A Story A Day. Story 339 of 365: Best (Part IX).

Ismene opened her eyes slowly, why was there so much light entering through the window? It hurt her eyes, and her head. Had she drank so much during the night that she was hungover? Luckily for her it was Saturday and she had nothing to do. "Crap! I do have something! What time is it?" she though. She got out of bed and ran to check the time, feeling dizzy. Relieved, she saw that she still had an hour to get ready and arrive to the cathedral. Taking a couple of cookies from the jar in the kitchen, she stepped into the shower. The cold water hit her on the face, waking her up, and making her headache worse. She better take some painkillers, she decided. She grabbed the towel and dried herself on her way to the room. Ismene froze in front of the closet, what should she wear? She started taking off clothes from the drawers, and by the end she had a pile of clothes on the floor, but nothing to wear. If she dressed too nicely, he would think he had won, if she put on anything, he would think she was not interested. She needed to find a midpoint. In the end she settled for a pair of short jeans, a loose green cotton t-shirt, and a pair of sandals. She looked like a million dollars, maybe if she tucked the t-shirt into the shorts,... Perfect! She was ready to go.

The weather was warm, and she didn't want to sweat, so she took it easy, she'd rather arrive late. Leo was waiting for her in front of the cathedral, and apparently other girls had seen him too, as a pair of young tourists were asking him for directions, or pretending to. She smiled, he did looks stunning indeed, with a pair of fitted jeans and a plain white t-shirt, his hair was in disarray and he hadn't shaved, so he had a rugged look. "It's going to be a hard day" Ismene though, while walking towards him. He saw her at the distance, gave the final indications to the tourists and approached her. Without skipping a beat, he took her by the waist and kissed her in the lips. 

-Good morning!- his green eyes sparkled. 

-Don't. Do. That. Again.- she said hitting him. 

-Ok, ok.- Leo flashed a smile at her. -Not until you ask, for it, at least. 

Ismene stared at him narrowing her eyes. She had liked it, but she was the one who had to decide when things happened, if anything happened at all. And he would need to learn it, the hard way. 

-IF I ever ask for it. Now show me your tourist guide skills before I send you back with those two young ladies who still look lost. 

-Hmm, a demanding one. I like it. Ok, let's go. Did you have breakfast already? 

At the mention of breakfast, Ismene's stomach growled, she had only eaten a couple of cookies since she woke up, and she was starving. 

-No, I haven't. 

-Good. Are you keen on pancakes? I know the best place in the world for pancakes!- when he spoke like that he was a kid again. Ismene felt she wanted to get to know the kid hidding inside the tough guy. 

Leo took her trough some twisting alleys into a small square where there was a tiny church and a bakery next to it. An old woman greeted them and set them on one of the few tables. She was sweet and grandmotherly, and she seemed to know Leo well, as she asked him for his family. 

-It's been a long time since I've last seen you.- she said.- And this pretty girl, is she your girlfriend? You never bring girls here. 

Ismene couldn't help but laugh, Leo started babbling and turned red. The old woman winked at her, before taking their order. The young woman was starting to see the fireman with other eyes. He looked at her shyly. 

-So you've never taken a girl in here? How's that? 

-Well, I, I,... Look the milshakes are here! 

-I'll get a reply, sooner or later.- she said sipping from hers. 

The pancakes arrived shortly after, and they tasted like heaven. Ismene understood why he liked to go there. They were so good that none of them spoke until they had finished. 

-You know how to treat a woman.- she winked at him. - Though I still wonder why I am the first one you bring here. 

-You wouldn't believe me if I told you. At least not now. Let me have this little secret for some time. 

-Hmm.

-Come, you have so much to see! 

He took her hand as they walked out of the bakery, and ran around the alleys, pointing and laughing. He didn't actually know much of the story of the city, but he did know all the places. His enthusiasm was contagious, and it was clear he loved his city. Ismene soon found herself seeing the place through his eyes. Yet, a part of her wondered if that was the real him or if there was more to see. Would he be like that around other people? She was uneasy, maybe he was nothing more than a child's mind in a hot body, and children get tired of things easily. She was no toy, that was clear. 

-Are you hungry?- Leo interrupted her thoughts. 

-We just had breakfast!- she realized she was hungry as she protested, and checking her watch, she saw it was actually well past lunch time.- Maybe, yes. 

-Good. Come! 

Apparently Leo knew all the places in the city, as he took her to a restaurant built in an old tower. It was charming and the food was delicious. And Ismene started to think that everything in the city was quaint and clean. 

-If you keep feeding me like this, I'm going to gain three pound only from today.- she told him as she finished the apple crumble. 

-I'd like you the same.- he stared right into her eyes, and she felt an urgency to kiss him. Ismene was almost sure that he was able of some kind of mind control. He smiled a provocative smile, "He does know what I am thinking" she though. 

-Are you always so sure of yourself? 

-Only when I have a beautiful woman in front of me.