Changing Hazel

Chapter 1

          Hauling my bag out of the airport was difficult, but I decided to stay at a hotel in Athens to get used to the city first. It's a safe bet Hazel, just breathe. Everything is going to be okay. God I sound pathetic. I really need to get to my room and take a nap or have some coffee. I didn't come here to wallow in my own self pity.

          Shivering, I finally got to my hotel and took a warm shower. As an Arizonian, this weather was pretty chilly in October, but eh what can I expect when I didn't really plan this out. Well, I'm glad I packed some pants as a spur of the moment decision. Putting on some dark jeans, a cream sweater, and a tan scarf I called it good. Who needs to do their hair and makeup when you don't know anybody?

          Pressing the elevator button, I start tapping my foot; it's an incessantly irritating bad habit, I know, but I can't seem to stop. When I'm nervous, I tend to play with the hems of my shirt or tap with my feet and fingers. What can I say? It's embarrassing.

          Ding. Jesus christ. Finally, the elevator arrives. If only it had arrived before my first gray hair, but whatever. Stepping on, I notice the sexiest man I have ever laid my eyes on. He's got a decent tan, dark eyes, dark brown hair, and is tall, yet lean and muscular. Wow, talk about drool worthy. Oh my god, I'm completely embarrassing myself.

"Are you going to get that?"

          What? Was he talking to me? There's no-one else on the elevator so duh he's talking to me. Ugh. Smart, really smart Hazel. Finally registering what this Greek god said, my ears tune in to hear Miley Cyrus playing. Hey, I like this song! Wait, oh my god no. "I'm so so sorry." rummaging through my bag, I end the call and shove it back into my bag.

          After a few floors, a woman gets on with a guy who looks to be her boss since she's scrambling to take notes. Is this whole place business related, because I'm the only one not on my phone or working. Another rendition of Miley Cyrus graces our ears and every person in the elevator has turned to stare at me.

          No, no, no. This cannot be happening to me. My breathing becomes ragged with the attention as I continuously try to silence my phone. Are we almost to the lobby? It's been 10 minutes already, but the elevator keeps stopping at every floor. I can't do this. Everyone hates me and I've only been in Greece for a few hours.

          If only the ringing would stop. I need to get out of here. I need to leave. Closing my eyes, I try to breathe. It's simple, right? Just in and out. Easy peasy. I open my eyes as a woman in her mid 30's taps me on the shoulder.

"Sorry mam, but can you move over a little?"

          I try to say something, but a strangled grunt wheezes its way out of my lungs. I can't even talk properly, so I just scoot shoulder to shoulder with the sexy guy from earlier. See? It's okay. You're breathing. There is no need to cry or freak out.

           After a few tries, I was able to switch my phone to vibrate so I didn't have a full on panic attack in the elevator. It seems as though, not everyone has forgotten.

          "Miley Cyrus, huh?" I can feel the warm breath from the Greek god speaking near my ear, which makes me shiver.

          "Yeah, I'm so sorry. It was supposed to be a joke a long long time ago, but I just never changed it." Whispering seems to be the safest bet for me at the moment, I don't really trust my voice.

          Winking, "I thought it was cute." He goes back to his phone as if he didn't say anything at all, but my heart is racing. Did he just wink at me? This elevator just became a sauna, holy crap. There's still 23 floors left and the elevator is getting even more packed. Jesus. How many people can this thing hold? I suddenly don't feel very safe anymore.