Carlotta kicked a smooth pebble across the piazza cobblestones.
"Watch this!" Her friend splashed into the fountain with a loud sploosh. Carlotta laughed until she snorted.
The pebble rolled past the fountain, down a side street, and into an alley they'd never entered.
Veronica followed the pebble into the narrow alley, her hand trailing along the sun-warmed stone wall.
She stopped and pointed. "Look," she whispered, her breath catching at the sight of a painted door standing slightly ajar.
Carlotta pushed the door and it creaked on rusty hinges, revealing a courtyard beyond.
A kitten leaped from a stone bench and walked toward a bed of sunflowers.
Veronica reached out, but the kitten paused and looked back at her.
She whispered, "Look," and stepped forward instead of pulling away.
The kitten led them deeper into the courtyard, past a terracotta pot overflowing with fragrant basil.
They found a small table under a trellis. On it sat a plate of cookies and two glasses of milk.
Carlotta reached for a cookie, but the kitten nudged her hand toward the second one.
They exchanged a quick glance, then both sat down.
The first star appeared in the darkening sky as they crunch through the cookies.
Back in the piazza, the buildings glowed pink and orange in the sunset.
"Tomorrow," Veronica said. Carlotta nodded, her laughter still echoing in the quiet street. Above them, a wind chime clicked softly.
