Beginning of the End [Adrianna]

[Luke Pyrrhos]

-flash forward-

The water was cool, tranquil, with only the slightest of breezes tugging at the top of the water, causing a little ripple or two in one direction or the other. The trees were lush and green, flourishing in the late spring weather. The flowers were shining bright as they could, before they would be pollinated by the little buzzing bees, and wilt away, as is the circle of life. This had a double meaning of course. Nothing was always happy, although usually life had its highs from time to time, accompanied as nature would have it with its lows. He was sad to see it all end, but karma had decided that it must, and with the greater decisions he had made for his future, this had to happen. Hopefully it would go quickly, like tearing a bandage off of an arm or knee, with a bit of hurt that quickly dissolved instead of a slow, constant peeling of a bandage, feeling your hairs being plucked, one by one, out of your epidermis. That was certainly not what Luke wanted for himself or for her, especially not for her. There was enough hurt she had to deal with already, and he felt horrible for causing her to endure more.

But this was life. Life was sweet with the lovely Adrianna Carstyn, a girl that seemed made for him, at least for a little while. Perhaps they had helped each other. It had gone from a playful give-and-take friendship to a blossoming romance in only a few short months, after they had first met at his very own Greek Fest, one of a strew of other feasts he was to have put on for others to join in, feast, and be merry. She appeared to be a little shy at first, but that quickly melted away as her outgoing personality shined through all of the hidden feelings she had, feelings he would soon enough find out were about her ailing mother. She loved her mother greatly, and that was her weak spot, with one utter that rubbed the wrong way could cause a fight, a punch in the nose, or sobs flowing down her dewy cheeks. In a way, this had been good for Luke. As he usually was the easy-going, slightly apathetic-unless he had something to gain from it kind of guy, he learned to care for someone else a great deal, actually more than he'd ever actually cared for anyone before. She was a friend first, and then a very special lady in his life. His first constant girl. It had only been a few months, but that was how fate would have it. He was graduating. He was leaving Hammel, and the state, the country, and even the continent. He would be moving back to his birthplace, to live with his closest family, to bask in the glory of Greece, but the one slight issue was that as much as he wanted to, he could not bring Adrianna with him. Sure, they could have a last time getaway to Greece on an extended weekend, but for long-term's sake, it didn't seem right. She still needed to get adequate training here at Hammel, a place they certainly didn't have in Greece. She didn't know the language or the customs either, which could separate her from the small village's people. She was a sweet girl, a girl he truly liked, but he would have to tell her eventually. Would it be a slip of the tongue or a long prelude to the actual momentous message, he wasn't sure of yet. As was natural to his personality, he would go with the flow, and say what was right when it was right.

Arm extended to the invisible and soon to be Adri, Luke sat on the painted black wood and wrought iron bench, bobbing his crossed legs in rhythm with a transparent song, floating around in the deep crevices of his mind. He pointed his face upward, closed his eyes, and felt the warmth of the sun shining on his face. This was one of the last times he's witness the Vermont sun, and as much as he hated this weather, he smiled up at the bulb of flames, savoring it for its hidden good qualities, in a friendly farewell, as he waited for his beauty to arrive.

[Adrianna Carstyn]

Adrianna had been stressing like crazy as to what she was going to wear! Of course Luke didn't mind and always said she looked beautiful no matter what, but she still liked to look her best. Her hair was down and straightened for once. She took time making it look good and perfectly straightened. Her make up was light and natural tones that made her blue-green eyes pop even more. The sun dress she decided to put on just made it complete. It was white with dark blue flower prints on it. She had decided to go for the colors that Luke always seemed to wear. Greece's colors.

Adrian was on her way to the pond. She had been wanting to see Luke all day and was getting sick of hearing Lucah go on and on about how stupid she was acting by being so infatuated with some guy she had just started dating. She had told Lucah time and time again that they hadn't just started dating, they had been friends before and had been dating for a few months. Months was practically an eternity in relationships at this age. Lucah of course never understood that because he didn't ever act his age.

Adrian felt good about her life finally and was happy to have someone to talk to about everything. Between her mother getting worse and Lucah irritating the hell out of her, she needed some comforting. Luke had been there, arms open and ears ready to listen. He always knew the right thing to say and even if he didn't say anything, just the feeling of his arms comforted Adrian.

Finally the pond was spotted. This was where it had all began for them. Adri saw Luke sitting on the wrought iron bench, eyes closed. She skipped over to where he was, trying to be as quiet as possible. She stood behind him looking down, waiting for him to notice that he was being watched. Of course she wasn't very quiet at all so he had probably heard her coming.

[Luke Pyrrhos]

That stagnant feeling that someone was watching him filled Luke's head as he opened his eyes slowly to see who it might be. He smiled in return, quite happy to see it was none other than his ομορφιά (beauty). He flashed some pearly whites, and then moved up a bit to give her an upside down peck, after which stood up, as he waited for her to sit down on the bench next to him. Gosh, it was always a good day if he got to see her face. Those translucent eyes, and that coy smile, he was surely going to miss that. After they were situated on the bench near the pond that they had initially started, he welcomed her in a low, casual voice, "My Dria, how has your morning been fairing you?" He wasn't going to jump right in, and would much rather hear about her life than have to explain his. Although he knew he had to say what he needed to say, there was a bit of him that had that inkling of an idea. Ah, the element of surprise. It was a good idea, surely, and from what he had hoped, he best believe that she would accept it, but he couldn't be so certain, should he skip all of this horrible news and just give her the bit of good, and tell her there? Perhaps only after she had seen what he loved so much would she understand. That sparkling anticipation in his mind thought it was quite a good idea to hold off on all of these essential words of heartbreak and to escape to the fun and romance of what could potentially lie ahead. But he knew that sooner or later, he would have to tell her. Would it be at graduation, right before (no, that was just cruel and might ruin the ceremony), would he tell her tonight, right here and right now? He had no idea now. There were so many options to consider, so many ways that he could potentially hurt her in ways he had never ever wanted to. This was all so complicated, all of these emotions and reactions to potential emotions. This was so unlike him, look how she had changed him! He was turning into the purest of romantics, and it was all because of her. As this had its negatives, the positives surely outweighed them, and for that, he smiled to himself as he looked at her, waiting for a response about her day. Remember this face, remember this face forever.

[Adrianna Carstyn]

Adrian smiled brightly and giggled, "Someone's happy to see me." She kissed him softly and then moved around to sit beside him on the bench. She leaned into his side and rested her head on his shoulder. He was always so comfortable. She couldn't help but blush whenever she was around him. It was an instant reaction. Adrianna shrugged at his question, "So far not that great. Lucah has been irritating me quite a bit this morning. One of these days I'm gonna smack that arrogant jerk." She rolled her eyes and frowned.

Once she got over her early morning irritation, she smiled again, "But it's better now. Being around you always makes things better." It was true. Adrian had dealt with a lot these past few months and no matter how bad things got, Luke had always made her feel much better. He was like a knight in shining armor to her and she was afraid that after graduation she'd never see him. Of course he could stay in Vermont and go to college which wasn't too far away, but it still seemed like half a world would separate them no matter where he went.

Adrianna frowned at the thought of him actually moving half a world away. Back to Greece. She shuddered and looked down. How could she bear to lose another person so close to her? She couldn't, it was as simple as that. Being away from her mother alone hurt enough, but being away from Luke too. It was unbearable, just the thought made her want to cry. She could feel that prickly feeling that happened under her eye that made her feel as if she was about to cry. Adrian turned her face into Luke's shoulder to gain control again.

[Luke Pyrrhos]

Luke turned to listen to Adrian talk about that punk of a kid that she was friends with, Lucah. Lucah... It sounded too much like his own name. Not so say he would get jealous at the coincidence, no he knew Adrianna too well to assume anything of the sort. Instead, as he listened on, a smile crawled onto his face as he heard that she wanted to smack him around. "I won't stop you. I'm assured that you could fight a good one with even calling me in on a tag team." He smiled cheekily, and then rest his arm around her neck, softly brushing his fingers against her smooth skin. He couldn't stop himself. This was far too sad of a day, or would be, if he had to break it to her here. It was best to draw it out, wait a bit. He had a better idea.

Straightening up, but still providing a support for her, Luke casually asked Adrianna, "How does an extended weekend in Greece sound to you? I've been dying to go, and I can't think of one better person to go with than you." It was plain speak to him, trying not to hype it up at all, letting her be responsible for all the squeals and whatnot. It would be a burst of adventure, surely something a little out of the ordinary, but shouldn't shock her too much. He was just trying to be a good boyfriend, that's all. And it wasn't like he was running out of money anytime soon (although this issue really never came up in the relationship talks, it was never of the essence or importance, something else quite striking to his run-of-the-mill relationships/flings.) "We could pack our bags tonight, and I could have us there by tomorrow evening. What do you say, up for a little adventure?"

[Adrianna Carstyn]

Adrianna laughed and kissed his cheek, "I could totally take him, he'd be too afraid of getting his clothes dirty. And though I'd love to beat him myself, I'd love it even more to see you hit him." She smiled wider as she thought about it. Lucah wouldn't be able to take Luke ever, not in a million years as far as Adrian thought. She giggled again, "Oh gosh, just picturing the look on his face!" She shook her head and sighed, "Oh that would make my day." She was glad now that she was with Luke. Even on the brink of tears he made her laugh. Talk about a great boyfriend to have.

Adrian looked at him when he straightened up. That meant something big. Her stomach flopped and she braced herself to start crying, but when she heard what he had to say, instead of tears and sobs coming out, she squealed like a little girl. "Are you serious?! Oh my God!! Luke that sounds amazing! I'd love to go to Greece with you. My mother always said if the opportunity presents itself take it, and if I didn't...I was stupid." Adrian laughed and wrapped her arms around Luke's neck hugging him tight. When she pulled away she looked at him with a cautious expression, "Are you sure you want your family to meet me? I mean I know we're dating and all, but won't they think I'm a little weird and psychotic?"

She bit her bottom lip and smiled, "I can't believe this. I could be in Greece tomorrow." Adrian laughed incredulously.

[Luke Pyrrhos]

She seemed to have taken that well. That was certainly a plus, not to mention the large swooping hug that she gave him, as he hugged back. Although she had some apprehension about meeting his family and such, Luke thought nothing of it. He looked down at Adrianna and with a raised eyebrow, said, "Have you seen my family? Well don't answer that, you haven't, but trust me, no one is normal and run of the mill in my extended family." He made sure to accentuate 'extended'. His mom and dad were pretty run of the mill, trying to fit into society, this American society that they moved to only a few years back. Same thing with his sister..but that was all an act for the general public viewing. When they were all together, they were acting like they normally did, but every family had its quirks didn't they? It made you sane, if that made sense at all.

"Don't you worry. My giagiá loves people, any people. Well..maybe except for the Konstantinas. But we don't talk about them much. As long as you like seafood, and you'd want to go, it can happen. All in a few phone calls and I can have us arranged for a vacation in my own paradise." He smiled and bent his neck to peck her forehead. "So..whatya say?"

[Adrianna Carstyn]

Adrianna smiled brightly, "Gotta love a big family. I never had one, but I wanted one. Is your grandmother like the typical grandma who cooks all the time and hugs everyone and is just adorable in every way?" She had watched too much TV obviously. When she thought of a grandmother, she though of Betty White in Golden Girls. Yeah too much TV. She giggled at the image of Betty White in her mind. That was how she pictured her own grandmother, she hadn't ever had the chance to meet her grandparents. They had died when she was young and not knowing her father made seeing the other set of grandparents practically impossible.

Adrian kissed Luke's cheek and nodded frantically, "I'd absolutely love to go. I want to meet your family and I want them to like me too. I've never been around a very big family so I think it'll be nice and fun. A new adventure. Not to mention, the scenery in Greece is just...to die for." She smiled and looked down at her dress, "I even dressed accordingly. I'm wearing Greece's colors."

[Luke Pyrrhos]

He cocked his head down at her when he heard her question about the stereotypical grandmas. Of course his giagiá was anything but stereotypical, but she did have that general love for all and food for all streak in her that wasn't going away anytime soon. "Is there any other kind of grandma out there?" He smiled and looked down at her outfit, that he'd hardly noticed, as that really wasn't what he was focused on any more, as her face alone could do wonders. "That you are, how perfect. Alright, pack up for tomorrow, Sunday, and the first bit of Monday. We'll return Monday night. I'm almost outta school, but you still have a few years to go, I can't be corrupting too much of your education. I'm going to make a few phone calls, and pack a bit, say I meet you in front of the grand doors in the entrance of the school in half an hour?" He smiled at her as he reached down to his back pocket to pull out his Blackberry, detached from the hug gently, and waited for her confirmation so that he could begin with all the arranging of the plane and letting his giagiá know he was coming with a plus one.

Of course, there were other matters to talk about with both Adrianna and with his grandparents, both of them. He found little need in telling his parents, except through a brief and casual mention post graduation of his plans. They were indeed set in stone, and this wasn't going to change. He just figured he'd use the time he had left with grace, enjoying the last moments of them. Good things would come for Dria, he hoped, even after their fun escape mini-vacation, which served in more than one way for Luke, hopefully it would help her understand in the end. Once she saw it, then she might have a better understanding of why he was going to do what he was going to do. This seemed like the only reasonable way to go about the whole elephant in the room that she didn't know was an elephant in the room. He would keep it to himself for as long as fate desired him to. But enough about all this misery business. He would be going to Greece, where it was in the high seventies to mid eighties all weekend long, with plenty of sunshine and the fresh smell of the salty sea, colorful sailboats docked along the walkway, right along the steep hill that held dozens of whitewashed stone houses, usually adorned with some sort of Greek flag, in one way or another. Paros a small island in the central Aegean Sea. Unfortunately, especially to the natives that lived there, it became quite a tourist spot, in certain parts of the island, adorned with those gaudy hotels and those big slanted umbrellas polluted all over the beach. Luckily though, Parikia, where Luke lived closest to, the capital, has maintained its antiquity and its originality by keeping as much touristy things, out. You could find there many ancient buildings, rolling hills, dozens of boats, fresh catch by the hour, rocky citrus gardens, and everything anyone would imagine Greece to be. This was going to be a splendid weekend, he knew it in his heart.

[Adrianna Carstyn]

Adrianna smiled, "I wouldn't know about any other grandmothers so as far as I'm concerned the stereotypical grandmother is the only type on this earth." She ran her fingers through her hair and looked down at her dress. She had indeed dressed for the occasion. It was a nice day and she was pretty ecstatic about everything. Sure Luke mentioned graduation and how he'd be leaving soon, but she didn't let that get to her. She couldn't or else she'd burst into tears. Instead of doing just that she looked up at him as he spoke. Adrian didn't want to forget him, if he did choose to go somewhere else, like she was planning, then she wanted to remember everything about him. The perfect lines of his face, the way his hair was always so perfectly tousled, the muscular arms that held her, and that was just the physical things she didn't want to forget. Then there was the more personal things like the way he always comforted her and understood her, how he made up for the things that she lacked. He was a great guy, a great boyfriend to have and this weekend in Greece would be a memory stored in the back of her mind for every time she thought of her first meta boyfriend.

Adrianna nodded and smiled, "Sounds like a plan. I'll go up to my dorm and pack however many things I can fit into my suitcase and then we'll meet out front." She looked out at the pond and tried to capture the moment. She wished she was a good drawer at that moment because she wanted to paint the scene in front of her. It was just so perfect. Everything had fit into place and it seemed like a new beginning. It would be difficult to ruin her mood at this point.