REBEL

After three weeks of waiting, I was finally on the plane to Egypt with my best friends, Sebastian and Adrienne.

"What do you think it'll look like there?" Seb muttered. "Like do you think it will be sandy and hot or will it be modern and have Wi-Fi and stuff?"

Faintly, I could hear Adrienne in the background scoffing at the sullen tone in Seb's voice. Seb was upset because he had to leave his boyfriend back in the U.S. for the trip and without Tye he was like a lost puppy.

"Don't worry Seb I'm sure that they have Wi-Fi and then you'll be able to talk to Tye."

I could see him visibly relax and steady himself as we prepared for landing. On the brochure in my hand, I looked at the picture of Cairo. That's where we'll be staying for the next month.

The picture was beautiful, but as I continued to look at it, I began to see it in a less civilized way.

I saw houses made out of sand and minerals, many old temples restored to their former glory, but most importantly I saw a man, the Pharaoh I assumed, standing next to a woman who's face I couldn't see. This bothered me and I; soon felt sad. I kept looking at the picture; looking until I felt someone shaking my shoulder. I looked up to find Adrienne looking at me with concern.

"Rebel are you alright?"

I looked at her strangely.

"Yeah I'm fine, why?"

Adrienne looked at me in disbelief, "Rebel, you started crying while looking at the brochure."

I reached up to my face with wide eyes; I felt the tears that I hadn't realized escaped. I looked at my fingers, as though I had never felt tears before, blinking rapidly. I shook my head and wiped my face.

I looked at Seb only to find him sleeping. He hated the landing part of plane rides.

Smiling softly, I turned to Adrienne and looked her square in the eye.

"I'm not going to lie and say something was in my eye, because you and I both know there wasn't, but I can honestly say that I have no idea why I was crying."

Adrienne shifted uncomfortably like she always did when someone looked her in the eye.

"Well I know that you would tell me if you had a reason to be sad. So I believe you."

I licked my lips while I thought over what I had seen on the brochure and then thought over the crying situation. I feel like they were connected, I just don't know how. But I do know that it will bother me until I figure it out.

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The plane landed and all the passengers had exited. I walked over to the bag claim alone, seeing as Adrienne and Seb already had theirs and had left for the bathroom.

I made it passed all the people occupying the area and reached my bag, only to have someone else yank it out of my hands.

Looking up, I saw a man who had a scowl on his face and piercing black eyes; they held a look so stormy that it seems as if they were soulless. I might have thought that if I hadn't been paying close attention.

He had a bronze tan that many people in Egypt naturally inherit or receive from living here for a specific period of time.

Suddenly, snapping myself out of staring at the stranger, I pulled the suitcase back towards me. With a look of annoyance the man narrowed his eyes at me.

"I don't know what you think you're doing, but this suitcase is mine." he snapped.

I, in turn, locked my eyes on his and smiled, "No it's not."

'Kill 'em with kindness' my mama says and if that doesn't work then hit 'em where it hurts.

He gritted his teeth, "Yes! It is."

I shook my head never dropping my smile.

"No sir, it's not because my mama put something on my suitcase to make sure that this situation doesn't happen again. See?" I said pointing to the embroidered labelling on my suitcase.

The fact that I was right and he was wrong seemed to make him even angrier.

Sneering, he leaned in closer to where there were three inches between us. I could feel his warm breath on my face. I shrunk back as a sign of submission, and watched as the man's face transformed from smug to fear in an instant. I turned around to find a man so much taller than my 5′5 frame that I had to look up.

As I looked up, he looked down and I found myself looking into his eyes which were a mysterious gray, they held a sort of warmth that only I would take comfort in.

His skin was fair, almost porcelain-like, his hair was dark and gave such a striking contrast that I was somehow sure he didn't really exist. The beard was simply a plus.

Then suddenly, as though he was returning down to earth, his head whipped around so fast I felt as if I had gotten whiplash just looking at him, he stalked towards the man who had frightened me.

He stood tall and proud in front of the man, who I see now is much shorter than the giant whose name I'd not yet had the pleasure of learning.

"What do you think you were doing to that girl?" His voice was so low I was unsure if I had heard him or if I had merely imagined it.

"Well she was giving me cheek and I thought that maybe if I made her think twice she would apologize."

I looked down at the ground biting my lip in order to keep my comments to myself; I knew that they wouldn't be appreciated in this particular problem.

"∆εν νομίζω χαμογελαστά Η ως." (I don't think smiling counts as being cheeky.) I muttered quietly to myself.

"Μιλάτε ελληνικά?" (You speak Greek?)

My head shot up and I look at the man and look around. My class is still trying to find their luggage and my friends are waiting for me with confusion written on their faces; as they don't understand Greek.

"Ναι κάνω είμαι μισός Έλληνας ,Τι γίνεται με σένα;" (Yes I do I'm half Greek. What about you?)

"Είμαι από την Καλαβρία." (I'm from Calabria.)

"Συγχωρείστε ήθη κύριε μου , αλλά αυτό είναι το όνομά σας;" (Excuse my manners sir, but what is your name?)

The man let out a husky laugh, as though I had told a hilarious joke.

"Ελπίζω εγώ δεν προσβάλλουν χάσετε, δεν ήμουν γέλιο σε σας. Απλά το γεγονός ότι είχα ξεχάσει να δώσω το όνομά μου σε κάποιον τόσο όμορφο ένα μόνοι σας." (I hope I did not offend you miss, I was not laughing at you. Merely the fact that I had forgotten to give my name to someone as beautiful as yourself.)

I put my head down as I blushed from the compliment and shook my head, when a realization hit me, I looked up, hearing him silently laughing at me, and looked around. The man from before was gone.

"My name is Aaron, Aaron Binds."

I snapped back to attention, and shook his hand as he introduced himself.

"I'm Rebel Jacobs. Thank you for helping me. I don't know why I didn't say it earlier, but thank you."

I smiled and turned to walk back to my now angry friends when I felt a hand on my wrist.

"Θα θέλατε να πάτε να πάρετε κάτι να πιείτε κάποια στιγμή;" (Would you like to go out for something to drink some time?)

Regretfully, I turned back to Aaron.

"*Συγγνώμη , αλλά δεν μπορώ να είμαι πάρα πολύ νέος για σας . Είμαι ακόμα στο γυμνάσιο και καλά , λυπάμαι αν σας έδωσα λάθος εντύπωση . Σας ευχαριστούμε Aaron για την προσφορά , αλλά όχι." (Sorry, but I can't. I'm too young for you. I'm still in high school and well, I'm sorry if I gave you the wrong impression. Thank you Aaron for the offer, but no.)

As though I was on fire, he let go so quickly I stumbled for a moment. His face was tight and professional, not letting on to the emotions he's feeling.

After having enough of the stare down, I picked up my luggage and walked over to Seb and Adrienne. This time I made it.

Ignoring the anger and confusion of the two, I walked over to my teacher and climbed onto the bus that had just pulled up.

So far, Egypt hasn't been as fun as I thought. I can only hope it will get better from here.

- Edited by @Gabz2000