone pathway,  where this fine people is also heading, is the unerring way to the direction we wish to proceed."  She continued, still  speaking in a heavy British accent and still mocking me.  This time she curtsied and turned around walking with such finesse.