Escape Route

Six

When we stepped foot on the island of Santorini, it already became one of my favourites places. The view of the ocean was simply splendid and breath-taking. The sun was beating down as we climbed up the stairs leading to our temporary home. I had to catch my breath at times and surprisingly Emerson also had to.

"So, here's the situation..." Emerson said as he scratched the back of his neck with a nervous smile. "There's only one bed."

"Emerson." I sighed, placing my things on the table. The breeze on my back felt refreshing. "We've been through this before. You'll just take the sleeper couch like last time."

He blinked. "Well, that's the problem. There is none." His arms gesturing to the living room. "It's all they had and all I could afford, thanks to you know who."

"You have got to be kidding me right now. " I mumbled as my fingers pinched the bridge of my nose. I had to think. That was definitely not part of the plan. "We're not sleeping in the same bed, Emerson." I said sternly. "We have rules remember?"

"I know, Riles, but-"

"We'll swop." I nodded to myself. "Yeah, one takes the bed tonight, the other on the small couch and vice versa. Cool with you?"

"That's fine with me." he smiled pleased with a nod. "Oh and..." he gestured towards the bathroom, "Ladies first this time. "

I was surprised at the statement and couldn't help but break in a small smile. It brought me back to the first day at Athens and how Emerson had a slight change to himself now. From that day, he always tried to be neat. He even started offering to help more with the food. The boy that I saw at the airport, started to look more like a man. Even the unshaved mustache did something to him. Handsome I thought.

"Riles." he laughed softly. "You going or should I? Or we could go together..." he shrugged.

"Shut up." I laughed and threw my jacket in his direction, which he caught. Toiletries in my hand, I walked over and closed the bathroom door.

After my relaxing bath, my feet led me to the bedroom. I placed things in the cupboard close to the wall of the door. The neatly made bed seemed too neat to lay on and ruin everything, however I found myself laying on the cool, fresh yellow sheets anyway. My eyes wondered around the room and then to the ceiling. Before I knew it, my eyes became heavy.

×

I woke up with the sheets half on and half off. How long have I been asleep, I wondered. My fingers attempted to brush away stands of hair out of my face as I got up.

My thoughts started to wonder in the silence. First my parents. I wondered how they were coping without me. Maybe they were enjoying being as loud as they wanted in the house. No Riley to beg them to be quiet while I studied for exams.
A sigh escaped my lips. College. How was I going to make up for the fail? I would have to open the books again the moment I got home. I told myself.

"Hey, you're awake." Emerson leaned on the door frame giving me a bit of a jump. "I don't know if you noticed, but I got some groceries." he pointed his thumb behind him. "You looked so peaceful, I didn't wanna wake you." he smiled softly.

"Ah thanks. I didn't even know you left." I said, stretching my arms.

"Are you alright?" he asked, his face sympathetic. "You seem deep in thought."

"Ah yeah. Yeah." I wiped my hand across my face. "I'm fine."

He walked nearer until he sat on the edge of the bed. "That's not what it looks like from here. College?"

I simply nodded.

"Don't worry too much about the marks. You're a smart woman, Riley. You'll ace the next ones with flying colours!" he exclaimed. "Get it?"

I didn't answer except give a weak smile. Why was Emerson even worrying about my academics? This was kind of his holiday too and there I was being a Debby Downer.

"Let's not think about that, okay?" he touched my hand on my lap, before slowly pulling it away. He stood up in front of me and smiled. "Let's go to the beach. What do you say? Are you up for an adventure?"

He winked before extending his hand. I just stared at it before resting my eyes on him. I noticed that the Hawaiian shirt he was wearing had a few buttons undone. He looked cool. 

"Let's go." I said as I placed my hand in his.

×

The sun was in the process of setting, which made the heat a bit more bearable. My flip-flops became sandy as we got onto the beach, which forced me to remove them. I could smell the bit of salty sea and decided to take a deep breath.

"Man. This is a amazing!" shouted Emerson with his arms outstretched towards the sky. He released another howl to the sky.

I couldn't help but release a giggle. He finally got to scream even if it wasn't in a dead quiet museum.

"I'm going in." He said, his back facing me and already starting to unbuttoning  his shirt. "You coming?" he asked, his face oozing with excitement.

I decided to plop down on a beach chair and make myself comfortable. "Nah, I think I'll just chill over here. You go, have fun."

"Oh, ah okay." I suddenly got temporarily blinded by something. I felt a slight panic. When I removed it from my face, I realized it was Emerson's shirt in my hands. His subtle woodsy cologne filling my nostrils.

"Rude!" I shouted as he was already halfway into the water.

I watched as he dived into the waves and then came to the surface again. His wet brunette hair attached to his face. He splashed around a bit and dived before I closed my eyes.

My eyes shot open again the moment I felt a water spray on my legs and face. "Emerson!" I shouted. "What the hell?"

"That's for being so boring." he smirked, pleased. "Instead of taking a dip, you're laying here like some old lady."

"I'm not old." I responded bitterly. "Just...not in the mood."

"Prove it." he winked before pulling my ankles.

"Wait, Emerson. Hold on!" I exclaimed holding in a laugh of nervousness.

He laughed before ceasing. "I'm kidding. You have cute toes by the way." Emerson walked a bit further away until he laid on his moist bare back in the sand. He turned his head back to me.

"Come over here." he said patting the sand next to him. 

"No, why?" I asked confused.

"Trust me on this Riles."

I slowly stood up and walked towards him before laying next to him on the soft sand. My eyes caught the blue sky and a few clouds slowly moving across. To think I flew across that sky twice. Amazing.

"I'm glad I got on that plane with you." I said without thinking. "I thought that life was supposed to be some straight road and you'll be happy." My fingers played with the sand between them.

"Then what is it?" Emerson asked still staring at the sky.

"It's the detours and last minute flights. That unpredictable-ness." I giggled. "That fear, but also that wanderlust you have deep within you to explore outside your comfort zone. That's what it's all about. "

I kept staring at the clouds until I felt a pair of eyes looking at me. I turned only to catch Emerson staring at me. "What?" I asked, a bit uncomfortable.

"Nothing." he shook his head. "I just, like seeing you like this." he smiled softly.

"Like what exactly?" I laughed nervously.

"You, just loving your own growth. And honestly, I'm beginning to love it too."

There was a bit of silence before I spoke up. "You in for another splash?" I asked sitting up.

"You bet." he smiled before standing up and taking my sandy hand to help me up.