Alex 2.0

Alex carefully placed a trophy from his middle school swimming meet on the dresser of his new yacht, a satisfied grin spreading across his face. "And that's that!" he declared triumphantly. "We're officially moved in!"

"Fantastic!" Drayvos cheered, though his confusion was evident. "But you're standing still, not moving…"

Chuckling at his friend's timeless innocence, Alex explained, "I 'moved' all my things from my apartment to the boat. It's quite simple, really." His explanation was interrupted by the familiar chime of his phone, signaling an incoming call. "Oh, it's Tiffany!" he exclaimed, a tinge of worry creeping into his voice. "I haven't spoken to her since before Greece! I didn't even text her that we were back in California!... She doesn't even know there is a 'we'!"

"Well then, you should probably answer your ongoing distance communication device," Drayvos suggested with a hint of amusement.

Nodding in agreement, Alex quickly answered the call. "Hi Tiff!! Guess what!? I'm back in town! Arrived this morning!"

"Oh! Well, at least you answered. You home?" Tiffany's voice came through the line, filled with curiosity.

"Uh... yeah... about that," Alex hesitated, unsure of how to break the news.

"Well then, answer the door! I've been knocking. Can't you hear me?" Tiffany's frustration was palpable as she banged on the now-empty apartment door.

"You also forgot to tell her you had moved, Alexander," Drayvos interjected, his deep voice carrying across the room.

"Yeah, I was getting to that, Drayvos," Alex replied, a sheepish grin spreading across his face as Tiffany's voice cut through the line once more. "Alex, who was that?"

"Uh, so back in Greece," Alex began, only to be swiftly interrupted by Tiffany's excited voice bursting through the phone.

"You MET someone, didn't you!? Alex, You Dog you!" she practically screamed with delight.

A genuine smile spread across Alex's face as he glanced over at Drayvos. "Yes, I did," he admitted, "He's... well, he's everything," his voice filled with a mix of admiration and affection. "Tall, dark, ridiculously intelligent, and conversationally gifted. Driven, yet somehow incredibly innocent," he trailed off, his gaze lingering on the imposing figure of Drayvos who stood nearby, soaking in every word of praise. "Oh, and did I mention he's God-tier freaking Hot?"

"Oh my God, Alex!" Tiffany squealed in delight. "I HAVE to meet him! I'll be right over with a pack of wine coolers! Where's your new place?"

"Um... Berkeley Marina, near the University," Alex replied, feeling a pang of unease at the unexpected change of address. "Docking Bay 6247."

"The Marina!?" Tiffany practically yelled through the phone.

"Yeah... uh, we bought a Yacht," Alex confessed, a proud grin spreading across his face. "Just wait till you see it."

"A YACHT?!" Tiffany exclaimed in disbelief. "Oh my God! On my way!" With that, she hastily hung up the phone, leaving Alex chuckling to himself at her reaction.

—

As the sun dipped low on the horizon, painting the afternoon sky with hues of gold and crimson, Tiffany raced down the boardwalk, her eyes scanning the dock numbers until she reached the sleek, chic black steel yacht labeled 6237.

Spotting Alex emerging from the depths of his very own vessel, Tiffany's excitement bubbled over. "Welcome to the Olympus 2!" Alex exclaimed, his arms open wide in greeting.

Tiffany's eyes widened in astonishment as she took in the sight of the impressive yacht. "How on earth did you afford this?" she exclaimed, unable to mask her awe at his latest acquisition.

"I simply wanted a ship to call home while I'm in California," Drayvos chimed in, stepping out beside Alex with his characteristic calm demeanor.

Tiffany's jaw dropped as she laid eyes on Alex's new love interest. Unlike his previous boyfriends, Drayvos exuded an aura of undeniable magnetism, leaving Tiffany utterly captivated from the moment she laid eyes on him. "Uh, Tiffany. You can call me Tiff," she managed to stammer out, extending a tentative hand in greeting.

With a warm smile, Alex ushered Tiffany aboard, eager to introduce her as their first house guest. "Please, come inside!" he invited, his heart brimming with excitement at the prospect of sharing his newfound happiness with his closest friend.

—

Perched on the sleek, modern couch and lounge chairs in the elegant living area, Alex, Drayvos, and their guest Tiffany sipped on their cocktails, the atmosphere charged with anticipation.

Breaking the silence, Tiffany leaned forward, her curiosity evident in her voice. "So, how did you two meet?"

Drayvos's response was characteristically blunt. "At Father's temple," he declared, his tone betraying no hint of embellishment.

Alex quickly interjected, a nervous edge to his voice. "Um, actually, it was at the Agora in Athens!"

Tiffany's interest piqued, her eyes darting between the two men. "Ah, right! The Agora," she mused, trying to recall the details. "That's where you found the statue you were supposed to be transporting back, right? Speaking of which, where is it? I'd love to see it!"

Before anyone could respond, Drayvos rose from his seat with a sense of purpose, a mischievous gleam in his eye. "The statue is right here," he declared matter-of-factly, before striking a pose worthy of a lost Greek god.

In an instant, Drayvos's transformation left Tiffany speechless, her eyes widening in disbelief as she beheld the sight before her. The marble form of a Greek deity stood in place of Drayvos, an awe-inspiring testament to his secret talent.

"Holy crap!!" Tiffany exclaimed, her voice reverberating through the room as she dropped her bottle to the ground in shock. The unexpected display had left her utterly stunned, her mind struggling to comprehend the supernatural spectacle unfolding before her very eyes.