CHAPTER 8

I am done shopping and I get Ezze some chocolate too as a favor for driving me home. She takes it and she eats it as she drives me. In a matter of time, I am already home and she doesn't press on taking me up there as I thought she would. "I assume from here you are safe aren't you?" I nod and we agree on meeting tomorrow. I give her my number so that they can pick me up tomorrow since Bartram mightn't give it to her. I am so excited about art and visiting this museum will really make my heart so contented.

I facetime Maritim as I had promised I would and he is so shocked that I already have friends over here and he is so jealous that he isn't here and that I am going to places we planned with a bunch of friends I have made the same day. I don't think there was something to be done. I had put my ring back on and I promised to never take it out without a valid reason. The one glass of wine might bring me some hangover tomorrow and that's why I thought of milk early enough it does help me. I take some glasses of water before I get to bed. It was almost nine o'clock and I have been feeling so tired lately. I took a book and began reading it before I fall asleep and the next thing it was morning and the book was on the floor. I had to wash and blow my hair today, I have let it be shaggy for a while now. I make my breakfast and clean the house a bit since it wasn't really dirty. Today it wasn't that cold, the sun was peeping its way through some clouds and then disappearing again.

I began getting ready since I don't like making people late. Before I get to the shower I hear my phone ringing. Must be Ezze, but it is an hour and a half till noon. I hope she isn't canceling, I hope so.

"Hey Ever, Are you ready yet? I wanted to tell you that we canceled and we have to reschedule it to a later date." 'Wait what, you are so stupid!' I hear Derek in the background. She goes ahead and bursts out a laugh and says she is joking and I can't with her jokes anymore. I almost believed it since she sounded so serious. "Anyway, we wanted to know if you are awake and inform you that nothing has changed except for Bartram and Devon will join too. The Acropolis Museum is just so worth it, I wanted to also study Greek Mythology. I am so excited and I enjoy my shower as I blast my music. Well, this is a good start to the week. My adventure had begun. I even wore some make-up today it has been so long since I did and I wanted to take beautiful photos.

I bet there is a high entrance fee but that is no issue at all and I am sure my other strangers have everything sorted out. I will have more money by the time the weekends anyway and I don't think I will spend all of it but I now have to start limiting my spending I might end up spending a lot in a day.

There is a knock on my door and it is Derek who has come to pick me up. I wasn't fully done so he comes in and sits as he waits for me. I had no idea I would get late, I know most of the time sped up when I was in the shower. He has his voluminous hair in curls and I would smell the hair spray as I hugged him. He has on a turtle neck that has strips of colors. The sweater and the hair have really dazzled me. I think he might have even had some makeup since he did look so handsome today. He was in some greyish chino pants that aren't baggy nor are they too tight but they are just fitting. Well, I am sure everyone else must be this smart. I made a choice to look a bit smart today than my usual sweat pants. I heard Devon call him asking if he got to the wrong house number and he hang up after saying we are on our way. "I had to wait until you were fully done so I could compliment everything on you. That dress looks so amazing on you, your voice has also become sweeter and softer overnight." he says as he smiles at me.

I thank him as I grab my keys and we walk out. I feel the urge to let out a 'Woah!' before I know it, it's out of my mouth already and Derek goes ahead and follows my lead. Chloe is the one I spot first since she was already out of the car. "Were y'all making out in there?" she goes ahead and I wonder what made her change her mind in the first place. Derek opens my door and this time round I am riding with the dudes. Chloe is already mad at me for taking so long, so joining them will mess up my day and I am not ready for that. There is just some great mood in here and I am so excited. They have some music and we are all singing and vibing to the songs. Bart is on the wheels and he is so serious. He doesn't drive as reckless as I thought he would though. Seems like Derek and I passed our great mood to everyone in this car and we were all so hyped. It wasn't a long drive thirty minutes, we used the map since we didn't know the way so clearly.

I now discovered that Ezze was behind us when she overtook us and was driving beside us and urged Bartram to press the gas and save the excitement for later. Thank God I didn't get into that car. Well, maybe they felt bad that we were so excited and we had begun having our fun. She was now ahead and she was the one who was setting the pace. If we do add volume and speed up, the cops will find us very soon. We reduce the volume a bit and we are 85km/hr. now. I bet Ezze was at 100 since we could see her car way ahead of us. We just follow her hoping they have googled their way there. She starts slowing down and indeed we are there now.

We have to adhere to protocols, temperature check,s and some frisking. There never lacks people touring this place. There is some parking slot left after missing the one that was beside Ezze's car. They pay the parking fee and we head out to the entrance. Ezze and Chloe approach us and then Ezze whispers to me, "You look gorgeous."

"What are you trying to do Babe?" Chloe is already turning to Ezze as she looks at her dramatically. I don't know what to say, should I say thank you, or I act as if I never heard that? I just wish she never came.

"That's so true you are really gorgeous," Derek insists.

"Okay, let's go in before we create some scene here," Devon says.

We get our tickets and we get are in. This place is gorgeous, I don't know if this is the gorgeousness Derek and Ezze are seeing but I am loving it here. The guy who issued our tickets said that we would find people who would give us the history in case we needed more than we saw.

We were up and down for two hours and we needed to rest and have something to eat. There was a restaurant inside the Museum and we went and got some food. Chloe comes and sits beside me and I just look at her and continue chatting with Maritim sending him all the pics I have taken already. He is already sending me texts about how heartbreaking it is that he is not there. He goes back to making his delivery and we still have another two hours to make more trips to this Museum. Chloe is actually so cool to me right now and it feels illegal.

It feels like a small family and we do order a platter which is actually quite cheaper than a plate each. I don't think money is a problem to any of these guys. Ezze has a cute Magenta blazer and a shirt that she has left the first three buttons unbuttoned. I had seen her earlier but hadn't paid attention to what she was wearing since looking at her was a problem for Chloe already. As I glance back at her, our eyes meet and I quickly look at my food. I feel a smile on her face and I focus on finishing my plate.

"How about we spin the thin bottle and whoever it points will pay the bill?" Bartram says.

"No, the two people it will point on its both ends will pay the bill." Devon goes ahead and adds.

Wow, this is amazing, I am looking at the full table and I pray it doesn't point towards me. Ezze is just seated in front of me, the greatest chance is it if points to me it will point to her too. She is seated between Devon and Bartram and I am estimating the chances I find her eyes on me and I don't break the contract so, doesn't she. She smiles and I find myself smiling too and my heart rate starts increasing.

Bartram spins the bottle and it takes several spins and it turns slowly like it is almost stopping then it goes on and slowly makes another turn and stops on points to Ezze. I am nodding and luck isn't on my side. She is laughing and I wonder she is so happy to watch money getting drained from her account. We get the bill and have to split it so we can pay the same share.

"Let me pay the bill and then I will give you my bank account number you will send me later on", Ezze says to me. Chloe gives her a look and she acts as if she doesn't see her staring at her. Derek jokes around and says he wishes he had made the drink order. He is the only one who picked water as we all had milkshakes.

We were all energetic now and we went forward with our tour. Bartram followed me all the time apologizing for not taking me home and I tell him to pay Ezze my other part since he was also the one who introduces the idea. Devon was already taking photos and videos of us and they all agreed we take a group snap and we ended up taking so many snaps. I and Derek were the only ones who paid much attention when the guides took us deep into the history. The theatre of Dionysus was so pretty and I loved it most. The (Re) Birth of Dionysus and the ancient drama. I had enough pictures by now for sure. I hadn't interacted with Devon so much but he was cool just like his brother, he was more talkative than him. Bartram didn't agree to pay my bill but he said the way Ezze was throwing her eye at me she won't ask for that money anyway.

We had exhausted almost everything here in Acropolis and it was such a nice adventure. I have pictures to flaunt with. Alasdair was somewhat my type when it comes to such adventure. He was the perfect partner anytime I was visiting one. I am so tired of walking around and I might get late tomorrow. It was the orientation and Derek really asked why I really had to attend them. It was about five o'clock and there was a beautiful sunset I couldn't take pictures. I might start a nature blog though that is just adding myself more responsibilities which I know I wouldn't be consistent at.

I wonder how Bartram felt every time he was out with these people. He did hang out with these two couples and never felt uncomfortable. Maybe sometimes he did bring some girl, I think he is into girls. My dad told me that this campus never lack girls for an occasion and although you might look at him and not see him as the type it was so hard to judge. The same case as when I saw Bartram. He was so hot but after I got used to him and hang out with him for some hours I got used to being free with him. I wouldn't know, and I judged wrongly when he insisted on taking photos with us at their Grande Hotel.

I had sent the photos to Maritim and he was so happy and wanted to use them for his blog and I had no problem with that. I had just finished sending Maritim the photos as the others had sat down resting before we get to the car. Ezze was already beside me, "Nice ring, I didn't see it yesterday, why had you removed it? Anyway sorry, let me not be so nosy."

"Would you take some photos of me please in this cute sunset before the others get going?" She had some sweet baritone voice that I found myself wanting to hear more of but then again most of the time I lacked a response for her. I think she is the one who did Fashion and Design or rather the both of them with Chloe. She had a black fur coat on top of her white t-shirt that was a great combination. I had seen her earlier yes but I hadn't had an opportunity of looking at her for more than five seconds since her eyes were always on me most of the time. I didn't want her to catch me staring at her, she might get the wrong message and she had already found me staring at her once or twice. On the other hand, Chloe was another drama I had to avoid. She had some grey corduroy pants I had confused with sweat pants. I wasn't the type to know the type of sneakers but she had some pair of Jordan's. They wore the same color clothes as Chloe I don't know if it was purposely or coincidentally.

"Can I have one with you too?" she says after I took several of hers.

"I need no drama today I have had a wonderful day". I say to her as I take a look at the photos I had taken.

"It's not like she bites, it's just a photo anyway. Nothing wrong with that. More so, your boyfriend who is 1000 miles away won't come to pick a fight with me. Right?" she says as she peeks at the photos too.

I swipe mistakenly and I see a photo of her some other girl who is not Chloe and I now change my mind. I don't even know why I had considered taking one. She saw me swipe and she was like "Oops" someone's finger slipped to the wrong place. I gave back her phone, and I joined the others leaving her looking at her pictures.

Chloe and Derek came back from wherever they were from in a few seconds and he brought me some ice cream. The weather today wasn't that cold so I went ahead and accepted since it would be a nice choice rejecting it in front of this bunch of friends who would make fun of him endlessly. It was some caramel flavor and Chloe had Ezze's ice cream too which was caramel too. She took it and gave her a peck on her cheek and that was the first time I saw her do something romantic to her. I even forgot to ask her for the account number so I could refund her the money. Chloe and Ezze left even before we got in. Bartram and Devon were debating on who will drive and that's where we spent some minutes waiting for them to decide and Devon got in the driver's seat. I think Devon was the one who picked him up on the first morning I arrived here. He called him his homeboy and I wonder why he wouldn't tell me he was his boyfriend. I doubt that it was Derek, Derek would have made him wait till the sun was out. Maybe he never thought I would come close to knowing or he thought it unnecessary. We didn't have many stories and we were so fatigued. They dropped me off and I got in the shower and made my supper so early. I was face timing my family as I had my supper.

With every day that passes by, I am trying to live by myself and try to take care of myself. My twin siblings are also growing since they don't cry nowadays. The first time I facetime them, they had some tears. They even don't seem to miss m and it is a week's time. I am always the one calling.

I woke up to find that I didn't reply to Maritim since I fell asleep. I will text him when I arrive at the meeting since of course they will be boring but I would rather go than stay in the house and still be bored. From mid-morning till evening we had talks and introduction to our lecturer's. It was just students taking cardiology and surgery that were in the meeting. About 30-40 new ones.

The next two weeks were hectic, I am trying to adapt to the work environment and still school environment. Our classes began and it was just the introduction part until we began getting deep into the syllabus. I had to adjust a bit. I would have had enough time if I wasn't doing the internship but I didn't want to always be at home all week. I saw the red hair guy as the nurse at the hospital I was working as an intern. It was just a few minutes away from the University. I always walked from school to the hospital but at times my classes came after my shift from the hospital. I guess the red hair was an intern too. He seemed too young to have graduated already. I am the only one who noticed him so he mightn't have noticed or even seen a new face there. It was Friday finally, I get to rest, read my books in peace, and sleep for longer hours. On Fridays, I have classes in the morning so I take my shift from around 2 p.m. to about 5 p.m. or six. I have also known the way back and from so since I have enough time to foot I don't find the need for a cab.

The road is very busy, it is mostly populated by students. Not all of them have SUVs to drive to school. I am from the hospital and I heard someone call my name. That's Bartram, he always calls me 'Rett'. I haven't seen him nor are friends in a while now. I always have my ring out when I am at the hospital. Bartram is always so observant, he notices almost everything even when I comb my hair on a different side, change my necklace or earrings.

He asks how I have been and walks with me. This is his routine for Fridays he does walk to and from school. "Why don't you have your ring on? Why is it that you always have it on and off? You can choose to either wear it or remove it, it's that simple. I assume it is a promise ring right?"

So many questions at one time. "It is a promise ring, yes and I take it out when I am the hospital working my shift that's all."

We get to talk all the way home and he insists on escorting me all the way home. He brags about how he can cook so well and I invite him to come and cook with me. He is actually a good friend and he is funny too. He is the type to come at your house at any time and act like it's his home too. He was introducing me to Greece and everything in the culture. The Spanakorizo which is the Green Spinach Rice, Greek Salad and we added some chicken. He is really so fun to be around. He has made the evening and we sit and have watched.

"I know I didn't say it aloud or tell you the way it is supposed to be but Devon is my boyfriend. I didn't tell you about it earlier since that topic never came up. We have dated for almost six months now. I have never come out since there is just some fear of rejection or unnecessary hate." he says.

"I have never had queer friends and I don't know how to act around them but I have no issue whatsoever with you." I found a reason to hug him and he lets the most beautiful smile I have ever seen on him. "Have you ever dated a girl? I ask him.

"Yes but I never really liked it, I wasn't as free as I am with Devon and as open as I am too. Derek wasn't with it at first but he came around later since Devon is his only brother and there was nothing that he would do to change it. He had even gone and stayed in a hotel room for two weeks so he wouldn't see his brother. I don't know what made him accept it but all I know is he had a tough time at first acting to be cool but eventually, it became natural again. I also didn't know I loved the same gender, there is some type of way I felt around Devon. I too was in denial but I was able to learn more about myself and accept it too. Not so many know about us but at the same time it's not a secret." he adds.

Maritim had been texting but I didn't reply since I was with Bartram and I really wanted to have this moment with him. He met Devon at a certain hotel while he was exploring. I am lucky to have found such people who had the urge to explore a lot. They all moved in just two months ago to their big house. Bartram really dresses nicely and he says that's how they got to be friends with Ezze. Ezze spotted him one day in school and she was like, we need to be friends, and the same way I hang out with him as a stranger is the same way they all got to bond and be friends. They do get to show up at some gigs and show up for Ezze. She styles them at times and she is almost starting up her brand.

I ended up telling him about me and Maritim and that I am the one who got the rings actually. He has stayed with dudes and so he might have overheard or seen how they interacted but I didn't need anyone to approve that Maritim loved me since I would see him in his eyes anytime I looked at them. The greatest fear I heard was us falling out of love. Long-distance can be easy and also very hard at the same time. "Out of sight out of mind," we all said in unison. At least he didn't tell me that buying the rings was desperate.

An unplanned sleepover it became. We went out and bought a few snacks to eat while watching a movie. His company made me so at ease and I had no doubts about letting him stay over. He called Devon and informed him, though he wasn't quite pleased it's just a few hours he will be back in the morning.

He would sleep on the couch if we were to fall asleep. Drama series can keep you up all night trying to keep up. I never thought I would get friends and trust them this much.

About two hours later we had finished our blueberry popcorns. There was still food and by this rate, I am eating I will have added a lot of weight in a few months' time. I was eating after an hour or two. I was so full and I felt some sleep creep in, it was around 1 am. Bartram was speaking most of the time so it wasn't that easy to fall asleep. He would stand and clap when the drama was so enjoyable and that would startle me and make me wake up. I don't think e even noticed I was dozing off, he was so glued to the show.

I was sleeping and I would hear him speak but I still slept. The next thing I found myself the next morning in my bed. He slept on the couch and it seems that he carried me to the bed and covered me up. He had closed my doors and I found him asleep on the couch. I don't even know what time he slept. I didn't want to wake him up now, so I went and made breakfast. I made some toast, bacon and some sausages. There are people who are allergic to such I just hope he isn't that type. I made coffee and I served them and then woke him up. It felt like a dream but it was all happening. He makes fun of how I slept early even before the show was halfway and he went all the way to the end so that must have been a few hours ago. He starts regretting why didn't drive to school now he has to take a cab home or ask anyone around town or school to come picking him up. I think he has his too, I saw my Mercedes Benz outside their mansion the other time I was there but it was the first time I was hanging out with them so I had to mind my own business. They owned had just opened a very big hotel which is not the only one they have and on top of that, he was part of the board that chairs the new hotel back home.

We had our breakfast and he ordered a cab that arrived so soon. I haven't ever seen any neighbor and these people are nerds for real. They don't get off their house or is it that they rarely come back to their houses. There was only one time I heard one of them coming in at around 3 am just the other weekend. Maybe they do come back or out when I am in school or in my shift.

It is getting hard to communicate with Maurice since when he is asleep I am awake and vice versa and then the both of us are busy too. I have been noticing the way he replies and speaks during our facetime. He always insists on being tired and wanting to shower and going to sleep. I always understand and end the call since I am also tired too. He was always doing extra so he would save up his pocket money. He was so determined in opening up his bakery after he gets enrolled on the campus. I think he was trying to save up and I had no problem with that I really understood. I was also wrong for not replying to his message yesterday so I knew I was wrong too for not telling him I was busy. It would also be a big explanation if I told him about Maritim. I going all the way back to when I first knew Bartram so that I would let him come to sleepover might sound unbelievable. I just said I was so exhausted and after I cooked I dozed off. He didn't fall for it but he will come around eventually. During the weekends I talked with my family and that was the best time I told them how I am fairing on. A month is now almost gone and so far so good. I am adapting so well thanks to Bartram mostly. I had interacted with some classmates and they were friendly. We are new and so before we get used to one another might take up some time. The ones I interacted with had heard about me. The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens really took the five top-performing students and so I was amongst students who were highly expected to do so well. Bartram told me that it was so different here compared to high school. You were just required to reach a certain pass mark, there wasn't any grading as a group.

It is so easy to get carried away here, one is so free and it might be so hard to study at times. You always see that you have time and find yourself overloading your work and it gets hard. If Bartram has never been kicked out of Med School for low grades then it ought not to be that hard.

I text Maritim and apologize for being so inconsiderate and I get my stack of to-read books. I actually remember we have a book to talk about, 'Legacy of Pain'. We get to argue on how it might have ended if they were really executed or there will be a sequel to confirm all this. I am in love with every detail, I wouldn't also imagine my life without the love of my life in it. When you grow fond of someone and get attached to them in all the ways possible, leaving them is quite a task.

I think we had imagined all the outcomes possible and we had to stop all the imagining. I am sure Maritim will write a book in the future and I would love to read it. Based on how he argues and how reasonable he had imagined endings I was amazed.

Just after our face time was over, I was a text from Ezze. She was inviting me to an occasion that was organized for the Fashion and Design students. At this point, it was like she is a friend and I felt the urge to attend. It is a nice way of enjoying a weekend that I will just sit at home and get bored. I had missed Lauzon. It was a dog but it was really a great attachment for me. I had grown so fond of it and it was a best friend to me. I gave her the feedback that I will be attending and she was glad. I am sure people do dress up for these occasions and I wasn't sure if there was a dress code but she would tell us the go-ahead. It was in three weeks' time and that was enough for me to have planned the outfit.

I think I might need some solo trip. Where will I spend my internship money anyway? Soon I will also be visiting other countries or cities since I have no restrictions. I can be back home late without explaining to anyone and this was very great. I can leave at whatever time I please too.

I spot a great hotel with a great view and great reviews too. I book a room so I can spend the night in case I get to taste some cocktails which I had planned already.