20. Chapter 20
Chapter twenty
With a final goodbye to Arthur, I follow Dimitri’s lead. He’s parked just beside the taverna and I’m relieved to see that his shiny black scooter looks significantly more heavy-duty than the cute little ones I’ve seen tourists zooming around on across the islands.
Dimitri pops open the hatch box on the back so I can put my bag inside. Belongings safely stowed, he straddles the seat and I get on gingerly behind him. But I’m unsure of where to hold on.
“Hands around my waist,” he tells me. “We don’t have too far to go, but it’s up the hill a little.”
I follow his instructions, feeling slightly awkward about wrapping my arms around someone I barely know.
At the same time, I feel a thrill of excitement. I’ve never been on anything like a motorcycle before. My mom would probably kill me if she knew, especially since I’m not wearing a helmet. Oh god, shouldn’t I have a helmet on?
Before I have time to ask, Dimitri kicks off the brakes and starts the bike. With a small squeak, I grab on to Dimitri as he zips around the corner. As promised, we go up a hill, only to come back down on the other side. As we descend, I feel myself sliding forward on the seat, my body pressing closer to his. I’d back up if I knew how but I’m afraid to let go or move in any way that might send me, or the bike, careening off the road and down the hill. Instead, I find myself clutching Dimitri’s waist a little tighter and praying that my sweaty shirt has had enough time to dry out and isn’t damp against his back.
After only a few minutes, we start slowing down. Dimitri steers his scooter to the side of the road before shutting it off. Taking that as my sign, I awkwardly climb off around him, managing to trip over myself in the process.
“Whoa, careful.” Dimitri’s tanned arm stretches out to catch me, allowing me to keep my balance and stay upright.
I feel my cheeks flush with embarrassment. “Thanks.”
“This way.” Dimitri takes off down a small path on the other side of the road. Here the grass is low, the ground dry. Every step I take is followed by little puffs of dust and I’m sure my white socks will be blotchy and brown when I take them off this evening.
Dimitri’s path leads us closer to the windmills I spotted from the kastro. Some, I can tell, have been recently updated and refurbished. Two of them even seem to be converted into small B to be returned to their former glory. However, even cracked and crumbling, they are still charming.
Where the dusty path hits the end of the hill, there’s a small wooden bench, perfectly nestled against the backdrop of the windmills and a gorgeous view out over the bay. It’s here where we stop.
“Oh wow,” I whisper, taking in the view.
The sun has dropped behind the hill, enveloping most of the town below in shade. But the bright colours of the houses in Gialos winding up the hill to Chorio are still clearly visible. The boats look tiny from here, the bright white of the hulls and masts standing out in contrast against the vivid blue, which appears darker at this time of day. Rock-studded green hills roll off into the distance while above is a burst of colour with oranges, reds, and deep pinks streaking across the sky and highlighting the scattered, fluffy white clouds. Arthur was right, this is absolutely beautiful.
“I’m sorry, we missed the sunset.” Dimitri’s quiet voice brings me back to reality. “I thought we would make it in time.”
“Are you kidding! We didn’t miss it. This is incredible. This is the prettiest sunset I’ve seen so far. Way prettier than Santorini.”
“You think?”
“Definitely,” I assure him.
A couple of moments go by and I realize that while this is special for me, it might not be quite as amazing to the local guy and he probably has better things to do.
“Thank you for bringing me but you don’t have to wait.” I tell him, “I’m sure you have something else to do. I can find my own way back.”
Dimitri shakes his head. “I’ll stay with you. It’s been awhile since I’ve been up here.”
We both step back, finding a seat on the weathered wooden bench and continue to watch in silence as the sky flares with colour.
“This is my favourite part,” I admit, still keeping my eyes on the ever-changing sky. “Everyone always leaves when the sun disappears over the horizon, but the best colours come after.”
“Ah, so you are a sunset expert?”
He says it so dryly that I peel my eyes off the sky to look at him, relaxing when I see the playful glint in his eye and his slightly upturned lips. Huh. Turns out Mr. Serious might actually have a sense of humour.
“Maybe,” I tell him. “I’ve seen some pretty good ones living in Vancouver.”
“Better than this?” He gestures out to the scene in front of us. It’s getting darker, the shadows longer, but the sky is still alight with fiery tones.
“Hmmm. Different.”
“Different how?”
I crinkle my nose, not quite sure how to describe it.
“You’ll have to come see for yourself someday,” I settle on.
He takes a moment as if considering the possibility.
“I’d like that.”
I think back to his comment last night. About how he missed the island but had better opportunities in the big city of Athens. Sure, Vancouver is a lot bigger than Symi, but it’s close to nature. Close to the mountains and the ocean. It’s a big city that still offers the ability to escape the crowds and enjoy nature.
“You know what?” I tell him honestly, “I think you might.”
Dimitri and I chat back and forth on the wooden bench long after the colours fade from the sky. The reserved brusqueness I experienced from him yesterday on the boat, and even today at the taverna, fades away as we fall into easy conversation.
I tell him about Vancouver. How, if the weather is clear, you can see the snow-capped mountains in the distance. Dimitri seems especially interested in Canadian nature and wildlife. So, I share stories about how, during the summer months, we see whales off the coast. Of humpbacks and grey whales, even orcas who come close to land. I tell him about the bears that can be found in the forests of British Columbia, including the illusive white spirit bear which is high on my list to see. I admit that I’m usually a homebody, that Vancouver has always provided me with the perfect mix of city and nature and I haven’t really felt the urge to leave. Of how Greece is my first trip abroad and how nervous I was in the beginning.
In turn, he tells me about his life now in Athens. How he moved there when he was thirty after being offered an ‘impossible to turn down’ opportunity working for the sales and marketing team of one of Greece’s top hotel brands. He paints me a picture of Athens; a bustling metropolis combining ancient and modern elements. Of the Pantheon, which overlooks the city and glows atop the acropolis by night, and various temples, columns, and other remains of ancient Greek ruins that can be found around the city, just a normal part of the day-to-day local life. He makes it sound fun and exciting but explains that it can be overwhelming and sometimes lonely for someone who grew up on a small island in the sea.
Below us, Gialos twinkles in the dark. Lights from homes, tavernas, and boats reflect on the water of the bay. Music echoes up the hill, a strange mix of traditional Greek music from one place tangling with 90s dance music that, I expect, is coming from one of the boats.
“Well, I guess we should head back?”
I nod to Dimitri and we make our way back up the dusty path to his scooter. That’s when I realize how dark it is.
“Ready?” Dimitri asks me, noting I’m standing and watching rather than getting on.
“It’s very dark,” I reply, feeling apprehensive about riding on a bike down the winding hill with a drop-off on one side.
“The scooter has lights,” he assures me.
I hesitate a second before climbing on behind him.
“Is this your first time on one of these, Calla?”
“That obvious?”
“Just a little.” I can sense rather than see the smirk, “But don’t worry, I’ll keep you safe.”
Dimitri backs us up a little before pulling out, doing a wide turn and heading back down the way we came. I wrap my arms around his waist and do my best to relax as we cruise down the hill, winding through the streets of Chorio down to Gialos.
We arrive sooner than I had expected and Dimitri stops along the waterfront, beside where the Elena is docked.
He turns back to look at me over his shoulder, “Where are you staying?”
“Vera’s apartments, but I can walk from here.” I put my feet down on the pavement and make to get off the bike but Dimitri reaches back, putting his hand on my leg to keep me in place.
“No, I’ll take you.”
It seems silly since it’s less than a 5-minute walk from where we are now. The streets are busy enough with late-night diners filling the tavernas. Despite the fact that it is dark, I would feel completely safe walking to my hotel by myself right now.
Instead, I look down at his hand spread on my leg. The contrast of his tanned, olive skin against my pale thigh. He lifts it away quickly, the breeze suddenly cool against my skin where his palm had warmed it. I lift my feet back up off the ground. He takes off again, slowly, down the waterfront, past the taverna where I had dinner with the group the other night and around the corner, pulling to a complete stop in front of the staircase to my apartment.
This time, I use Dimitri’s shoulders for stability as I climb off the bike. When I’m off, he turns in his seat to open the storage box on the back where my bag is stowed.
“Thank you,” I tell him, as I take my bag out. “I really appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome.”
I hover for a minute unsure of what to say next. I did really appreciate it but I also had a really good time. Dimitri may be quiet and come across as serious, but talking to him on the bench felt easy. Comfortable. It was really nice.
“It truly was one of the prettiest sunsets I’ve ever seen,” I tell him truthfully.
“But not better than Vancouver?” His dark eyes meet mine in question.
I laugh. “Not better, but not worse! Just different.”
Dimitri purses his lips a little and shrugs. “Ok then. I will do better next time.”
I smile inwardly at that comment. Next time means he thinks he’ll see me again. Which would be… well, really nice. I loved spending time with Sophia and her friends, and I think Arthur and his group are amazing. But it’s also nice to have someone around who’s my own age.
“Deal,” I tell him. “Thank you again, I had fun.”
“Have a good night, Calla.”
I make my way up the steps and unlock the door, waving goodbye as I enter the building. Only when the door is fully closed behind me do I hear him drive away.