Masked

1| The Summer

3rd Point Of View

A breeze sweeps back her hair. A long flight later she was stepping foot on the runway of the airport in Monte Carlo in Italy. It had been such a long time since she last visited Europe, with people long gone from her life. Yet, even with those thoughts, a smile couldn't help but stumble across her face. Even better, the sun seemed to be shining just to greet her. Instead of putting on a pair of glasses like most around her, she absorbed the suns rays welcomingly.

After getting through baggage claim, and security checks she pulled out her phone to call the main photographer: Mr. Miresto. Only two rings in was their a heavily accented voice speaking to her. The girl quickly explained to Mr. Miresto that she was fluent in Italian and he gladly changed to speaking his native language. On the way out, the girl learned that there was a car waiting for her outside to take her to her hotel that the photograph company had provided her for her two week stay there in Monte Carlo.

Low and behold, as she re-entered the sunshine outside, she spotted a small Fiat with a young man that looked to be right around her age, maybe a few years older, holding out a sign with her name on it. Or at least the name everyone knew. Inwardly sighing, she plastered a smile across her tanned face and approached the guy. He introduced himself as Kaleb Frisco, who was, to her pleasure, also from America. Although, his grandparents were Italian. She greeted him with her "name."

"Franky Labita," the name rolled off her tongue almost naturally. To anybody else it did seem natural, but there was still a lurking thought tucked in the corner of her brain practically screaming the real response. But, that was the demon she knew better than to play with. Tucking a piece of her light brown hair, she smiled at Kaleb as he politely opened her door for her. Gently shutting her door, he walked around to the other side of the car to get in and drive.

Conversation flowed easily between the two on the twenty minute drive to the hotel. But "Franky" knew that just like herself, he was holding back something. It wasn't hard to spot when you were doing the very same thing yourself. So when he took the phone call with Mr. Miresto and looked the opposite way she studied his features a little bit closer. Not ten seconds later did it hit her: he was an up and coming male model. He even had a pretty funny Vine account too. Girls in the states were just starting to get knowledge of him and they were going crazy. A sly grin spread on her face at the thoughts of teasing him with her discovery. So when he hung up and turned to look at her his eyebrows shot up at her expression.

"Them Versace's though," she quoted one of his biggest vine with a chorus of laughter trailing at the end.

"Ugh, did you know the whole time?" He rubbed his hands down his face. But, the amused smile couldn't help but be seen through the spaces between his fingers. She shook her head and quietly admitted staring at him. They simply laughed it off and soon pulled up to the expensive looking hotel. "Hermitage." The word even sounded fancy as she whispered it to herself while gaping at the palace in front of her.

With only little daylight left the lights around the lawn were shining bright on the exterior of the building. The lake out in front reflected the many windows and columns, with detailed designs, from the building. Before she could even ask how they could afford all this, Kaleb sent her that "don't ask just go with it" look. Shrugging, she followed Kaleb inside, continuing to be awed by the design of the hotel.

"Just go stand over there, and try not to break anything," was Kaleb's departing joke as he pointed towards the golden looking elevators at the top of the staircase. With an amused smile, Franky ascended the said staircase, but couldn't obey orders when she reached the top. Her eyes averted to the bay windows on either side of the platform where the elevators were located. Peeking to make sure Kaleb wasn't looking, she slowly walked over to the window farthest from the front desk, down the stairs, where Kaleb was.

"Wow!" The word couldn't help but escape her lips as she absorbed the raw beauty that was Monte Carlo. From the skyscrapers, to the clear blue waters, with the humongous yachts docked on them, it was a sight to see. Only a minute passed, but it could have been a lifetime for all she knew, when Kaleb snuck up beside her. He poked her side as he approached, causing her squirm due to her ticklish ness there.

"Did I just find Franky Labita's ticklish spot?" He mock questioned her and unable to come up with a snarky remark, she simply stuck her tongue out at him and stomped to the elevators. Conviently enough, the doors were just opening for somebody else as she got there so she slipped in as the couple was stepping out. There was only one flaw in her plan that Kaleb was already chuckling about: the room number.

Just as the door was closing she pressed her hand out and they opened again. Embarrassed, she stepped out and announced she needed the floor and room number. In between laughter, he choked it out to her and she huffed a thank you before stomping right back in the elevator. But as soon as she pressed the number for floor four, and the doors closed, she couldn't help but begin to laugh at her own stupidity. At least, she knew her and Kaleb would get along just fine.

Just a few moments later did the doors open and she stepped in to a hallway lit with many fancy chandeliers along the ceiling. The walls were a rich cream, and the carpet was burgundy. Pictures of many kind hung in the walls in between some of the rooms. Walking down the hall she made a left before she finally came to room 407. Pulling the key that Kaleb through at her, out of her pocket, she swiped the door key and heard the lock click open. Swinging the door open the first thing she noticed was there was two bedrooms, not one; two.

Aside from that, the suite was huge compared to what she had been used to ever staying in the states. There was a little table when you first walked in for keys and other miscellaneous objects, plus a coat rack and an area to put your shoes off to the side. This flowed directly into the kitchen, equipped with all the essentials and a little counter area that had some stools for eating at. Off to one side of the kitchen was a door that led to one bedroom; the other side having an identical copy of the bedroom, both came with a bathroom.

After claiming the bedroom on the right by dumping her suitcase on the bed she went to check the view off the balcony in front of the kitchen. Again, she was left breathtaken from the wonderous views Monte had to offer. Thoughts of how she ever managed to get here swarmed through her head. Then she remembered she was here for her photography skills and realized that that was a good time to start taking pictures. Grabbing her Polaroid from her carry on from the plane she sat on the fence of the balcony and began adjusting the view within the screen to capture the perfect scape.

Only ten minutes later did she have three pictures of the view, that she was satisfied with putting in the collage. Not soon after she put her Polaroid back did Kaleb walk in.

"So what do you think?" He questioned her, while slipping in to the other seat on the balcony beside her. As he did, he ran a hand through his dark brown hair, and she couldn't deny the fact he was attractive. It was obvious he had some sort of italian background with his tan skin. She knew she didn't like him in that sort of way, but any girl in there right mind, heck, even if they were mental, would say he was attractive. She was light on her feet though, and quickly replied before he could catch her looking.

"It's honestly just breathtaking. There is no other word for it, to be truthful. The culture here is so rich. I could tell just from that short trip from the airport to here," Sharing with him, her fascination with Monte, her gaze soon drifted from Kaleb, back to the wonderous city out in front of them. For a few moments, they silently sat, both absorbing the buzz of the city. However, the silence soon ended when the sound of his mouth opening to speak caused her to revert her eyes back at him. It was only then did she see the mischief that had been forming in his eyes.

"Well, if your just as fascinated with this city as I am, or I think you are, then you won't mind going on a little sight seeing tour with me as your guide then," with a raised eyebrow and a growing smirk he patiently awaited her reply. The expression she wore at the proposition was gold. Her mouth was gaped open, jaw dropped, eyes bewildered on the thought of leaving the hotel after being told to stay out of public eye, and get some rest. But she bounced back as per usual. A smirk of her own appeared in her face and she cunningly replied.

"What are we waiting for?"