"Father, I'll be fine," I struggled from his grasp while I sputtered some of my only English words, my sandals stepping down the flight of chalky stairs.

"M-my Thisavrós, my kóri," he said while pleading me to stay.

I stopped in my tracks on the camel-colored pathway. "We've talked about this. Angela will be with me on the flight to Australia. I'll text you when I land safely."

As I let my fragile body use gravity to guide me town the twisting stairway of Santorini, Greece, I heard my father's shouts mix into a blur of nostalgia. I used English so he wouldn't understand me, so he wouldn't have to be hurt more.

My name is Nyla Chontos. I aspire to be an acrobat just like my mother is. My mother is Japanese and was participating in a competition in Athens when my father met her. He said that "When I saw her body swing from rail to rail in such a graceful way, I myself felt free."

Ever since listening to their constant tantalizing stories, I knew I wanted to do something in my life that not only made me feel free, but made others feel it too. So that's why i'm going to Australia with my acro-buddy Angela. The tournament that will be held in Perth lasts 1 month and the winner gets 4,000 euros. If i'm lucky, I'm going to use the prize to find my mother. She was kidnapped when I was 14.

I'm on the plane now. Angela grips onto my shaking hand to comfort me. I hope I use my English right, I taught myself a lot after watching the subtitles on films.

Angela didn't bother to learn to prepare for the tournament. She says "Anthrópina metáfrasi. Metafrázo Eímai eínai polý kalí gia na máthete tous anóitous glóssa," which means she says she's too good to learn the silly little language.

Angela is by far my prettiest friend. We first met when I was trying to find a trainer for a competition I was in when I was 11. She was one of the only other acrobats in Santorini, and we quickly grew a bond. She's 29 and engaged to my cousin.

"C'mon!" Angela bumped up against my slow-moving frame, causing me to stumble and join chests with another. I fell to the ground and my suitcase flew open. Multiple acrobatic onesies scattered on the floor.

"Y-you're a dancer?" The optimistic Australian voice asked. I gazed up at him while struggling to put them back into place.

The voice was connected to a boy, a man with tanned skin and dark, definite hair. He had a reckless smile and couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at the sight of my face.

"N-no," I stuttered out nervously at the sight of him. I've never talked to anyone so attractive. "I'm an acrobat, i'm here for the tournament."

"And you're greek," He smiled while biting at his lip, which deemed quite mischievous in a cute way. He fondled one of my outfits and eventually handed it back to me.

I nodded. "I'm Nyla."

He gripped at the edge of his pastel cap and winked. "Tyde."

I grinned as Angela scoffed and pulled me up from the ground. "Entáxei, spíti agóri. Prépei na ftásoume se kínisi."

Tyde gave me a confused smirk and I sighed, embarrassed. "She said, okay homeboy. We gotta get moving."

Tyde laughed and forced a hand shake with Angela, which resulted in her backing away and sweeping her hand on her sweater in disgust.

"So, based on your accent," I stumbled to my feet from the help of his hand. "I'm guessing you live here. Why are you in the airport?"

"I have to pick up my brother," He replied, as he grinned above me and waved. I turned around to see a fragile, pale boy with curly brown hair and thin lips.

"T-Troye Sivan!" Angela squealed and cupped her hands over her mouth. I urgently shot a glance at her in astonishment.

"Y-you spoke English!" I clapped my hands giddily, but eventually halted. "W-who's Troye Sivan?"

Angela gave a worried glance to me and then stuck her neck out at Tyde distraughtly.

"He's a musician," Tyde scuffed some lint of the cap that had the words "One Dance" streaked across it.

"Hi!" The boy, who was apparently named Troye, bounced up to us, wearing a peculiar jean jacket and slouched sweatpants with white converse. He swung his bag back and forth against his small grip.

Angela jumped up and down and collided against him with a forceful hug. Troye, now taken aback, patted her back twice and said, "Hi to you to, stranger."

"She's a big fan," I explained, parting Angela away from the small body. Troye nodded and gave a slight wave towards us, then turned to his brother.

"This is Nyla," Tyde turned his heads towards my eyes, and gave me a shy smile. "And the hugger, that's Angela," He continued to play with the tassel on his bracelet, and then side-glanced Angela up and down. Angela scoffed, not even knowing what he said.

"Damnit!" I pushed at Angela's elbow, and she glared back. "Ti eínai mazí sas?"l (what's with you?)

"Xechásame na noikiásete katafýgio," I whispered, and I could feel Angela's muscles tense.

"W-we..." Troye sputtered, his forefinger on his lip. "We forgot to rent shelter?"

I nodded urgently back at him, as if I was asking the question. He caught on and answered, "I stopped in Greece in my Europe tour."

"You guys need a place to stay?" Tyde asked, as we continued on throughout the airport towards the exit. "You could crash at our place."

"That would be great!" I grabbed onto his arm in a way of thanks, which surprised me at the fact of how firm and tense his bicep was. He quickly softened his arm in embarrassment.

"I hope your parents wouldn't mind," I gazed between Tyde and Troye in desperation.

"They're on holiday in Indonesia," Troye said, while sweeping three fingers through his curly fringe.

"Ay bro," Tyde bit at his tongue and smiled. "When's Connor coming to visit?"

"Oh, shut up!" Troye replied as we left the airport.

~

Hey guys! I promise that every chapter will have at least 1,000 words in it. I hope you like this story so far!

XX Katy