Where Do Broken Hearts Go?

24. Revenge

I find a fresh and clean Marcel lazily sitting in a chair, pondering with his finger sitting in the part of his lips. His thumb's skimming past his bottom lip as he stares off into space. Realizing he's no longer alone, his eyes cut through me. Mine flick to the lonely, red rose in his hand.

This staredown can't be good for my soul. I can feel it rattling within me as Marcel gets up from the chair. His eyes trickle away from my gaze to acknowledge my outfit change.

"I'm sorry for pushing you into the canal." Marcel pulls his lips into his mouth, hoping for forgiveness. My eyes fall to the flower, wondering if it's mine. "Oh," Forgetting, he lifts the rose between us. "This is my peace offering."

Before retrieving the blossom, I analyze it, allowing silence to hover over us. As I pluck the flower from Marcel's fingers, his eyes have a tough time staying glued to my direct ones. Instead, he chooses to focus on the rose.

As I hold it sideways, Marcel bumps a brow, questioning the unusual adjustment. Pinching the stem, I snap it between my polished fingers then toss half to the side. Marcel's eyes follow the fallen plant. Avoiding his hurt expression, I return to my bedroom.

MARCEL

I... just realized how bad I fucked up. 

Angel has never cursed at me with the venom intended to sting. I never knew she had a vein that divided her forehead. 

As she stomped away from me, she stomped on my pride. I play too much. I knew her idea of swimming didn't include a disgusting, overused canal. I'm sure she envisioned more of the Roman statues overlooking her and the pool as she wore the white, triangle bikini I spied in her luggage.

After several closed doors and the sound of the shower, I sprinted out of the shared suite. Yes, wet clothes and all. 

Ditching the hindrance of a confusing GPS, I jog down the street searching the nooks and crannies for a gift to present Angel with. Instead, I found those playful boys from earlier. Sure of my distress, they wanted to cheer me up with a game of soccer. Sadly, I had to let the little guys down. Shit, that's not your first time disappointing someone today, mate.

After seeing one of the kids waving his hand past his nose and another covering his face with his clean shirt, I bring mine in for an uncivil whiff. Choking, I drop the clothing. I wish the insolent scent would bid me farewell, but that can't happen until I find something for Angel. This is another punishment that I rightfully deserve. 

Offended themselves, the aspiring, miniature soccer players begged for an explanation behind my shuffled mane and audacious, semi-wet clothing. Crouching down, I relive my faults with them. I was expecting high-pitched giggles and uncontrollable laughter, but instead, each one of them shared their disapproval through winces and grimaces. Fuck... I really screwed up.

I suggested flowers, but they told me there wasn't a shop for a few blocks. I didn't know how long Angel was going to stay in the suite and I wanted to apologize before she left. I figured I didn't have time to run blocks.

After some pondering, the kids told me to follow them up the street. We stopped in front of a home with a colorful and abundant garden. As I eyed the flowers, the boys stood with small smirks, smiles, and folded arms as if they had found the solution to my dilemma.

My first thought was that I'm no thief. I couldn't violate this stranger's garden for my own selfish reasons... but was my reason truly selfish? Gnawing on my bottom lip, I checked the morals that stood between the kids and the free blossoms.

From the corner of my eye, I saw one of the kids trying to slide between the gate. The last thing I needed was for the boy's head to get stuck between the bars of the black, railed entrance. Before he could get his ears past, I tugged him back and jumped the 4-foot entry.

Charging towards the porch and the red, spiraling petals, I squatted down to grab the stem of a rose. Dumb. Instant regret. I wasn't thinking. Hurt like hell. I know I'm bleeding. I had some twisting and turning to do until the stem broke off. Relieved, a chuckle slipped my lips as I bowed my head – victoriously shaking the gift between my pinched and pricked fingers.

Suddenly, the kids started shouting. By the time I looked back, they were throwing their arms and pointing ahead. Without prying the thorns from my embedded palm, I pushed my damp-ends out of my face to discover an unarguably upset man unlocking the screen of his door. Shit. 

Before I could gather another thought, I'm cutting through the yard as the kids were racing and shoving each other down the cobblestones. All I heard behind me was a furious language I couldn't understand. After jumping the fence, I followed the scattering boys. I gave a new meaning to air-dried clothes.

Down the street, I leaned against another fence to secure my heart behind its ribcage. Even though I did wrong, the kids rewarded me with applause and high fives that I couldn't take pride in. I've had enough guilt for one day. I didn't feel right until I had a brief talk with them about taking things that didn't belong to them. The boys followed me back to the hotel and wished me luck with my girl friend.

With all that trouble, it hurt something in me to see Angel break the stolen flower between her fingertips. My heart dropped and a chill shivered me to the bone as I watched her go back into her room and close the door. Picking up the stem, I tapped it against my open, yet nicked palm.

ANGEL

After a couple of moments, I stroll back into the quiet living room. Marcel is in the same spot that I left him in, but now, with the broken stem in his hands. He is such a puppy.

Continuing my stride, I pass him and herald, "I'm going to get something to eat. Then, I'm going to Doge's Palace." I check over to spy him smiling at the pinned flower in my hair. "Are you coming?" I invite. 

Marcel graciously bows his head. "Yes, I'm coming."