Cruel Summer (11 page)
Which, again, is pretty much the exact opposite of how I felt with Levi.
Though of course, wouldn’t you know it, just as I’d given up, just as I decided to move on and forget about him completely, Levi decides to e-mail me about his upcoming cruise, and now I don’t know what I’m supposed to do. I mean, luckily he’s not coming
HERE,
because that would be really awkward now that I’m hanging out with Yannis so much. But still, he is going to
MYKONOS,
which is just a short boat ride away.
If I choose to make the journey, that is.
I mean, I’ve been
DYING
to go to Mykonos this whole entire time, or at least since my plane landed there and the guy I sat next to told me it was the only island worth visiting. Only now that I have an actual excuse to get on the ferry and go, I’m no longer sure that I want to.
Though luckily I have a little over a week to decide.
Okay, I can hear Yannis’s bike in the drive, but let me write one more thing that’s kind of been bothering me in the midst of all this incredible happiness:
I’m not sure why, but I haven’t exactly been truthful with him about my life back home. I mean, I guess it’s because it’s just such a relief to be hanging out and having fun and not thinking about any of my problems that it kind of makes me reluctant to bring it up.
Though if I’m really going to be honest, then I also have to admit that the other reason is that I don’t want him to think of me as sad, or pathetic, or worse. Because even though I’ve only met his cousins and his little brother, Christos, and I haven’t met his parents or anything, when he talks about them, he always says such nice things that it makes me feel kind of weird to talk about mine. Especially since I’m not thinking so well of them at the moment. I mean, truth be told, I’m so upset, angry, and disgusted with them, I don’t even think I could fake it if I tried. And I just can’t bear to have Yannis think I’m a loser, or that my home life is one big disaster.
Even though it is.
Because right now he sees me as this happy-go-lucky, free-spirited, California girl. (Okay, one who won’t take her top off, but still.) And that’s the way I’m determined to keep it.
Okay, he’s knocking on my bedroom door—so—gotta run!
Colby’s Journal for Desperate Times When She’s Desperately, Deliriously, Seriously Liking Someone
August 1
So last night Yannis took me to dinner. And even though it wasn’t exactly the first time we’d eaten a meal together, it was the first time we’d eaten a meal without being chaperoned by Tally, Tassos, his little brother, or any one of his hundreds of cousins and friends. We even went to a restaurant that was a non-cousin-owned establishment. And I know, because I checked.
Anyway, it was awesome.
And dreamy.
And magical!
But all that magic actually started when he came to the house to get me, and I opened the door and felt my heart skip a beat—seriously! I mean, even though we see each other every single day, something about seeing him standing in the doorway, all dressed up, with flowers in hand (Yes! He even brought me flowers!), smiling like he really was happy to see me, well, it made it seem like the very first time all over again.
Maybe it was the cool jeans he was wearing, or the nicely pressed shirt, or the way his deep green eyes gazed into mine. Maybe it was the way he smiled, so genuine and warm and inviting. Or maybe it was the way his arm felt so right when he slipped it around my waist.
Whatever it was, I felt like pinching myself, since I could hardly believe that this wonderful, cute, sweet, amazing guy had shown up just for me!
Anyway, when we got to the restaurant, they led us to a table in this tiny but beautiful courtyard that was all lit up by candles and moonlight. There was music playing in the background, and everything about it was just so perfect and romantic and amazing—the kind of night you always dream about, or see in movies, but doubt you’ll ever experience for yourself.
So after this great dinner that included all kinds of food I can’t pronounce, much less spell, we walked around town for a while before stopping by our favorite club to say hi to some friends and hang for a little while, before getting back on the bike and heading over to our favorite beach.
And I don’t know if it was the caffeine (I had two and a half Cokes at dinner), or the moon (it was round and full and amazingly bright), or just that wonderful, expansive feeling of being so far from home and so free, but before I could even stop to think about what I was doing, I stripped off my dress and ran straight into the sea.
So of course, Yannis stripped off his shirt and pants and followed.
And then we swam, and splashed, and chased each other through the surf, going under, popping back up, until he eventually caught up with me. And when he turned me to face him, he kissed me in a way that reminded me of that very first night—back when we were new and hesitant and full of wonder.
And when I opened my eyes I saw his green ones gazing into mine, and his dark, wet curls curving against the sides of his face, and the clusters of water droplets shining silver in the moonlight as they clung to his tan, bare skin.
And he was so beautiful, and so tempting, and so alluring, and so immediately
THERE,
that I yanked free of his arms and ran right back to shore, struggling to get back in my dress before something happened to change my mind—unwilling to make the same mistake twice.
Then we lay on the sand and held hands, both of us enveloped in silence and darkness, as I closed my eyes and tried to capture the moment, willing it to never end.
August 3
To: Levi501
From: ColbyCat
Re: UR cruise
Hey Levi,
I jus got UR msg & 2 answer UR? I’m not in Mykonos, I’m in Tinos. Tho I can C Mykonos bcuz it’s pretty close by. So I’ll def try 2 meet up w/U. Jus lemme no the xact day & time, K?
Ciao—
Colby
Circle in the Sand
Blog Comments:
Anonymous said:
Where are you?
Please don’t tell me you’ve given up on your blog?
ColbyCat said:
I’m back, it was merely a brief vacation, I assure you!
Circle in the Sand
August 3
I’m back! And no,
ANONYMOUS,
I have not given up on my blog. Though I have discovered a little something I like to call
GETTING A LIFE.
And now that I’ve got one, I find it’s taking up most of my time. Though apparently you’re not the only one who missed me, because Petros actually gave me
A HUG
when I walked through the door! He said he was sure I’d gone back to America without even saying good-bye (which I would never, ever do!). But even though he claimed to be relieved and happy to see me, he still made me pay for my frappe. (Though according to his son, Stavros, the fact that I even got one free drink out of him is a bona fide miracle!)
So without further delay, here are some pictures for you to enjoy—
1) That is a picture of me attempting to windsurf. Can you believe it? My friend Yannis is actually really good at it, and he was determined to teach me, so I could be good at it too. But please don’t be too impressed by what you see here, because the truth is, that photo was taken during the two and a half seconds I actually managed to stay up! Because, trust me, just one second later, I fell ack-basswards into the water!
2) That is a picture of Mr. Holly Golightly—notice how much bigger (and cuter!) he’s gotten! Though he still gets all pissy whenever I try to cuddle him too much.
3) That is a picture of Tassos’s studio, where he makes the most beautiful marble sculptures (Tinos has a very famous marble sculpting school where Tassos sometimes teaches) and pottery and stuff, don’t you agree? Though don’t be fooled by the simplicity of it, because it is way,
WAY
harder than it looks. Seriously. When he sat me down at the potter’s wheel and tried to teach me how to do it, I failed.
BIG-TIME.
And what was supposed to be my vase totally collapsed and became nothing more than a big, runny lump of clay.4) See that big, runny lump of clay? That’s my vase. I so wasn’t kidding.
5) That’s a picture of Yannis petting Holly. Notice how he has no scratches on his arms. I have a terrible suspicion that Holly actually likes him better than me even though I’m the one who saved him from starvation. Apparently cats have short memories. Which means my next pet will be an elephant.
6) That’s me and Yannis at the club, just hanging with some friends. See that guy standing behind me? That’s Yannis’s cousin. And the guy standing next to him? Also his cousin. And the girl in the far right corner? Yup, you guessed it, another cousin. And that guy next to me? That’s his little brother, Christos. Ha! You thought it was another cousin, didn’t you?
7) That’s me and Yannis at the beach. Notice how it appears to be just us? But don’t be fooled, one of his cousins was actually taking the picture.
8) Me and Yannis at one of Tally and Tassos’s Saturday BBQs, where he’s teaching me the actual steps to that Greek dance I thought I knew, because contrary to what I originally thought, you’re not really supposed to just run in a circle, there are very specific steps, and it’s much more intricate than I ever would’ve/could’ve imagined.
9) That’s me and Yannis drinking frappes with some of his cousins at an outdoor café on the harbor. Frappe rocks. It’s seriously growing on me. Especially that free one that Petros gave me that one time. That was definitely the best one yet!
Okay, that’s it!
Hope this makes up for my little break—
ANONYMOUS!
Love,
Colby
August 4
To: NatalieZee
From: ColbyCat
Re: Who’s Yannis?
Hey Nat,
Yannis is a friend of mine.
A really good friend.
Actually, I guess he’s kind of like my boyfriend. Though it’s not like you need to tell anyone that or spread it around town, okay?
I mean, not that I think you would or anything, but still, I just feel like I should say it, since it could be kind of weird if word got out since Levi will be coming here soon.
Though maybe that still makes it more weird HERE than THERE?
See, I really haven’t changed as much as you think. I’m still just as crazy and confused as ever!
Okay, well, thanks for reading my blog!
Hope your summer is going well—
Colby
August 4
To: AmandaStar
From: ColbyCat
Re: UR blog/Sandal
Guy Hey Amanda,
Thx 4 ckg out my blog. But no, Yannis is so NOT my boyfriend. He’s just a friend. U no, someone 2 hang w/every now & then so I don’t die of xtreme boredom over here.
And 2 answer UR? yes, believe it or not, most of the guyz around here wear sandals like that. But I guess IV just been stuck here 4 so long now I’m starting 2 get used 2 it. I mean, I hardly even notice them NEmore. At least not until U mentioned it.
Which is really pretty scary if U think about it!
So Levi will be in Mykonos in just 3 days, & I sooo can’t wait! I’ll let you know how it goes
K—C—YA—
Colby
Circle in the Sand
Blog Comments:
Anonymous said:
Who is Yannis?
ColbyCat said:
A friend.
Anonymous said:
Tell me more about this friend.
ColbyCat said:
What do you want to know?
Anonymous said:
Is he your boyfriend?
ColbyCat said:
Define boyfriend.
Anonymous said:
The opposite of boy friend.
ColbyCat said:
Define boy friend.
Anonymous said:
You like to play games.
ColbyCat said:
You’re the one who goes by ANONYMOUS!
Anonymous said:
True.
ColbyCat said:
Have you ever considered not being ANONYMOUS anymore?
Anonymous said:
Yes. I have considered it.
ColbyCat said:
And???
Anonymous said:
And I am still considering it.
ColbyCat said:
Okay, let me know what you decide.
Colby’s Journal for Desperate Times When She’s Gotten Herself into Such a Mess She Can’t Find Her Way Out