Played like a Guitar - Chapter 6: Chapter 6

The ride towards the secret spot was silent but pleasant as I waited impatiently for us to arrive whereas Jamie was curiously wondering where on Earth was I taking him. Secluded from the city's hustle and bustle, we passed through Thessaloniki's tall, white, balcony-filled buildings and a few monuments, informing him what little I knew about each one during the long ride, perhaps even spreading false facts just for the thrill of it. He was seated next to the door, so I took the chance to get closer, pointing at various buildings outside the window, his strong cologne and tempting lips way too close for my sanity.
I asked where the rest of the band was to which he replied: "I think they mentioned a hot tub party on top of some fancy hotel roof, I don't remember.", adding "Nor do I care." after hearing me gasp in awe. This last comment shot right through my small beating heart. He chose to go out with me, an acquaintance at best (as much as I hated admitting it), over a night out with the band? He really is different from anyone else I've ever met. My heart liquefied and feelings doubled for this mystery of a man, whose freckles matched the number of hugs I wished to give him. Ugh, being in love can be so cringe sometimes.
As we were getting closer, I convinced him to pull up his turtleneck so as not to spoil the surprise but he protested playfully, claiming he looked like an idiot. "You don't need a turtleneck over your face to look like an idiot, trust me." - I teased him successfully, prompting him to poke me on the waist, making me jump and hit my head against the top of the car. He slid right next to me, apologizing and laughing his ass off, caressing the back of my head. Complying to his wish, Benjamin opened the roof, making me realize this was a convertible all along. Riveted, I stood up and let the cold wind of the night kiss me, spreading my arms like a hawk zooming through the sky.
"There, now I can poke you all I want!" Brutally assaulted by yet another wave of pokes, I giggled along as I was extremely ticklish, pushing him away and causing him to hit the door on the other side. It took me a while to register the tears of joy in my eyes. I can't remember the last time I laughed this much, my cheek muscles so sore, not used to being active this much. Kind of sad, now that I think about it.
Slowly reaching our destination, Jamie finally figured out I was taking him to a hidden beach with no signs of human interference, only nature's intact beauty. We left our footwear in the car, ready to feel the sand adapting to every step as we approached the shore. "Noah, I didn't expect this at all...it looks magical! How did you even find out about this place?" - he admired the calm scenery. Seeing his adorable dimples made it all worthwhile.
"My dad took my mother here on this beach when they first met during her vacation in Greece. I think this is where she fell in love with him. Magnificent, isn't it?" - I queried, hoping the same binding magic will sparkle in the salty air tonight. We approached the shore, clueless about the water's temperature at this time of the day. He stared blankly into the never-ending sea, lost deep down in his thoughts. If only I could read his mind. "You okay there, Jamie?" - he seemed distant out of the blue.
"Yeah, sorry. Just brought back some old memories, special ones actually. I used to take my sister to the beach whenever our parents would fight. I didn't want her listening to their arguments, she was too young after all and deserved to have a proper childhood." Oh. I didn't expect that. It was a sensitive topic and I didn't wish to meddle into his family affairs, so I decided to lighten up the atmosphere. I threw my jacket onto the sand while he pulled up his trouser hems before stepping foot into the water. It was too chilly for my liking, but dipping during the night was on my bucket list and it simply had to be done. The only thing left was dragging him in with me, the tricky part. After a quick brainstorm, I devised a tiny scheme.
"What's this black thing in the water? Can you see it?" – I pointed in the depths in front of me. He approached the spot, curious as to what might be hiding underneath.
"I don't see anything, where is..." – but before he could finish his sentence, I used the element of surprise and a bit of force to push him off-guard into the cold seawater. Expecting him to swim up and murder me for my mischief, I backed off, but he was nowhere to be seen, disappearing under the moonlight's ravishing reflection.
After what seemed like a short eternity, he jumped out from behind and onto my back, submerging us both under the surface. "You fell for that one!" - I bragged, causing him to splash my eyes with salty water. He took of his turtleneck before we continued messing around for a few minutes like toddlers in a kiddie pool, revealing a fit body and toned arms under his soaking wet T-shirt, now almost transparent from the water. I noticed an oval locket around his neck, the same one he wore last time we met. I couldn't help but wonder what memories lied within. After we understood how dumb and immature our behavior was, we floated next to each other peacefully, admiring the full moon surrounded by countless stars.
"You know, I dreamed of becoming an astronaut when I was a kid." - I revealed, observing its glowing white surface.
"Really now? I figured you more as a doctor or psychiatrist. How come?"
"For the sole purpose of seeing Earth from space, duh. Why else would you want to be an astronaut?"
"Oh, I don't know, conducting world-class research on a hundred million dollar spaceship, I presume?" - he made fun of me.
"Nah, doesn't have the same ring to it. For real though, imagine the view from up there, must be crazy!" - I ignored his quirky humor.
"So what happened? Did NASA reject your offer?" - he persisted.
"Yeah, apparently you're not allowed to join their program if you have a fear of heights. Who would've thought?" - I chuckled.
"You're afraid of heights?" - he sounded surprised, analyzing the surrounding area pronto, noticing the eight-meter cliff near the shore, where my father's group of friends used to jump from back in the days. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" - he flashed his eyebrows with a daring smile. I nodded insecurely to his idea, despite my body begging me not to. I never had the courage to do it before, but now seemed like the right time to give it another try.
The breeze sent chills down my spine, or was it simply my body preparing me for the reckless and potentially fatal decision I just made? Both. To reach the top, we had to climb several rocks with slippery feet and barely any light. Jamie was way more excited than I had anticipated, so he went first. You'd think he was raised by monkeys judging by how gracefully and swiftly he climbed his way up.
"Yo Tarzan, mind giving me a hand?" I found myself stuck somewhere in the middle, unable to grab onto the sharp ledge above me, whereas jumping down would've been too risky for my weak ankles. He dropped to his stomach, reaching out a helping hand. Oh hell no. "Are you kidding me? I'm not jumping from here, there's no way you can pull me up! What if my fingers slip and I fall down?" - I shouted in a state of panic.
"Then we're both falling down." If that was supposed to convince me, he failed miserably. "Look, I won't let you go, I promise. Do you trust me?" I looked down once more. There's now way I'll do it. I looked at his eyes. He promised, Noah, his adorable puppy eyes did! Fuck it, I'll die anyways.
I bounced off the edge, grabbing his arm with both of my hands, making my way up step by step, his force pulling me up steadily. The adrenaline started kicking in. You can do this, just don't look down. A few more and it will all be over. One final pull, and I landed on the rocky cliff next to him, laughing hysterically. A few bumps and bruises, but it was totally worth it!
"See, that wasn't so bad." - he stated, but judging by his intense breathing, he wasn't so sure I'd make it after all. Now that we've reached the top, there was only one way down. Crouching near the edge, we both questioned our reckless decision as we gazed into what seemed to be our impending doom. I didn't get to say goodbye to my parents. Oh well, they may bond over my death and get back together, who knows?
"Are you ready for it?" - his devilish smirk was leading me to an inevitable death. He offered his hand again, but my shaking body refused politely.
"I'm not sure I can make it. Just give me a minute, please."
"Suit yourself." He retraced back a few steps before running to the edge, jumping and disappearing into the night, never to be seen again. He obviously had to scream "Jeronimo!" mid-air before his body splashed loudly into the depths below. His last words shall be remembered forever (well, not unless I survive the fall).
I moved slowly to the edge, checking if he was still alive. The darkness prevented me from seeing him properly, but after a few deadly-silent seconds, a figure emerged from the water. His motionless body floating above the surface, his back facing the moonlight. Oh no.
"Jamie? Can you hear me? Oh God...no, no, no..JAMIE!" My heart was racing so fast, I could almost see it beating through my chest. What if he landed on a rock? From up here, there was nothing I could do, and every second counted. I leaped immediately, gravity pulling me downwards, flapping my arms and legs hoping I would glide like a kite. Instead, the force of the landing slapped my extremities, but the pain was concealed by terror in that moment. I swam towards him as fast as I could, shaking his body and turning it around. No response. What now?
The loudest laugh I've ever heard echoed throughout the entire beach. He...no. He did not just do that. I did not just fall for that! I fell for it. I stared blankly at his red face, unable to contain the laughter to himself.
"Jamie, oh Jamie, please don't leave me!" - his imitation of my screams of despair made me regret bringing him here. What an asshole. I wished to bury him alive as much as I craved his kiss against my shivering lips. "Hey, you should thank me for helping you conquer your fears. I knew you had it in you, just needed a little push, that's all." - he commented cockily. Bury him alive, definitely. Should've pulled him right off that cliff when I had the chance. Pushing my pain and anger aside, we took a moment to appreciate how peaceful it was, an entire beach at our disposal.
"Bet you didn't expect a little midnight swim, huh?" - I asked so as to receive a proper thank you. Not to brag, but he did get himself a five-star tour for free, and I got to spend a night with him in return so it was a win-win situation.
"I didn't have any expectations, really. I thought you accepted my favor only for the concert tickets, and that you would leave with your friend as soon as it was over. You wouldn't be the first one to pull something like that either way. Boy am I glad I was wrong." - he turned his face towards mine, plunging the left side of his torso and head underwater, highlighting his right sapphire eye.
"I would never do something like that, especially after you saved my life at the club. I forgot to thank you for that in person, it just didn't cross my mind with all the fun we've had today. Speaking of, how did you know that slimy bastard would try to...you know?" – I questioned in embarrassment, recalling some long-gone feelings I tried to suppress.
"I don't know. I guess I was just busy staring at you that night." - he uttered without thinking, but then realized how inappropriate it sounded. "I felt so lonely, even with my band mates and all those people around, trying to get into our pants, while you were out there dancing and living your life, surrounded by people you probably didn't even know." - he corrected himself quickly. "Then I noticed that asshole standing in the corner, watching your every move. So, the second I saw you getting dizzy, I connected the dots instantly." - he explained.
"It's kind of funny, actually. I remember thinking the exact same thing about you. Turns out we were both better off somewhere else." Maybe I should've approached his table back then, instead of playing the infamous cat and mouse game whenever my pride is compromised.
"Oh definitely, this is my idea of a night out. I'm just glad I was there on time, before he could do anything else or otherwise I never would have forgiven myself." - he confessed with perturbation at the thought of me getting hurt, twisting and turning the locket around his neck.
"It's not your fault. I should've known better than to leave my drink on a random table." - I asserted, still ashamed of my recklessness even after hearing similar stories from my classmates.
"True, but I was the one who got you there in the first place. I don't know why I invited you there anyways when you were already feeling liverish at the gig." - he condemned himself.
"Oh, I felt much better afterwards, I promise. Nothing that a big fat chicken gyro and french fries couldn't fix." - I laughed it off, but he still appeared upset. "Besides, maybe we wouldn't be swimming here together if you didn't. Sure, the concert would've taken place anyways but I wouldn't have your number in my contact list." As awful as the club experience was, meeting him somehow balanced it out. A compensation, I'd say.
"I don't know...I'm still pissed off for attending that lousy party in the first place. I was never a club person."
"What else would you have done?" - I asked while disguising a smile, in hopes of hearing what I wanted to hear.
"Hm, I recall this peculiar stranger offering me a city tour out of the blue in exchange for a granola bar and a bottle of water, but I was foolish enough to reject it. Maybe I should've gone for that instead." - he declared in a serious tone that aroused me on a physical, emotional and spiritual level.
"Well I'm glad you didn't make the same mistake twice." - I gathered the courage to maintain eye contact for more than two seconds, feeling my heart racing faster than a sports car.
Silence followed, as the nostalgic atmosphere brought back old memories. Still floating on our backs, my fingers reached towards his smooth hair impulsively, wishing they could go even further. I put two fingers on his forehead, moving them one by one like a pair of legs walking towards his nose, before plunging his face underwater.
He came out rapidly, gagging and choking on the salty water, surprised by the cute gesture turning out to be a cunning one. "Why you little..." – and before I could react, he put his entire weight on my shoulders, shoving me deep down, and then even further with his feet, until I reached the sandy bottom. Running out of oxygen, I propelled myself upwards into his chest, wrapping my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck, our faces only inches away, feeling his warm breath against my chin. He didn't anticipate this at all, and neither did I until a millisecond ago. What's your next move, O'Dea?
I wanted to bite his lower lip so bad, but I couldn't make the first move, his stare was just so intimidating. To my relief, he catapulted me back into the ice cold water again, leaving me barely enough time to process what the fuck just happened and if I should just drown myself and extinguish this burning sensation inside my chest. Unable to stay underwater any longer, I reemerged quickly enough to notice his serious facial expression changing into a social smile. He was thinking about it too, there's no doubt. We both felt it, that connection.
Awkwardness filled the atmosphere, as we sat on the sand in silence, dipping our feet into the water. Eventually, he left without saying a word and I didn't ask him why, I didn't blame him. He had a girlfriend waiting for him after all, and so did I. What the hell was I thinking, jumping on him like that? I crossed a line friends, acquaintances, strangers, whatever-the-fuck do not, and there was no plausible explanation I could come up with to bring things back to how they were - one hundred percent platonic.
To my huge relief, he returned after a few minutes, aligning some branches and sticks he found along the way on the sand, setting them on fire with a lighter and wrapped me up with a towel he picked up from the car. Maybe I was just overthinking it after all? The fire helped our trembling bodies dry up and stay toasty.
"That hot Jacuzzi party sure sounds compelling right now, huh?" - I finally spoke up, trying to break the excruciating silence.
"I meant what I said back then, Noah. You surpassed all my expectations tonight and I am truly grateful. I don't care about the cold, I just don't want you to have a fever tomorrow." - his dead serious voice sending (even more) chills down my already trembling spine. Even after what just happened, he was still selfless and supportive. Where have you been all my life, O'Dea?
I didn't want this night to end just yet, especially not on an awkward note. "Do you mind if I take you to one more place, before we call it a night?" - I requested, receiving a supportive nod and smile in return. Once dry, we put out the fire and headed back towards the car. I whispered Benjamin our final destination for the night while Jamie was dressing up outside. He pulled out a brown checkered shirt from his suitcase for me to wear instead of my soaked T-shirt.
We drove back towards the city center, only this time heading uphills towards the mountain areas where the most luxurious penthouses and villas were erected. The unpreventable yawns appeared naturally, as I was not used to staying up so late. Noticing them, Jamie pulled me in closer, allowing me to rest my head against his shoulder. I would take his bones over my fluffy pillow any day.
"Hey, don't fall asleep yet, or else I'll be dragging you all the way to Budapest with me tomorrow." – he said, causing me to simper with my eyes closed, embracing the moment and carving every feeling deep into my long-term memory. Sounds like a win-win scenario to me.
It was a thirty-minute drive and sleep seemed impossible as my mind was racing. My brain was telling me to enjoy the rest of the night, talk it out, say our goodbyes before we part ways whereas my heart was convincing me to go for it. He had what I was looking for, the missing ingredient that filled that empty void inside my heart.