Maya is on her study abroad trip in England, planning to have no love interests until she meets Kallias, a student also studying in her program, and who is also living on her floor.
Both witty and sarcastic, Kallias and Maya find it hard to connect...
It was 5:00. I had been out here for 1.5 hours already.
I was only supposed to be coaching for an hour but the kids insisted on me playing a game with them. But then one game turned into two. And then three as a tiebreaker.
I wiped off the light sweat off my forehead and said a quick goodbye to the kids, giving them high fives as they headed back into the classroom.
Emma, one of the the 3rd graders stopped in front of me, her small blue eyes looking at me through her wispy blonde bangs.
"How tall are you?" she said, frowning at me as if she already was distrustful of me. Haha.
"I am 187 centimeters. How tall are you?" I leveled down to her height.
"My mom says I am 133 centimeters"
"Well, I think you'll be my height in no time" I grinned at her and stood up, patting her shoulder as she continued towards the classroom.
Once all the kids had gone inside, I grabbed my drawstring bag, and took a long sip of water before heading out.
I said a quick goodbye to Piper and headed back out to the dorm hall. I desperately needed a shower.
A nice cold beer to cool down wouldn't hurt either.
The place was already buzzing with some people even though I had arrived 10 minutes before the concert. And mostly everyone ran late to things over here.
I took a seat by the back of the pub, near the entrance. I wasn't too close to the stage and I was also close by the door in case I wanted to leave.
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A waiter came by my table and handed me the drinks menu. I looked over at it before deciding that I didn't really want to drink.
"I'll just have water. Thanks"
She nodded and took back to the drinks menu I handed her.
I looked around, noticing the same dark green walls lined with lamps and warm lighting around the whole place. It felt somewhat upscale. All the tables were polished wood, with seats for 3 people, 4 if you made it fit. But the casual pub ambience. It made it feel somewhat cozy too.
I opened the familiar wooden doors to a packed pub, a small band setting up in the back, their mics already propped up.
I had taken a warm shower after coaching, coming to terms mid-shower that I would indulge in a beer at my favorite pub nearby.
"Kallias! How can I help you?"
I looked to my right, and behind the bar stood Georgios, the bar owner, and the reason I had known Goodman's so well. His wide smile remained unchanged, reminding me of the kind and generous man he was.
He was a short, rounder man, with tanned skin and a bald head. My family, specifically my dad would often come to London and Goodman's had become his favorite spot years before it blew up. Once I was of age, my dad would bring me here to talk with Georgios about sports, life, and anything else.
I smiled, reaching my hands out of my pockets to shake his hand and pat him on the back.
"Hey Georgios! I was wondering when I'd see you here"
"Ah you know business has got me everywhere. You know how it is. How's Andreas?"
I tried not to let the name of my dad stir anything up in me so I simply kept my smile.
"He's good. Busy as ever!"
"I bet! So, what can I get you!?"
"I'll have a beer! Guinness please"
He gave me a short nod and turned to get the order ready. Meanwhile, I turned my body to look back at the stage and all they were doing. I scanned over all the people. Mostly older men stood here but some older women scattered through the bar too. I slowed down, my eyes gazing over the people and focusing on the tables closer to me.
Was that?
My eyes narrowed.
Was that Maya? Here?
I blinked in confusion and realized that it really was her. Alone. At a pub.
Georgios came back and I turned back to him.
"What's all you've got going on here tonight?"
He slid the beer to me.
"New series we're starting. We're hiring a band of indie kids with bands to perform every week"
The band had now started playing their first song, a mix of light drums and vocals sang through the bar.
I took a quick glance back at Maya and noticed her attention was fully focused on the stage and the music.
That must be why she's here.
"How much are you paying them?" I faced Georgios again.
"Well right now, 200 Euros for 1.5 hours of playing. But we've only got this band coming in for 3 weeks. Can't afford anyone else. You know how money is"
I blinked for a second and took a sip of the beer, slowly setting it down after.
"Let me pay for them" I said.
Georgios looked up at me with a look that screamed "don't you dare"
"How much are they for 2 hours?" I asked.
"Kallias, you know I can't let you do that" he started wiping the bar counter with the white towel he had draped over his shoulder.
I watched him before replying.
"Let me. I know a few local bands from my college, and friends who know people. I wouldn't mind"
He took a deep breath and stopped his movement, looking at me below his eyebrows. "Do you really think you can handle that on top of being a student and enjoying your youth?"
"I wouldn't offer if I knew I couldn't do it"
He sighed, "I'll let you take care of the billing and scheduling from now then. But" He pointed his finger at me. "If you change your mind, you need to let me know within a week before ok?"
I smiled at the small win and took a few sips from my beer before replying.
"Wont happen" I winked.
I looked back at Maya, and her foot was tapping at the rhythm of the song they played, she even leaned forward, and a small smile was drawn on her face.
