"Step one to exploring," Luna's voice rang, opening the trunk of the Jeep. Inside were brown shipping boxes and a small hiking backpack. She grabbed the pack and hoisted it over her shoulder, her long wavy hair sailing through the air in the process, "always have supplies."
"Seems reasonable." I agreed, trailing her onto the city sidewalk after she'd closed and locked the car.
Her steps were brisk and sure; she obviously knew where we were going. I followed after her, my long strides helping me keep up with her rapid pace. Our steps made soft thumps on the sidewalk pavement, and I soaked in our surroundings. Restaurants, cafés, retail stores, banks, you name it, it was there. In the distance was the faint hum of music from a live band and the running tracks of the L train. The smell of fresh food hung in the air, pouring out from the small restaurants and bakeries.
Though I'd lived in the outer suburbs of Chicago my whole life, I'd only been into the city a handful of times. I would usually blame this on the fact that we had year-round baseball training. Though the truth was, when most of my friends went on weekend outings I would stay home, held up in my room, poured over a book or typing furiously on my computer. That night, however, as we stretched down the glowing streets of Downtown Chicago, something felt right. Like I was supposed to be there. The brisk spring air was charged with a surreal energy. A current that flowed through everyone and everything, connecting us, making one synchronized system.
"Here were are," The girl by my side announced, coming to a halt.
Looming before us was a narrow alley between a cafe and a shoe boutique. I gave her quizzical look, glancing back at the ominous passageway, "Look's like you really are gonna kill me."
She rolled her eyes and pushed me forward into the alley, the darkness of the tunnel swallowing me.
"I'm starving and I know a really good place back here."
"Yeah, 'cause I know tons of great restaurants located in dark, creepy alleys. Of course." I mocked sarcastically before adding, "Plus, I already ate. So maybe i'll wait in the car while you get brutally murdered."
Though I couldn't see her through the darkness, I could sense those brown orbs rolling at me once again.
Suddenly, her hands were on my back, pushing lightly, "Just keep moving boy," her voice whispered.
Her hands stayed rested on my body, warm and guiding, as we scooted down the dim passage. When we'd gone a couple paces, she tugged lightly on my shirt, "Here."
I stopped and turned, noticing what looked like a door on my left. On it, I could just make out a sign that said "Ricky's."
As if on cue, Luna said, "It's owned by this guy named Ricky and his mom Cloris. It's the best Greek food you will ever have."
I did like Greek food... I gave her one more skeptical look before finally resolving and twisting the old, stiff knob. With a loud creak the door opened, ringing a bell that announced our arrival. We stepped into a small room with dim, yellow lights and dark red brick wall. Placed throughout the limited space were two booths and few tables, each covered with white table cloths. The only people in the restaurant were a couple in the corner who seemed deep in a conversation and didn't even notice when we entered.
"Luna-Mae. Is that you?" I heard someone call out in a thick Greek accent.
I looked across the room to see a man with tanned skin and and thick mustache standing at the door of the kitchen.
"Hey Ricky," Luna replied with a wave.
"Mamá, éla edó! Luna is here!," the store owner yelled back into the kitchen.
