Off the Map

Sam Walker had spent the last several months convincing himself that moving to Italy was going to be easy.It had sounded easy when his university adviser had explained the transfer program, and it had sounded even easier when Sam had gone home and immediately started researching Italy. He had studied maps, read about the regions, memorized the locations of major cities, looked at photographs of old streets and mountains, and spent far too many nights reading about European geography until his eyes hurt.He knew where the Alps stretched across the northern part of the country. He knew which regions bordered the Adriatic Sea and which ones faced the Tyrrhenian Sea. He could point out Sicily on a map without thinking.What he had apparently failed to research was how confusing it was to actually walk around Italy with a suitcase.Sam stood on the sidewalk outside his new university with one hand gripping the handle of his suitcase and the other holding his black satchel against his side. He stared up at the enormous stone building in front of him, then down at the piece of paper with the address written on it.

Then he looked back at the building.“Okay,” he muttered. “This is definitely it.”He hoped.The university looked nothing like the modern campus buildings he was used to seeing back home. The old stone walls were covered in patches of ivy, tall arched windows reflected the morning sunlight, and enormous wooden doors opened into a courtyard filled with students. A fountain stood in the center, surrounded by carefully trimmed bushes and flowers, while bicycles were scattered along the edges of the stone walkways.Sam couldn't help staring.He had seen pictures of Italian universities before, obviously, but seeing one in person felt completely different.He adjusted the strap of his satchel and took a deep breath.“First day.”His stomach immediately twisted.“Great.”Sam pulled his brown suede jacket closer around himself. The jacket had a zip-up front and a collar, and underneath it he wore a simple white shirt with light-blue jeans and black Converse. His sandy-blond hair had been left in its usual textured bro flow, although the wind had already managed to mess it up slightly.

He ran a hand through it before realizing that probably wasn't helping.His older brother had called him twice that morning.The first time had been to make sure Sam had gotten to Italy safely.The second had been to remind him not to trust strangers.Sam had assured Austin that he wasn't five years old.Austin had responded that being nineteen didn't magically make him incapable of making bad decisions.Sam had decided not to argue.He walked through the university gates and into the courtyard.For a moment, he simply stood there.There were students everywhere, talking with friends, carrying books, laughing as they crossed the courtyard. Sam caught pieces of conversations in Italian as he passed, understanding most of what he heard but still feeling like an outsider.He tightened his grip on his satchel.He was here.Actually here.Italy.For months, the country had existed for him as lines on maps and names in books.Now it was around him.The smell of coffee drifted from somewhere nearby. Bells rang in the distance. A scooter passed beyond the gates, and someone laughed loudly near the fountain.Sam smiled despite himself.Maybe this wouldn't be so bad.He checked his schedule again and hurried inside.

By the time Sam found his classroom, he was already convinced that the building had been designed specifically to make new students get lost.There were staircases leading to staircases, hallways branching in three different directions, and signs that seemed helpful until he followed them and ended up somewhere completely different.Eventually, he found the correct room.He paused outside the door.There were already several students inside.Sam swallowed.Okay.He could do this.He opened the door.The conversations inside gradually became quieter as a few people looked toward him.Sam immediately wished he had stayed outside.A couple of students glanced at him curiously. One whispered something to another, and the other looked back at Sam before smiling.Sam wasn't sure whether that was a good sign.He walked toward an empty seat near the middle of the classroom and sat down.A large map of Europe hung on one of the walls.His attention immediately went to it.He leaned slightly to the side, studying the map.The borders were slightly different from some of the older maps he'd studied, and he found himself wondering whether the university had chosen it because of the geography department or simply because it looked nice.“You like maps?”Sam looked up.A guy sitting one seat away from him had turned toward the map too.“Yeah,” Sam said.The guy nodded.“Interesting hobby.”Sam shrugged.“I guess.”

The professor entered before the conversation could continue, and everyone quickly took their seats.Sam pulled out a notebook.The professor placed several books on the desk before turning toward the class.“Good morning, everyone.”A chorus of greetings answered him.His eyes moved across the room before settling on Sam.“And we have a new student joining us.”Sam immediately felt every pair of eyes in the room move toward him again.The professor smiled.“Would you like to introduce yourself?”Sam stared at him for half a second.“Uh.”Excellent start.He stood.“My name is Sam Walker. I'm from the United States, and I'm here as a transfer student.”He paused.“I like geography.”A few people smiled.Sam sat back down as quickly as possible.The professor continued talking, apparently satisfied.Sam exhaled."That was painful.”A quiet laugh came from beside him.

Sam turned.The student sitting next to him was smiling.And Sam immediately forgot what he had been thinking.The guy was tall.Very tall.Sam had noticed him before when he entered the classroom, but he hadn't really looked closely.Now he did.Dark brown hair was slicked back neatly, and his green eyes were striking against his olive skin. A few small moles gave his otherwise polished appearance something distinctive. He wore a dark green jacket over a white shirt, black pants, white sneakers, and a necklace that caught the light whenever he moved.Sam looked away.Fast.His face felt warm.Great.He was already embarrassing himself.“You like geography?” the guy whispered.Sam glanced at him.“Yeah.”

“Enough to introduce yourself with it?”

Sam smiled awkwardly.“I panicked.”The guy laughed quietly.“I noticed.”Sam looked down at his notebook.“Thanks.”

“I'm Matteo.”

“I know.”

Matteo raised an eyebrow.“You know?”

“The professor said your name when I came in.”

“Oh.”

Sam nodded.

“Right.”

There was a brief silence.Then Matteo smiled again.“Sam.”

“Yeah?”

“Nice to meet you.”

Sam nodded.“You too.”

The professor began the lecture, and Sam tried to focus.He really did.But every few minutes, he became painfully aware of Matteo sitting beside him.It didn't help that Matteo occasionally leaned over to quietly explain something when Sam didn't understand a particular Italian phrase.Sam appreciated it.He also found himself becoming increasingly nervous every time Matteo spoke directly to him.By the middle of the lecture, Sam had written several pages of notes.He was halfway through underlining something when Matteo leaned closer.“You're taking a lot of notes.”Sam looked at his notebook.“I'm trying to remember everything.”

“You don't have to.”

“I know.”

“You're still doing it.”

Sam smiled.“I like learning.”Matteo looked at him for a moment.There was something about the way he was looking at Sam that made Sam's stomach flutter.Then Matteo smiled.“I can tell.Sam looked back at his notes.He decided not to think about it.He had just arrived in Italy.He had a new university, a new apartment, a new routine, and an entirely different country to figure out.The last thing he needed was to start worrying about what the handsome guy sitting beside him thought of him.So Sam did the sensible thing.He ignored it.

After class, Sam packed his notebook into his satchel and stood.He was halfway to the door when he heard his name.“Sammy.”He stopped.He turned around.Matteo was standing behind him.Sam pointed at himself.“Sammy?”Matteo smiled.“Yes.”

“My name is Sam.”

“I know.”

“Then why are you calling me Sammy?”

“Because I like it.”

Sam stared at him.Matteo simply smiled.Sam sighed.“Fine.”Matteo stepped closer.“You have somewhere to be?”

“Not really.”

“Good.”

Sam blinked.“Good?”

“I'll show you around.”

Sam looked toward the hallway.“I can find my way.”Matteo gave him a look.“You got lost getting here.”Sam's mouth fell open.“How do you know that?”

“I saw you walk past the classroom twice.”

Sam stared at him.“That was one time.”

“Twice.”

“I was looking for a different hallway.”

“Of course.”

Sam narrowed his eyes.“You're making fun of me.”

“A little.”

Despite himself, Sam laughed.Matteo opened the classroom door and waited for him.“Come on, Sammy.”Sam shook his head.“You're annoying.”Matteo smiled.“You'll get used to me.”Sam followed him into the hallway.He didn't know it yet, but Matteo was right.He would get used to him.Much more than either of them expected.