#vaction

Summer began as it usually did for her.

Exams finished and after one long plane ride home from England all the way back to Australia, she was on yet another plane to Rome. Contant time-zone changes made her a little more irritable than usual as she sat in one of the uncomfortable airport benches, waiting for the taxicab to pick them all up from the airport. She had a half-drank Starbucks cup in one hand, leg bouncing as she messed with her suitcase handle with the other.

"You're holding onto that thing like it's the only thing keeping you alive," she heard a murmured voice.

She glanced up to see her best friend, the one and only Oscar Piastri, wearing that amused smile he seemed to always have when he was teasing her.

She scoffed as she took another sip of her coffee. "Are you saying the way we've changed time-zones three times in the last three days isn't affecting you?"

"Oh, it does," he said, that smile still on his face as he shoved his hands in the pockets of his pants. "I just seem to manage better than you."

She resisted the urge to stick her tongue out at him. They were eighteen and still managed to bicker the same way they had when they were five.

There was a beat of silence. Not uncomfortable, but just a dull in conversation. Oscar enjoyed teasing her, to push her to the limits where she'd sigh and throw her hands up, saying his name in an exasperated tone. But he knew now wasn't the moment, that she'd probably throw the coffee at him if he pressed too much.

He cleared his throat. "Anyway, came over to let you know the cabs are here."

Her face lit up, finally, she thought. She quickly stood up and took another sip of her coffee as she took her suitcase handle in her free hand and the pair started to walk towards the drop-off/pick-up lane of the airport.

"Cab service got everything mixed up," Oscar started to explain as they walked, weaving their way through the crowds. "They sent the two, but they sent one regular cab and one minivan. Our parents will take the minivan; we'll take the regular cab to the hotel."

She snorted in amusement as she drained the rest of her coffee and tossed it in a trash can. "That's insane, the airline got the tickets messed up too!"

"This better not be some sign the entire holiday will go wrong," Oscar mumbled, but his voice was anything but annoyed. "Our last holiday before university and everything goes wrong, can you imagine?"

"Oscar Piastri, do not put that energy out there!" She scolded and reached a hand out to shove at his arm, laughing brightly.

They walked out of the airport doors and were greeted by their parents. His mother pointed to their cab with a soft smile. "Alright kids, there's your cab. We'll see you at the hotel, yeah?"

"No, we're gonna pay the driver to take us somewhere else," Oscar said dryly before making a small 'oof' noise as she shoved him again. "Ouch! Okay, yes, mum, we'll see you at the hotel."

His mother only laughed softly as she pressed a kiss to both of their cheeks before getting in the minivan, where each set of parents called out a brief goodbye and waves before the door shut and the vehicle was off and gone towards the Hotel Eden.

"My suitcase is already in the boot," Oscar murmured once the minivan turned the corner. "Here, I'll take yours, you get in the cab."

She would've protested, but he had already taken it from her grip and she knew when Oscar Piastri set his mind to something, there wasn't much you could do to change his mind.

She clambered into the backseat of the cab, offering a polite greeting to the driver before Oscar was in behind her and the cab was off towards their destination.

The ride was mostly silent, a mix of both of them still being jetlagged and taking in the streets of Rome as the car went through the streets.

No matter how many times they'd been here, Rome never stopped being beautiful, it never failed to capture her attention, never failed to make something in her heart flutter at it all, a small smile on her lips as her eyes darted all around.

Finally, they stopped in front of the hotel. The Hotel Eden was a beautiful building that fit right in with the surrounding buildings while also sticking out just slightly.

About six floors, a mixture of white and yellow brick with each window holding black shutters. It was one of the best hotels in Italy, if not Europe, and still managed to not be overly demanding for attention.

After a brief argument with one another, Oscar grabbed the suitcases from the boot and they walked into the hotel lobby, their parents already waiting.

She walked up to her parents, who handed her the keycard to her room. Her mother paused before handing it completely over. "Classic Room, as usual. Do not go overboard with the room service this year."

"Mum," she groaned as she snatched the keycard, and sent a scowl to her parents. "That was Oscar's idea, and you know it."

"Your idea or his, our credit card bill still faced the consequences," her father mumbled. "You must always remember-"

"Just because we have the money doesn't mean we spend it," she finished for him, and although she sounded rather annoyed, a smile played on her lips. "I know, I know."

Her parents gave her one last look before sighing and shooing her away. "We'll see you for dinner later."

"Alright, alright!"

She walked back to Oscar, who was standing awkwardly by the elevator for her. He glanced up from his phone when he saw her approaching and tucked it into his pocket. "Your parents give the whole money talk, too?"

She rolled her eyes with a nod. "They always do."

"Broken records, the lot of them," he murmured as he pressed the call button.

"Honestly, what do they expect when they book us connecting rooms?" She teased as she looked up at him. "They do realize that it'll only be worse now that we're eighteen and can legally drink here, right?"

They stepped into the elevator when the doors opened with a soft ding and the two walked in, Oscar still dragging their suitcases behind him. In typical Oscar fashion, he denied the bellhop.

"My, my," he whistled as he looked down at her. "You planning on getting wasted every night?"

"No," she said defensively. "More like every other night."

They fell into a comfortable fit of laughter as the elevator opened again, and they walked down the hall towards their rooms, and she finally took her suitcase back as she stood before hers.

"I'm thinking after dinner we have just a movie night?" She asked, sliding the card into her door.

He walked to the door next to hers. "First night of holiday and you're already wanting a night in." She went to make some remark, but he quickly cut her off. "Yes, yes, jetlag, I know."

She sent him a sidelong glance with a smirk as she rolled her eyes. "You're on thin ice, Piastri."

She didn't give him a chance to respond as she stepped inside her room.

The Classic Room at the Hotel Eden was the cheapest room at the hotel, but it was still well over 1,000 pounds a night and was still an impressive room.

She set her suitcase down and barely had a minute of peace before the door that joined their connecting rooms swung open and Oscar was waltzing in like it was his room.

"I'm always on thin ice with you, you're very short-" He began but was swiftly cut off with a pillow being thrown at his face. He paused for a moment as he blinked, but he wasn't shocked in the slightest. "...tempered."

"I am going to lock that door for the rest of the holiday if you start barging in unannounced just to pester me." She threatened with a pointed look.

He held his hands up in surrender. "Alright, alright. No more pestering, noted."

She gave a flat hum as though she didn't fully believe him (because she didn't) before starting to unpack her suitcase. And all she could think about was how she couldn't wait to spend her holiday with her family and her best friend, the perfect send off before university where absolutely nothing out of the usual could happen.

jules speaks!