Love Tides | ✓

ten | honey and chocolate

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[ loving can heal ]

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The bustling market place surrounded Avery and Penelope as they walked from tent to tent, shopping and sightseeing.

"You know," Avery said, munching, cheeks full. "I didn't know this was so good." He lifted the Melomakarona in his hand, displaying it to Penelope.

"Told you it's good," Penelope laughed as Avery stole a few of the cookies from her bag and placed it inside of his.

Melomakarona was a small pastry-like cookie that resembled a Spanish biscuit. It was a typical Greek Christmas cookie, soaked in aromatic honey syrup and dipped in melted chocolate.

"I'm not a big fan of honey, you know," Avery said, swallowing a piece of the cookie. "Or chocolate. So this wasn't my first choice when looking for a small treat."

"You're crazy," Penelope grinned as she shook the paper back in her hand. "I grew up eating these, and so many more of these pastries. My γιαγιά, or my nonna—my papa's mother—adored baking; especially anything that had sugar. She was the one to encourage me to make Lemon Lady's—a big success in the end. When I was younger I had to ride a ferry every morning to main Greece for school—the school here was too far and papa couldn't take me in a vehicle because the roads were too bumpy so that ferry was the only option. So, when I was ten, Emmy classmates thought I was too chubby because my nonna and her friends at the ferry always fed me too many pastries."

"Well, you grew up with lots of delicacies," Avery grinned as he now stuffed a classic, crescent shaped, Kourabiedes in his mouth.

Penelope laughed at his stuffed cheek, entering another tent-like shop. "What about you? Any good food you grew up with?"

"Nothing too exotic," Avery asserted, looking around. "My mom's a fashion designer back in New York—where I live, and as I grew up I helped her by modeling. Like photo shoots, catwalks, advertisements ... so, I always stayed in perfect shape in case anything came up. But, my mom always seemed to stick a chocolate-chip cookie down my throat, now and then. She makes incredible lasagne with my aunts, though. They like to make corn ones too—those are one of the best."

"Corn?" Penelope flinched. "That sounds disgusting."

"It's really not," Avery shook his head, grabbing a small bracelet with a blue-eye pendant. "What's this?"

"That's the 'evil eye'," Penelope answered, taking a look at the wooden table that was filled with jewelry. "It's supposed to be a charm that protects you from hate and evil—my nonna loved those, when she sold pastries in her bakery, she'd give little bracelets or necklaces out too."

Avery placed the bracelet back in the small blue bowl. "Where is your nonna?"

"She's back in main Greece, in Athens. A year ago, she decided to travel around Greece more and get the feel of other traditional things around our country," Penelope explained, lifting a sea-shell necklace, grinning at it. "Look! Avery, isn't this so pretty!"

"It is," Avery confirmed, sending her an approving smile. "How much is it?"

"Nine euros," Penelope fished out a few papers from her front pocket of her ripped-jean overalls. "Dang it, I only have two." Penelope pouted as she placed the necklace back on the table.

"I can pay for it," Avery proposed.

Penelope shook her head. "No, no. It's fine, maybe I can come back tomorrow, if a tourist doesn't buy it." She walked away, a small pout drawing on her lips as she sulked out the shop.

Before following her, Avery quickly grabbed the necklace, taking it to the cashier and placing the eight euros on the wooden table.

"Girlfriend?" The man asked—who was running the tent-shop—his heavy Greek accent escaping his lips.

Avery chuckled. "No, that's my friend. I'm new around here."

The man hummed, taking the euros and placing them in a box. "I have known Penelope since she was a peanut, I would know how she looks at her friends." He lifted his index finger, "And she does not look at friends like that."

"No, I think we're only friends, for now."

The man shrugged, "Whatever you say. But if you're interested, you and Penelope could go visit Kastani tomorrow. There's a festival tomorrow and the beach is going to be completely empty. You should go."

Avery took the small paper bag from the cashier. "I'll think about it, σας ευχαριστώ."

"Κανένα πρόβλημα!" The man yelled as Avery jogged out of the store, catching up with Penelope who was sat against a white wall, taking small bites of the Greek cookies.

"Hey," Avery uttered out of breath with a smile. "This is for you."

Penelope's eyebrows furrowed as she grabbed the bag. "For me?"

"Yeah."

Confused, Penelope opened the paper bag, gasping once her gaze caught sight of the sea-shell necklace. "You-You didn't. I told you not to!"

"It's the least that I could do—after all, you introduced me to all of this," Avery lifted his arms, emphasizing the market place.

Penelope clipped the necklace on, grinning widely. "Thanks."

Avery smiled as he lifted the camera around his neck, side hugging her as they both wore matching grins. Pressing the button, the camera captured the moment, printing a small Polaroid out.

"This," Avery handed the picture to Penelope, "is for you."

Penelope smiled at the photo, side-hugging Avery again. "I love it!"

And she placed the photograph in her pocket, where she could keep Avery forever.

author's note

i seriously need a ticket to skopelos. like right now...

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