To Hook A Star

I

I wrote this as a graduation gift to embarrass my friend. She has the only printed copy. I was advised to put this on here. Good luck to anyone who reads it. 

 "Remind me again why you refused to take a cab?" Their suitcases clacked and twisted as both of you pulled them over the bumpy streets. What had been a mere 1.5-kilometre walk from the train station to the hostel felt like an age-long journey where the sun was a dragon bearing down on them, scorching their pale skin and covering them with sweat.

"You'll thank me for this exercise when we've found hot Italians for the summer," Mia grunted as she wrestled her suitcase over a curb. Hawkers approached the American tourists, calling out in various languages as they tried to ply their goods on different people.

"Forgive me, your majesty. I'll apologise once you prove me wrong. At least tell me that everywhere won't be this crowded." Athena complained to her. She puffed and brushed the sweat off of her forehead with the back of her hand. "You know how pale I am. I'm going to peel if I'm in the sun any longer."

"It took us an entire year to save up for this," Mia lectured. "If this is not the best vacation of my life, I'll sue the entire country of Italy. And you."

As they entered the building, the two of them let out a sigh as the calming balm of the rattling air conditioning fell over them. However, their relief was short-lived. As Athena looked over to the check-out desk, she began hitting Mia in the stomach with the back of her hand.

"Isn't that Tammy?"

"What?"

"Your fucking asshole of an ex." She gestured over to the black-haired woman leaning on the counter, conversing with the man behind the desk in fluent Italian. "No, don't look now. Are you kidding me?"

Mia fell down in the red armchair behind her, the cracked leather squeaking in protest as it seemingly swallowed her into its depths. Your best friend leaned on her baby blue suitcase across from her and began conspicuously surveying their surroundings.

"Is she stalking me? Why the hell is she here?" Mia hissed, your already burnt face turning even more red at the thought of your last relationship ruining the summer.

"How the fuck am I supposed to know?" Athena replied, her eyes wide as she looked Tammy up and down. "There's an astronomical chance of her being in the same continent, the same country, the same city, the same hostel-"

"And at the exact same time!" Mia interrupted before friend was able to finish her questioning.

"There's no way she's here alone. I'm sorry, but she can't be that desperate. That's pathetic." Athena chuckled at the memory of Tammy about three months ago, begging on her knees for Mia to take her back outside their apartment. It was a humorous sight, especially since she was so much taller than Mia, who was fairly small. They had made a strange coupling, what with Mia's enthusiasm and Tammy's robotic outlook with a red wire of charm to attract girls.

"Funny seeing you here." Tammy turned around on her way to the elevators to deliver a cold remark.

"I could say the same." A frosty reply came from Athena. They exchanged equally insincere smiles. Finally, Tammy broke their stare match to examine her nails, flexing her arm.

"You'll have to excuse me," She said. "I have to meet up with my girlfriend."

With that, she left. Their noses tingled with the musty floral scent of her perfume as they sat there in silent shock.

"Y'know I can get rid of her easily."

"Nope. Please stop talking about murder. We're in a foreign country; you're going to be arrested. And honestly, she's horrible, but I'm over her. I pity her girlfriend."