FRIENDSHIPS

Bzzz! bzzzz! bzzz!

Eliana's alarm rings for 10 AM.

"Oh my God! How long I've slept! I don't think I have time to go to eat." Eliana got out of bed agitated and scared.

>> If I can't eat at the hotel, at least I'll try to find a place where the food is still warm. <<

I said to myself, looking through the luggage for a suitable costume..

Searching through things I found the gift given by Viviana. I would have liked to open it then, but I had to hurry to find a place to eat something.

I put the gift in one of the shelf of the room and took out of my suitcase all the clothes I had, hoping to find something that would suit my mood.

Finally I put on a pair of jeans and a flowered shirt with long sleeves. I grabbed my purse and a pair of red shoes and left the room.

At the end of the hall was Mr. Walter, who seemed disturbed by the noise of my heels.

'Miss Cole, I beg you to "trot" more slowly. Not everyone woke up! ' His disgusted gaze stared at me.

"I should take off my shoes when I walk down the hall. Or I'd better not wear anything anymore, right?" I started laughing sarcastically looking at my watch, hoping that he could be able to understand that the clock is past 10.

Walter left, rolling his eyes and muttering in a whisper.

When the elevator came down, with a disoriented look, I didn't even notice that Brian was looking at me.

'Miss Cole!' He shouted after me trying to tell me something.

'I didn't see you in the dining room this morning. Aren't you used to eating in the morning? '

"Actually right now I'm going to look for a place where I can eat. I hope to find something of quality and preferably hot food." Finishing the idea, I wanted to go to the door to go outside.

'Why didn't you come to the hotel restaurant? It is a private one, only for people who staying here. The food is always fresh. ' Brian tried his best to convince me of the good services that the hotel restaurant has.

"I couldn't wake up in time to get there. Now I have to go if I want to eat today." I left laughing to him trying to quickly close the subject so I could go eat.

'I can recommend you a good place!' Brian shouted after me as he braced himself to catch me up again.

So as not to waste any more time, I pretended that i didn't hear him and continued to see my way. A few blocks away I saw a Chinese restaurant. Chinese food was my favorite, so I didn't think too much about it and went inside.

At one of the tables of there sat and ate Nerina with a boy. Respectfuly, because I know her, I went to greet her.

"Looks like I wasn't the only one who woke up late and missed breakfast at home." I smiled nicely at her.

'Heeeeyy, hello! I'm really glad to see you again. Please sit down!' She was a very kind and very smiling young woman.

"No no. I'll leave you alone, I'll sit down at another table. I just came to greet you."

'No waaay! I insist to sit down here with us.' She said, smiling, making some space for me next to her.

After ordering my favorite dish, she introduced me to Nico, her best friend, since childhood. Then we continued talking and having fun with stories from her past. We talked about the weirdos I didn't think I'd hear. We talked and laughed so much that no one noticed how fast time passed.

It was already 12 PM and I had to get back to the hotel to clean my room.

Nerina left me her phone number so we could meet again sometimes. Even more than that, they offered to take me to the hotel.

'We'll take you to the hotel. The buildings here all look the same and for someone who has just arrived it is very easy to get lost. ' Nico's enthusiasm convinced me to accept the proposal and because Brian had told me already the same things the day before.

On the way to the hotel, after all the giggles and jokes between us, Nerina put on a worried and sad face.

'I didn't even ask you how long you were staying. Because honestly, I seem to have known you for a lifetime and I'd like to spend more time together. ' Her beautiful words filled my heart with happiness.

I hope that is forever. I came here to find peace, away from my hometown. At the moment I want to relax and enjoy the view. Then I will focus on finding a place to live and a well-paid job. "

'You could live with me if you want. I have a 3-room apartment a few blocks away. ' - she told me delighted with a wide and very convincing smile.

"I'll think about it. I'm enjoying my freedom for the moment." I looked down and my face was relaxed.

' Head up! I know you get bored at the hotel all day, so I suggest you come with us to have some fun together. I know all the places here. And many of them you will love.' As I said, or not, he had a very contagious good energy. He also had a very friendly attitude.

"It's kind of impossible to get bored at the hotel when I have Mr. Walter, who doesn't like me very much, and the receptionist, Brian Adams, who is very caring with his customers. You should meet them. You'll never get bored...Never!" While laughing together at what was said, we arrived in front of the hotel where I was staying.

'Still, maybe you change your mind and come with us. We were waiting for you as long as it was needed. ' Nerina had a sad look trying to convince me.

"Okay then. I'll come with you. Wait me at the fountain. It'll take about 15 minutes."

Nerina's gaze lit up and her smile reached her ears. He took me in his arms and then in a warm voice told me that they was waiting for me as long as it was needed.

I then entered the huge hotel lobby where Brian was waiting for the maid with two white towels in his hand.

'Eliana, wait a minute! You're always in a hurry. It seems that you avoid me. You didn't want to talk to me today. Are you always in such a hurry? ' He also surprising me that he called me with my middle name because last night he called me "Miss Cole."

"I'm sorry if you believe that!... Mr. Adams." - I was laughing arrogantly at him.

"It's just that I'm really in a hurry now. Someone is waiting for me outside and I don't have much time." I hurried to the elevator, leaving poor Brian alone.

>> I was really sorry that I left him there and again I didn't end the conversation in a pleasant way. He certainly still thinks I'm avoiding him. <<

The earlier conversation with Brian made me think hard about what he told me. But in the end he is just a caring receptionist.

The real problem was that I didn't know what I should wear, especially that I didn't know where I'll going with Nerina and Nico.

I started looking through my clothes again and finally found something that would fit.

So, I put on a black lace blouse, over that I took a gray fur vest and a pair of black jeans. This time I put on a pair of white sneakers to surprise the valet.

When I got downstairs, behind the elevator doors was Brian, who suggested an elderly couple use the faster path to get to the top floor.

"Hey. Hi again. You're in a hurry, aren't you?" He smiled so shyly that I wouldn't let him talk to himself again.

'Hi Brian. I'm a little late, but if you have something important to tell me, I can take a few minutes to talk." I was constantly looking at my watch and I wanted Nrina and Nico to still be at the fountain.

Brian smiled at me again, gazing me that I was always looking at the watch, realized I was in a hurry, and let me go.

'You look verry well dressed like that!' He shouted a little embarrassed after me. That was probably what he was thinking, and he had no intention of saying it out loud.

Running to the door, I look back at him and wave to him, as a sign of goodbye.

"Thank you, Mr. Adams!"

I had begun to like teasing him, and it was obvious that he liked it too, if not, he behaved like Mr. Walter: unpolite!

For my surprinse, at the fountain Nerina and Nico had been waiting for me for more than 25 minutes.

"I'm so sorry I'm late. But if you knew Brian, you'd know why I did it."

We all started laughing and continued our way to the city center.