Μερικές φορές, αυτό που φοβάστε περισσότερο να κάνετε είναι το πράγμα που θα σας απελευθερώσει
[ sometimes, what you're most afraid of doing is the very thing that will set you free ]
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Ascending the semi-large travel boat, Avery's face scrunched in disgust at the humid smell of rotting wood planks and dead fish. Tackling his walk over legs as he passed through the small corridors of the small ferry, Avery breathed in delight once he was able to squeeze himself into a seat, next to a frail old man who carried a large toothless smile and a tall obese woman who wore large worn dress and beared a large brown basket on her lap.
A small ting of nausea, invaded his throat of the constant rocking of the small ferry. Even if the ferry was tied to the port, the small waves and soft breeze seemed to push the ferry off balance.
Tapping his foot against the ground, Avery immediately began thinking into his thoughts while grabbing onto his bag tightly on one hand and clutching his camera in the other.
Since Avery's depart from his warm Colorado apartment, he had really come to the realization of the difference between Greece and Colorado - and it didn't only come from the extreme temperature differences. People here in Thessaloniki seemed, free and liberate. They dressed how they wanted, they looked how the wanted, they joked about you in another language . . . it was so unbelievably unrealistic for Avery. Back in Colorado - a person had the freedom to do whatever they wanted to be - but there was always that thin restriction - dress by trends, look by trends, if you're a girl act like a princess, if you're a boy, you're supposed to act cocky and ignorant but innocent and kind at the same time.
It was those unrealistic expectations that made Avery feel so . . . captive.
"Θα θέλατε λίγο φρέσκο γαύρο?" The woman next to him said, pushing the small cloth off the basket, displaying the large set of dead fish.
Avery quickly denied the offer, desperate to get the disgusting reek of anchovies from under his nose - but it seemed that the woman didn't quite understand, and continued suggesting.
A voice broke in, causing Avery look up to the sight of a blonde girl.
"Ο Μαργαρίτης άφησε το αγόρι ήσυχο, δεν ενδιαφέρεται."
The woman smiled up at the blonde girl, a lighthearted laugh left her lips as she chatted with the girl. "Είναι μια χαρά Πηνελόπη. Ξέρεις πώς είναι οι τουρίστες."
"Και να. Ξέρω τον Μαργαρίτη," the blonde girl replied with a grin.
Turning in Avery's direction, the blonde girl smiled wildly. She ratherly looked normal, with wavy blonde hair, large blue eyes and a small body frame.
"Sorry about Margarit," the girl apologized as she holded a small notebook to her chest, "she gets a bit carried away when it comes to selling to tourists anchovies."
Avery nodded, side-eying the large woman next to him, before looking back at the blonde girl, humming in response.
"I am Penelope," the blonde girl greeted, sticking her hand out for Avery to shake.
"Avery," he replied, temporarily dropping his hold on his bag to shake her hand, then quickly putting it back.
"Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too."
Penelope squished in the seat between Avery and the thin man, making Avery scoot the other way, desperate for space. He had never been so close to someone - it felt somewhat strange and foregin for him.
"So," Penelope started, looking back at Avery. Curiosity waltzing in her eyes. "What brings you to Skopelos?"
"A contest I won required me to come here to Greece," Avery explained.
"Ah," breathed Penelope, "are you some type of sports junkie, or any of the sort?"
Avery shook his head with a chuckle. "No. I'm a photographer."
"That's cool," Penelope looked away from him for a second before gazing back at him in admiration. "I never met a real photographer."
"Well, I guess you do know."
"And what brings you to Skopelos?" Avery continued, trying to maintain the small talk in order to ease his bubbling nerves.
Penelope grinned. "Nothing in particular. Lived here my whole life, I was even born here."
"Oh," Avery nodded, "so you know the annoying guard?"
"Who?"
"The cranky bald officer."
"Mr. Danielpoulous?"
"Yeah," Avery confirmed. "Him."
"He's a sweetheart," Penelope gushed, "once you get to know him, otherwise he'll judge your passport picture until you're six feet under."
Avery ran a hand through his blonde hair, laughing softly. "Yeah, I took notice of that already."
"Don't feel bad about yourself if he did judge you though," Penelope said, "most of the times he's just joking around. Except if you have colored hair in the picture, especially purple hair - he despises purple."
"Yeah, I took notice of that." Avery coughed, trying to cut off the topic. "So, you know everybody around here."
"Pretty much," Penelope smiled, "Skopleos isn't the largest island out there, but it surely isn't the tiniest, but everybody likes to know each other. Most of us know each other since birth. My dad likes to refer the island as a family - mostly us on the Kastani beach side. He says, 'one for all, and all for one' - you know, as if one person falls in the island, all of us fall too. Like a family."
Avery's brows furrowed. "Isn't that the motto from 'The Three Musketeers'?"
"Yeah, my dad isn't the sharpest tool in the shed," Penelope bit her lip, cheeks red. "I have to talk to him about his plagiarism ways, sometimes."
"Plagiarism ways?"
"It happens quite often around him, he once quoted Aristotle and claimed it as his own."
"Really?"
"Really."
Avery stuffed his fist in between his teeth, in order to prevent his laugh to grow louder than it already was, Penelope following his actions as she covered her red face with her hands, giggling softly.
"He's quite the man isn't he?" Avery joked making Penelope nod excitedly.
"He really is."
Before they could continue talking, the ferry hit the port of the island, making the conductor come out and slowly lead the passengers out to the wooden plank leading to the sandy beach. Slowly, raising himself, Avery followed an accustomed Penelope as they left the travel boat. The salty sea air banging against them the second they reached the plank.
Turning towards Avery, Penelope placed the small floral journal into her sundress's large pocket before sticking her hand out in Avery's direction.
"It was nice to meet you, Avery."
Avery wrapped the camera's straps around one of his shoulders before placing his hand on hers.
"It was nice to meet you too, Penelope."
author's note
new chapter, new people
how is everybody?
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