Chapter 4 - First date

p, li { white-space: pre-wrap; }I couldn't wait for the lessons to end. I didn't see any meaning behind all those formulas, the symbols were empty and deprived of their beauty and elegance to my eyes. I just waited impatiently for the clock to tick the morning away.
When the last lesson ended, I almost jumped out of my seat. I dumped my pens and notebooks in my small red backpack and waited for Michela. She was in less of a hurry, so when she was ready to go out, there was almost nobody left.
«So,» she asked, «what did you have in mind for lunch?»
«Actually, nothing. I'm new here, so...»
«Say no more. You up for pizza? Or kebab?»
«Yeah, why not.»
«Then come with me.»
She led me out of the building, an old, not-so-well maintained palace, formerly a monastery. We got out through the main entrance, and turned right.
«It's just behind the next corner, so you won't have to wait long. I don't know about you, but I'm starving.»
I laughed, just basking in her company.
She kept a quick pace then turned right again after a couple of minutes, stopping right after the corner in front of a typical kebab shop, with the same old pictures on display.
«Kebab here is good, but if you want the most out of your money, go with the calzone. It's cheap, and it's big. And it's quite good, too. Just a bit greasy, sometimes.»
I got in after her, and took a look at the display. There were different kind of pizzas, and looked quite good, but I was quite hungry after all. We took two calzoni to go.
«You'd rather eat outside, or inside?» she asked.
The weather was wonderful. It was mid november, but still, winter was nowhere to be seen.
«If it's not a problem, I'd really like to eat outside. It's gonna get cold soon, and I want to make the best of it while I still can.»
«I heartily agree. How about the square?»
When a math student spoke about ``the square'', it always was the broad square with little gardens in the corners and a big equestrian statue in the middle that was right outside the department building.
«Great.»
We walked back all the way and found a free bench right away. Then we lost no time in pouncing on our lunch. A couple of bites later, I managed to take a long enough break from my feeding frenzy to say: «It's really good!»
«I know, right?»
We ate mostly in silence, too preoccupied with our lunch to speak. Only when the calzoni had completely disappeared, she asked me: «So, where are you from? Your from the city? Or did you transfer here for the uni?»
«Actually I lived in a small city close by, less than 100 km away from here, butI decided to come live in the city to avoid early mornings and all of the problems a two hours commute can cause you.»
At least this part is true -- I thought.
«So you live here? Where exactly?»
«I found a great place right on the subway line. It's pretty cheap, and I don't even have any roommates. It's quite small and old, but that's no problem. I'm not gonna live there my whole life, after all.»
«Of course.» She closed her eyes, just sitting there for a second. «So, shall we go? Those notes aren't gonna copy themseles!»
«Right!» I said, standing up and trying to sound more chipper than I really was.

I would have been happy just watching her all day.We found an open copy shop, and the lady at the counter said we could have the notes back that afternoon.
«Are you all right with this?» I asked. «I don't want to-»
«Don't worry. It's a perfectly good excuse not to study today. But I'd like you to make it up to me by keeping me company on a city center tour. What do you say?»
I was dumbfounded. I thought I had already been dismissed, I thought she didn't want to be with me anymore. An entire afternoon just hanging out with her? Was I dreaming?
«Well, if you put it that way, how can I refuse?»
The smile she threw me was positively blinding, and I fell in love with her all over again.