First Love Lost - part 1
"Kristina, I don't want to talk about this!" Alexis Davis shouted as she bounded down the stairs of her penthouse. Her sister was in hot pursuit.
"I think we need to talk about this Alexis! Jax and Ned both think you are in danger."
This was an old argument and Alexis didn't need this. She needed air. She opened the doors to the balcony and walked out into the late afternoon sun. It was a warm spring day. She wrapped her arms around herself and breathed in the fresh air. The sun was beginning to set. The sky and the city below had a golden glow. She loved sunsets. It was one of the reasons she would not be giving up her penthouse.
Penthouse 2 had a beautiful view of Port Charles at sunset. Penthouse 4 had the true harbor view promised by the Harbor View Towers. Sonny got the sunrise over the harbor. She got the sunset over the city. She preferred sunsets. There was peace to be found in sunsets, peace and bittersweet memories.
"Sonny puts your life in danger, Alexis! You need to move out, away from Sonny."
Alexis heaved a heavy sigh and walked back into the penthouse to face her sister. "Kristina, my life has been in danger since the day I was born. Sonny's presence in my life doesn't increase my risk at all. My presence puts others at risk. Ask Jax about the helicopter crash. Ask him about Chloe!" Her voice caught as she remembered her best friend. Chloe had been struck by a car because Helena Cassadine mistook her for Alexis. She died because Alexis had introduced her to the Cassadines. Stavros had killed her. "Think of our mother!" She turned away. She did not need this discussion. "Can't we just drop this?"
"Okay, I will drop the danger issue. But you can't spend the rest of your life across the hall from the man you love and do nothing about it! You've got to do something! Tell him you love him or move out and get on with your life."
"Would you please let me handle my own life. I have a lot of experience with it. I think I know what's best for me."
"But when you love someone you have to . . . "
"Kristina, I have been in love exactly three times. You know what happened with Ned . . . "
Kristina's mind was working. Three times, Ned . . . Sonny . . . "Alexis you've never talked about your first love."
Alexis turned back to the sunset. The golden sky was quickly turning pink. It took her back in time. She brought her hand up to her face. "My first love . . . "
She wanted to hear Greek again. Stefan had sent her away from Greece six years ago. "Go to the United States, attend college and make a life for yourself away from Helena. Escape this wretched family." He advised.
She had taken his words to heart. She spent six years building a new life away from Greece. Six years of working and studying in America left little of Greece visible in her. People believed she was American, born and bred. Well she was American now, having become a citizen on her 21st birthday. Her accent was mid west perfect. No one would ever guess that English was not her first language. It wasn't even her second. Russian claimed that spot, but Greek was her native tongue, and she hadn't heard it for a very long time. So when the spring semester ended, she decided to take some time off and go to Greece.
She was sitting on the veranda of a taverna on the island of Santorini. An island born of and almost destroyed by volcano. Thirty-six hundred years ago the Strongyli volcano erupted with such force that much of the island sank into the sea. What remained was a comma shaped land mass that surrounded the sea-filled caldera of the volcano.
The sunsets here were world renown. Stefan said it was the most beautiful place in all of Greece. He was right. Located on the northwestern tip of the island, the small town she had come to visit was literally cut into the shear cliffs that rose from the clear blue waters. There were black sand beaches at the base and the cliffs themselves were dark red from the volcanic ash that formed them. In contrast to this, the town itself was brilliant white. The whitewashed houses that lined the narrow winding streets were trimmed in vivid blues and greens. The houses were cube shaped, some with blue domed roofs, and everywhere there were stairways and arches.
The taverna was small, catering mostly to the locals who worked the fishing boats, that could be seen 700 feet below. The two brothers behind the counter took notice the minute she entered. She wasn't local. She looked American. She wore an oversized gray T-shirt with "Harvard Law School" printed across the front. It almost completely covered her red cotton shorts, but in no way covered her long shapely legs. They immediately began to comment in Greek on the beautiful American.
She sat at her table, her face hidden behind a book and heard Greek again. It was good to hear her native tongue. The sound of the language was pleasant to her ear. The content of the conversation was quite an ego boost. She did not look up. She gave no indication to the two men that she understood everything they were saying. She just stared at the book pretending to read.
"She's American!" Christian whispered.
"You figured that out all by yourself little brother!" Gregour slapped him on the back.
"Oh look at her Gregour. She's beautiful!"
"Well what you can see is nice, but you haven't seen her face yet. There could be good reason why she's hiding behind a book."
Christian elbowed his brother in the ribs. "I can't believe she needs to hide her face."
"Well go find out!" Gregour slapped a menu into Christian's stomach. "Why don't you go practice your English and see what the lady wants for lunch?"
Christian nearly doubled over in surprise, but managed to hold onto the menu. He walked out onto the veranda to Alexis' table. He was a compact man, with short cropped straight black hair, wearing white pants and a tight fitting white T-shirt, covered by an equally white apron. "May I offer the lady a menu?"
Alexis put down her book and looked up. "Thank you . . . " They made eye contact and time stopped. He had the darkest eyes she had ever seen. She was lost in them. She could see into his soul. It was filled with kindness. She didn't think those eyes could ever be harsh or cruel, kind eyes, framed in a kind face. And she could see something else too. Those eyes loved what they saw. They saw her.
Christian watched the book drop from her face. Her eyes glanced up at him. They were beautiful. He knew they would be. Big beautiful brown eyes that tore into him. But there was a hint of sadness deep within them. There had been hard times in her past, hard times and scars. He could feel it. And at that moment he knew he wanted to take away all the sadness and heal those scars.
Their eyes remained locked. No words passed. Strange there just didn't seem to be a need. Alexis didn't know how much had time passed when she heard the laughter. It came from inside the taverna. Gregour found the whole situation hilarious.
"Christian, you're lost!" he yelled, still speaking Greek. "You are love struck, you fool! Run if you can, but I think it's futile. I think she's been struck too. The two of you are doomed!" He laughed harder.
Love struck? Love at first sight? It just doesn't happen, not to me, not to Alexis Davis. Hell it doesn't happen to anyone really? Does it? My goodness he has kind eyes. And a sweet smile. He's smiling at me. She smiled back.
Christian barely heard his brother's jovial warnings. She had smiled. She had smiled at him. A shy smile that showed just a hint of dimples. It was breath taking, literally. He could barely breathe. What did Gregour say? "Love struck?" Could it happen to him? It had happened to papa. It could happen to him too. His smile grew. His face lit up.
Okay now they're laughing. How can eyes laugh like that? She glanced away feeling suddenly very shy. This was impossible. She returned her gaze to his face. It showed a hint of stubble in the early afternoon. I bet he has chest hair. I wonder how it would feel if . . . What am I thinking?
Gregour came up behind Christian, grabbed him by the shoulders and addressed Alexis in heavily accented English. "Good afternoon Miss. You are an American?"
"Huh . . . What . . . Oh yes I'm an American citizen." She spoke English. Had he addressed her in Greek she would have responded in Greek, but he spoke English, so she did too.
"My brother Christian needs to practice his English. If you allow him sit and speak with you, we will make you the best meal on Santorini. And it will be free!"
"Uh . . . okay . . . okay."
"Good! Very good! My name is Gregour Volakis and your name is?"
"Ah . . . Alexis, my name is Alexis."
"Alexis" Christian whispered her name. It was a beautiful name. It suited her. "Alexis"
"Alexis this is Christian. Christian this is Alexis" Gregour steered his brother into the chair on the opposite side of the table. "Christian say hello to Alexis"
"Hello Alexis" His voice was soft, gentle.
"Hi . . . Christian."
"Hi . . ." and shy.
Gregour slapped his brother on the back and laughed. "Great start little brother" he said in Greek "You're making a great impression."
"Kristina, I don't want to talk about this!" Alexis Davis shouted as she bounded down the stairs of her penthouse. Her sister was in hot pursuit.
"I think we need to talk about this Alexis! Jax and Ned both think you are in danger."
This was an old argument and Alexis didn't need this. She needed air. She opened the doors to the balcony and walked out into the late afternoon sun. It was a warm spring day. She wrapped her arms around herself and breathed in the fresh air. The sun was beginning to set. The sky and the city below had a golden glow. She loved sunsets. It was one of the reasons she would not be giving up her penthouse.
Penthouse 2 had a beautiful view of Port Charles at sunset. Penthouse 4 had the true harbor view promised by the Harbor View Towers. Sonny got the sunrise over the harbor. She got the sunset over the city. She preferred sunsets. There was peace to be found in sunsets, peace and bittersweet memories.
"Sonny puts your life in danger, Alexis! You need to move out, away from Sonny."
Alexis heaved a heavy sigh and walked back into the penthouse to face her sister. "Kristina, my life has been in danger since the day I was born. Sonny's presence in my life doesn't increase my risk at all. My presence puts others at risk. Ask Jax about the helicopter crash. Ask him about Chloe!" Her voice caught as she remembered her best friend. Chloe had been struck by a car because Helena Cassadine mistook her for Alexis. She died because Alexis had introduced her to the Cassadines. Stavros had killed her. "Think of our mother!" She turned away. She did not need this discussion. "Can't we just drop this?"
"Okay, I will drop the danger issue. But you can't spend the rest of your life across the hall from the man you love and do nothing about it! You've got to do something! Tell him you love him or move out and get on with your life."
"Would you please let me handle my own life. I have a lot of experience with it. I think I know what's best for me."
"But when you love someone you have to . . . "
"Kristina, I have been in love exactly three times. You know what happened with Ned . . . "
Kristina's mind was working. Three times, Ned . . . Sonny . . . "Alexis you've never talked about your first love."
Alexis turned back to the sunset. The golden sky was quickly turning pink. It took her back in time. She brought her hand up to her face. "My first love . . . "
She wanted to hear Greek again. Stefan had sent her away from Greece six years ago. "Go to the United States, attend college and make a life for yourself away from Helena. Escape this wretched family." He advised.
She had taken his words to heart. She spent six years building a new life away from Greece. Six years of working and studying in America left little of Greece visible in her. People believed she was American, born and bred. Well she was American now, having become a citizen on her 21st birthday. Her accent was mid west perfect. No one would ever guess that English was not her first language. It wasn't even her second. Russian claimed that spot, but Greek was her native tongue, and she hadn't heard it for a very long time. So when the spring semester ended, she decided to take some time off and go to Greece.
She was sitting on the veranda of a taverna on the island of Santorini. An island born of and almost destroyed by volcano. Thirty-six hundred years ago the Strongyli volcano erupted with such force that much of the island sank into the sea. What remained was a comma shaped land mass that surrounded the sea-filled caldera of the volcano.
The sunsets here were world renown. Stefan said it was the most beautiful place in all of Greece. He was right. Located on the northwestern tip of the island, the small town she had come to visit was literally cut into the shear cliffs that rose from the clear blue waters. There were black sand beaches at the base and the cliffs themselves were dark red from the volcanic ash that formed them. In contrast to this, the town itself was brilliant white. The whitewashed houses that lined the narrow winding streets were trimmed in vivid blues and greens. The houses were cube shaped, some with blue domed roofs, and everywhere there were stairways and arches.
The taverna was small, catering mostly to the locals who worked the fishing boats, that could be seen 700 feet below. The two brothers behind the counter took notice the minute she entered. She wasn't local. She looked American. She wore an oversized gray T-shirt with "Harvard Law School" printed across the front. It almost completely covered her red cotton shorts, but in no way covered her long shapely legs. They immediately began to comment in Greek on the beautiful American.
She sat at her table, her face hidden behind a book and heard Greek again. It was good to hear her native tongue. The sound of the language was pleasant to her ear. The content of the conversation was quite an ego boost. She did not look up. She gave no indication to the two men that she understood everything they were saying. She just stared at the book pretending to read.
"She's American!" Christian whispered.
"You figured that out all by yourself little brother!" Gregour slapped him on the back.
"Oh look at her Gregour. She's beautiful!"
"Well what you can see is nice, but you haven't seen her face yet. There could be good reason why she's hiding behind a book."
Christian elbowed his brother in the ribs. "I can't believe she needs to hide her face."
"Well go find out!" Gregour slapped a menu into Christian's stomach. "Why don't you go practice your English and see what the lady wants for lunch?"
Christian nearly doubled over in surprise, but managed to hold onto the menu. He walked out onto the veranda to Alexis' table. He was a compact man, with short cropped straight black hair, wearing white pants and a tight fitting white T-shirt, covered by an equally white apron. "May I offer the lady a menu?"
Alexis put down her book and looked up. "Thank you . . . " They made eye contact and time stopped. He had the darkest eyes she had ever seen. She was lost in them. She could see into his soul. It was filled with kindness. She didn't think those eyes could ever be harsh or cruel, kind eyes, framed in a kind face. And she could see something else too. Those eyes loved what they saw. They saw her.
Christian watched the book drop from her face. Her eyes glanced up at him. They were beautiful. He knew they would be. Big beautiful brown eyes that tore into him. But there was a hint of sadness deep within them. There had been hard times in her past, hard times and scars. He could feel it. And at that moment he knew he wanted to take away all the sadness and heal those scars.
Their eyes remained locked. No words passed. Strange there just didn't seem to be a need. Alexis didn't know how much had time passed when she heard the laughter. It came from inside the taverna. Gregour found the whole situation hilarious.
"Christian, you're lost!" he yelled, still speaking Greek. "You are love struck, you fool! Run if you can, but I think it's futile. I think she's been struck too. The two of you are doomed!" He laughed harder.
Love struck? Love at first sight? It just doesn't happen, not to me, not to Alexis Davis. Hell it doesn't happen to anyone really? Does it? My goodness he has kind eyes. And a sweet smile. He's smiling at me. She smiled back.
Christian barely heard his brother's jovial warnings. She had smiled. She had smiled at him. A shy smile that showed just a hint of dimples. It was breath taking, literally. He could barely breathe. What did Gregour say? "Love struck?" Could it happen to him? It had happened to papa. It could happen to him too. His smile grew. His face lit up.
Okay now they're laughing. How can eyes laugh like that? She glanced away feeling suddenly very shy. This was impossible. She returned her gaze to his face. It showed a hint of stubble in the early afternoon. I bet he has chest hair. I wonder how it would feel if . . . What am I thinking?
Gregour came up behind Christian, grabbed him by the shoulders and addressed Alexis in heavily accented English. "Good afternoon Miss. You are an American?"
"Huh . . . What . . . Oh yes I'm an American citizen." She spoke English. Had he addressed her in Greek she would have responded in Greek, but he spoke English, so she did too.
"My brother Christian needs to practice his English. If you allow him sit and speak with you, we will make you the best meal on Santorini. And it will be free!"
"Uh . . . okay . . . okay."
"Good! Very good! My name is Gregour Volakis and your name is?"
"Ah . . . Alexis, my name is Alexis."
"Alexis" Christian whispered her name. It was a beautiful name. It suited her. "Alexis"
"Alexis this is Christian. Christian this is Alexis" Gregour steered his brother into the chair on the opposite side of the table. "Christian say hello to Alexis"
"Hello Alexis" His voice was soft, gentle.
"Hi . . . Christian."
"Hi . . ." and shy.
Gregour slapped his brother on the back and laughed. "Great start little brother" he said in Greek "You're making a great impression."