Ruby Adams, the notorious daughter of the American president, is sent to a strict catholic school in Rome in an attempt to change her ways. . With the loss of her twin brother, will she survive? When she gets there, she encounters a lot of typical issues such as homosexuality, bullying, racism and suicide and perhaps.... A forbidden affair with her English teacher..... Who happens to be a priest in the making.

30 Days in Rome

My bloodstream filled with euphoria as I hurried down the streets of Rome till I got to the bridge where John and I saw the shooting star. Farther down the road, there was a park. Not too long after I got there, I spotted him on a bench staring at the sunset in admiration 


How I wish he could look at me like that 


“Hey” I said as I eased into the space beside him 


“Hi” he said, his smile slowly fading “I heard about what happened” 


I came here because I always felt happy with him. I didn’t want to bring up a topic that would make me sad again. 


The park was quiet. A mother and her daughter were in a corner pointing to the birds in the sky. 


I rested my sketchpad against my knees and commenced my drawing 


“Oh” John said “How should I sit?” 


He stared at me like I was the only he could se or maybe because there was nothing else to look at 


“You know what I like about you, Ruby?” 


“My incredibly good looks” I teased 


“No, apart from that. I like the fact that I can be myself around you, my real self. I don’t have to pretend or act all righteous. I feel like you get me” 


There’s a sweet fragrance that hit my nose as the wind blows, the leaves slowly flying in the air. The mother and daughter walk away holding hands and laughing. There’s a new tension and that’s when I realize that John is staring at me intensely, not just because he’s meant to but it’s something deeper 


I glance down on my sketchpad and blushed 


John reached out and tucked my hair behind my ear 


“You’re blushing” he said “That shade of red drives me mad. Your rosy scent……” 


“You drive me crazy in the best possible way” he said 


“You smell like vanilla” I say without thinking 


“I just told you I’m crazy about you and all you can say is that I smell like vanilla?” 


I shrug and go back to my drawing. I was done after an hour or so. I handed it over to him 


“This is insane” he says “You’re so freaking talented” 


“I’m going to put it on my bedroom wall” 


We walked down the streets as we talked about random things 


We talked about everything including how couples held hands, how the stars looked in the sky, how siblings chased each other and other sort of things. 


“Did you watch it?” I asked “The video” 


I was perplexed at his response. Is he lying to make me feel better? 


“After what happened between us yesterday, I couldn’t. I couldn’t objectify you. You don’t deserve judgement” 


Without giving it a second thought, I hugged him. I know I was supposed to be careful in public so as not to be seen with him but I didn’t care 


He tilted my head to the side and pressed his lips to mine 


Once again two mouths became one under the moonlight of Rome 


Chapter 28