I waited all alone in my luxurious hotel suite for Alyssa to arrive. I ate, slept and did all of the usual things any normal person would do; but deep inside my heart I felt a change that began when I met that girl. My heart was half full (or half empty) before I met Alyssa, and now it was too full to bare. She was so lovely. Her eyes were so green, and her hair was so long and curly. She smelled like vanilla... I got chills just thinking about Alyssa.
It had been two days and I hadn't heard from her. I thought I would go insane! I was pacing up and down in my suite when I heard a soft knocking at the door. I tried desperatly to keep it together, but I almost lost it when I opened up that door and her eyes locked on mine. She smiled genuinly and I reciprocated.
''Hey, Michael.'' She whispered.
''Alyssa! You- you look great.'' I told her. She was probably hoping I wouldn't catch her blushing at my comment, but I saw it instantly.
''Thanks.'' She replied. Her long cinnamon hair was so long and curly that she had to wrap it up in a string to get it into a pony tail. I loved the way it flowed down her back in delicate little ribbons. I stood aside so she could enter my room.
''So, what did you want to do today?'' I asked casually.
''I was hoping a lot of sight seeing. Tabbi and her mom said they didn't mind if I crashed here tonight.''
''Oh. So I got full custody of you?''
''Yep. I was hoping... we could go out to the Thisso Area Cafe, and the Athens Library and the Poseidon temple.''
''Sounds like fun. I'll go get my coat.'' I grinned and ran to snatch my coat.
We headed out to my trail blazer and jumped inside. She unrolled the window and looked out almost the entire way.
''Wow. The sky looks pretty crappy out there. I think it's going to rain.''
''Probably. At lease we have a nice, warm car to go to if it starts pouring.''
''Good thing I didn't tell you I wanted to go to the beach too.''
''Eh, we can do that tomorow if it's better out there.''
''Cool.''
The rest of the trip to the Poseidon temple was almost , we would have a small conversation. I tried to avoid mentioning her parents because I got a vibe from her telling me something was wrong with her family. Usually, my vibes are right.
''Here we are.'' I pulled over and stopped on the side of the road, like everyone else did when they were visiting.
''Wow, look at these ruins. Man, what I wouldn't give to see this place back when it was first built.''
''I know.'' I agreed, reaching out to lay a hand on one of the giant columns. Alyssa lay down in the grass and held up her camera that she had in her pocket.
''Cheese!'' She smiled, snapping the picture.
We explored the ruins plenty, until Alyssa got tired and took a seat on one of the collapsed columns.
''I hope it isn't illegal to do this.''
''Nah, I'm sure other people do this a lot. Oh jeez.'' I gasped, sitting beside her.
''Probably. I don't want to go home and tell everyone I got arrested. 'What for?', 'Oh, sitting on a fallen column. Apparently, it displeases the Gods.' Can you see their faces?'' She laughed, tugging her hair out of her pony tail and letting it fall to its full length. I laughed with her, until I felt a drop of rain slap me in the forehead.
''It's raining!'' I told her.
''Thanks for the update, Captian Obvious.''
''Sorry.''
''Don't be, Michael. It was a joke. Jeez, didn't your parents teach you it's good to have a sense of humor?''
''Usually I don't have a problem with it. I just... feel so different around you. I know it sounds crazy and- and stupid because I only just met you, but I trust you.''
''Well, I did save your life. And no, it doesn't sound crazy. I feel the same way.''
Before I could say anything else, it started to downpour. Alyssa giggled and stood up. She spun in circles, purposely trying to get wet.
''Come on! Dance with me!''
''In the rain? Wouldn't you rather be inside getting warmed up?''
''Nope! Come on, chicken. Dance with me.'' She held out her hand. How could I refuse? I took her delicate hand in mine and I got to my feet.
''We don't have any music!'' I had to shout over the rain pounding against the cars nearby.
''Then make your own!''
''You mean sing?''
''Whatever helps!'' I didn't want to sing in front of her. Maybe she would be embaressed. Besides, what would I sing? I didn't want anything too provacative or sexual, so... it was hard to choose. I couldn't come on too strong. Alyssa pulled me against her and before I knew it, we were dancing. I didn't even bother with singing. She was good... really good. I watched her hips swing with every motion and it was hard to not dance with her. Before I knew it, we were slow dancing in the rain. I felt her bury her head into my chest and the rain started to calm down finally. We danced for a while longer, then I realized she was tired.
''Do you want me to drop you off at home?'' I breathed, praying she would say no.
''No, I want to stay with you.'' Alyssa replied slowly.
''Okay. Do you want to go to the library next or the cafe?''
''The library.''
''Alright. Come on. I know it isn't much- and it's really wet, but the inside it warm.'' I said, taking off my coat and putting it on her.
''Thank you. How did you know I was cold?''
''I don't know. You just looked cold, I guess.'' I was also good at guessing.
''Thanks.''
The library was enormous and really quite beautiful. Once we were inside, we were greeted by a tremendous warmth.
''Raining pretty good out there, huh?'' The librarian asked.
''Yeah, it is.''
''Is there anything specific you two are looking for today?''
''Not really. We're just looking.'' I shrugged, pulling Alyssa close. She looked so tired and cold. We walked around for a while, looking. Some of the books were bigger then my head! Probably weighed more, too.
''That's crazy!'' I shook my head.
''That's not a book, that's a deadly weapon!'' Alyssa joked, picking one off a shelf.
''There's a lot of stuff on the Gods here.''
''Probably because they would have destroyed the library if they didn't have that much on them. They're might powerful, or so I hear.'' She winked, wringing her hair out.
''Alyssa, you're so beautiful.''
''Thank you.'' She turned bright red.
''I mean it.'' I was going to make my move right here, but I just couldn't. Not with that librarian watching. It was... sort of the wrong atmoshpere for romance. I would wait until we were alone.
After the library, we went straight to the Thisso Cafe. It was a huge cafe, and obviously, I told Alyssa I didn't want to be outside in the rain. Inside, it was beautiful and grand. We ordered some funny greek sandwhich thing I can't pronounce and sweet tea.
''So, where do you go back to when you leave here?''
''L.A.''
''I live there. Well, mostly. Sometimes I'm touring, and there's music videos and photo shoots and such. I'm not there a lot of the time. I have a feeling I'll be there for a while now.''
''Really?''
''Yeah. I told the label I just need a vacation. I need to be away from this psycho schedule they have me on. It's stupid and silly. I just need to be away. They told me to take as much time as I needed. I figured two weeks or so.''
''Ah. I don't have a family to go home to, even though I only just graduated and it's still August. I got my own place away from my dad.''
''Oh. You don't... get along with your dad?''
''It's not that I don't get along with him, it's just... he's done things to me. Things that no eighteen year old girl should have to remember. My heart just won't let me forget.''
''Oh, my God. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked.'' I turned red.
''No, don't feel bad. I'm not ashamed of it. A little hurt by it, maybe. But if anything, it has made me stronger. I will never let another man use me like that.''
''You know I would never-''
''Of course. I know, Michael. You're a good soul. I trust you.'' Her eyes were pleading me for something. Comfort, maybe?
''I'm not going to tell you that it will be okay, because the truth is, it won't. Nothing I can say or do will ever make what he did to you okay, but it seems like you've picked up the pieces of your life after you left. You can still love and trust. That's good. Not many people can open their hearts to other people when something like that happens. It's rare that there are people as fearless as you.''
''Thank you.'' There was nothing else for her to say after that. Tears welled up in her eyes and I took her hand. She gave it a gentle squeeze and my heart soared.
She fell asleep in the car on the way back to the hotel right after she told me she wanted to crash with me for the night. I got home and lay her in my bed. I fell asleep on the couch that night. She looked so beautiful and innocent while she was sleeping. Boy, was I in over my head.