How To Date A Greek Boy

I'm Hermes, Messenger Of The Gods

Whoa.
That was the best word I could use to describe Athens, even though I had such a vast vocabulary.

Someone once said beauty was skin deep.
Negative.
Beauty is stone or brick deep, I think, after looking at the place.

Fran decided we’d save on money by staying out of a hotel until we actually started smelling, which we weren’t as of now. We’d go around the place in the mornings, and travel between places at night. Since we were in Athens, we blindly turned to The Parthenon. And damn, it was some work getting up there. It was high up on a hill, and from there we could see the whole of Athens. It was early morning in Greece when we got off the plane, and we’d just eaten breakfast before we realized we were going to be climbing all that vertical distance. There were other means, but as Fran said, “those weren’t for backpackers. The cool ones like us walked.”

All this morning exercise in the sun was making me feel anything but cool.

It was easy for Fran, since she was on the track team. And other beings of lesser physical and athletic prowess, for example me?

They walked too, of course. The only difference between Fran and me was that I walked on with a stomach ache because we’d just had food, and Fran walked on with a smile that showed no signs of distress. That smile would deceive people into thinking the climb was easy.

But we were here now, and it was more than worth the trek.
“It’s awesome.” Fran used a word more flattering than mine to describe the view.
“Hmmmm.” I nodded.
A few moments of silence followed as we observed the city’s view some more. Then I took a deep breath and turned toward the building “Let’s go see The Seat of ancient democracy!” I hollered. A few tourists around us gave us weird looks. Fran giggled and followed me. “I can’t wait to see all the Gods that were worshipped here! You know how many there were?” I asked Fran excitedly.
“No, I was too busy checking out the photos of their statues to notice the architecture. Those gods were hot!”
I rolled my eyes. “Think of it this way – you won’t need to pay a guide.”

“Tour guide? You lovely ladies need a tour guide?” The voice had an obvious accent. I turned around and suddenly, I couldn’t stop staring.

There, before us, was who she may have been talking about when she said she wanted to hook up with a hot Greek boy. Now I didn’t blame her. Even I wouldn’t mind spending a little extra time with him.

“Hey, I’m Frankie, call me Fran. You’re a tour guide?” She shook his hand.
“I’m Hermes. And no, not guide, but I volunteer some days.”
“Oh, we’d love to have you as a tour guide. Yeah, Lee?” She nudged me, and I recovered from the initial shock of seeing the human incarnation of who the Greeks worshipped a thousand years back.
“I thought you didn’t want a tour guide?” I raised an eyebrow at her reddening face.
“Yeah, but now that I come to think of it, a guide might know more than you do about The Parthenon.” She gave me a look that would’ve been obvious to even a blind doorknob.
I sighed. “Yeah I guess we could use a guide.” I gave in. To Fran, I whispered, “You’re paying.”
“Oh, with glee.” She whispered back.
“Hermes.” He extended a hand toward me.
“Isn’t that the messenger of the gods?” I smiled and shook his hand.
“Good homework!” He grinned. “Yes, Hermes is messenger of Gods. Now, tourist guide of the goddesses.” He smirked.
I took no notice of his obvious flirting. After all, we’d just met the guy.
But Fran wasn’t one to miss out on chances. “Aww, thank you.” She grinned. “That’s flattering, coming from you!”
I resisted the urge to facepalm, and started walking on ahead. Finally they joined me.
“I didn’t catch your name.” Greek Tour Guide asked me. He pronounced it as ‘yoor name’.
“I didn’t throw it at you.” I gave Fran an obvious glance after telling him that, hoping she’d get the point about throwing.
He laughed.
“Anyway, it’s Leanna.”
“You can call her Lee.” Fran said excitedly. I glared at her.
“Or maybe just Leanna.” I muttered darkly.
“Okay, Lee and Fran, welcome to The Parthenon!” He pronounced it like ‘Tha Parthenawn.’

Percy Jackson fans? *waves hand around* Go wild! XD