1 Chapter 1 Happy Birthday!

Good morning, or should I say night? What ever time of day you might be getting a chance to read this diary. I know your reading my diary! Mainly due to the shocked look on your face right now. See my smile! I don't really care you know. I want this story to get out. It is just so unbelievable; I know even you as the reader will find it hard to believe. I will not include any dates, for it seems time no longer matters. You will understand much later in the story.

Who am I, you might ask. Well, I will be addressing you as the reader in hopes that you can put yourself in my shoes. I will however tell you all about me. That is what a diary is for right! Well in this case we will just say yes. My name is Phoenix, Joy Phoenix. No, I am not a bond girl. I am a regular twenty year old white chick. I am five foot four inches tall, with long blond hair. By that I mean my hair is thick, blond, and comes down to my knees. Both my hair and eye color is natural. I have blue eyes by the way. I am not over weight but most certainly not skinny, and that is according to the doctors. I have a hour glass figure, however I do not have the biggest bust. It is annoying sometimes. But I will take what god has given me.

I was born in Shawnee Oklahoma. To a regular mother and father. But this particular story has nothing to do with my family so I will stop with the family part. I live on my own in an apartment of my own. My brother does come and stay with me from time to time. Otherwise, it is just me and my crazy cat (Psycho).

I try to stay pretty active. I just started taking my basics in college after a short time off. I have no idea of what the future might hold. The world is full of possibility's. I have no degree in mind. I figure I will know what I want to become after getting the beginning stages done. I work at Walmart and have since I was sixteen years old. I have done a little bit of everything there. I just recently have been given weekends off as well. Which is amazing! I can go clubbing now.

Today, just so happens to be my 25th birthday. It also just so happens to be the weekend. My best friend is taking me out to a new club. This new club is named after a rock formation in Colorado. It is called Garden of the God's. I have been to see the Garden of the God's many times. It is quite beautiful there. I really cant help but wonder what the club is going to look like.

Pearl Rose Swan is a girlfriend of mine from way back. My mother told me that her best friend and her went into labor at the same time. We were born on the same day and in the same hospital. We have been best friends ever since. People often tease that we are so much alike we could be twins. I am happy to say that we share our birthday as well.

It was Pearl who invited me to this new club. She said that there is a required dress for this club though. We are required to wear togas. I have never worn a toga in my life! Pearl is coming over today to help me to fix my hair and to darn the contraption. Pearl is so smart! I swear some days she puts me to shame. Pearl is known as a fashion guru. I find myself often going to her about clothing, make-up and such.

At three o'clock today Pearl showed up. I was just attempting to get dressed. She helped pull up my toga and tighten it. We sure did not want any wardrobe malfunctions. Pearl's toga fit lovingly to all her curves. Pearl could be a model. She has hair about the same length as mine and blond. We are about the same height, she may be a little taller. However she is beautiful and skinny. She eats everything she sees and has never seen the inside of a gym. I on the other hand have to work for it.

Any way as she helped me with my toga, she said mine looked really nice as well. However, I saw a major difference. Hers was finger tip in length. It really showed off her shapely legs. Mine was floor length with a slit up both sides reaching my fingertips. Otherwise, both of our dresses were the same. There were two piece's of long cloth that were sewed together around the breast waist. Then the strips came up behind our heads and tide behind our heads. It left nearly our entire backs exposed. I was uncomfortable showing this much skin but Pearl assured me that the toga fit my shape perfectly. We were both wearing traditional Greek sandals. Pearl got them from some guy she has been dating. It sounds like it might be getting serious! I tried to bring it up but she brushed it off and sat me down to do my makeup.

She did my makeup and hair. She went to beauty school. She could be a professional. But she has decided she wants to stay close to home for now. She would rather be the local fashion guru. That is according to her. I believe she stays for me. She has always had the attitude of the older sister protecting her little sister with me. It would not at all surprise me if I found out I was right. She is such a good friend. It took her three hours to get me into my toga, and to do my hair in these golden ringlets. She was using a picture of Aphrodite.

I normally do not spend so much time on my hair. But I have to admit, she made me look gorgeous. I do not know what I did to deserve a friend like her but thank God I have her. She had already done her hair and makeup. Her last step was putting on her toga after completing my makeup. Which when you think about it is really smart I guess. That way you do not end up wearing the makeup on your clothing.

It was six o'clock before she finally finished me and put her toga on. She did one last walk around to make sure, in her words, I looked perfect. She said, "you never know when you might meet mister right." I was not interested in mister right, right now. I was interested in getting to the club and dancing with my girlfriend, having some drinks, and mingling in the crowd. Tonight, was going to be fun.

Don't get me wrong. I love men! One day I even want to get married. But right now, I am enjoying my youth. Plus, sometimes it is more fun to tease, than to be teased. Also, the guys prefer to flock around Pearl. I usually end up being the wing woman. For those who don't know what I mean, the wing woman is the same as a wingman. We are just female.

Anyway, we were finally off. We called a cab to come get us and drop us off. We knew we would be having a few drinks and wanted to be able to really enjoy our birthday. The cab picked us up at six fifteen. At six forty five we were standing in line with about one hundred other people in togas waiting to get inside. Pearl and I were so excited! She fixed the minute (small) flaws in her makeup and hair in her hand mirror as we waited. When she looked back at me she gasped and fixed my minute flaws. Which I had a hard time not giggling about. By the time she was done we had a least half a dozen guys staring at us.

The building looked like a huge warehouse on the outside. On the side of the building in big neon lettering was the name Garden of the God's. There was a huge lotus flower right after the name. The billboard in front had a picture of the Garden of the Gods with the name overlayed and a lotus flower.

As we got to the entrance, I thought for a moment that we would be turned away. The bouncer was big and buff. But there was something in the way he looked at us. Pearl walked up, and he let her through. I walked up, and he licked his lips putting out a hand to stop me, saying "kathystero." (I found out later, but I will tell you now. This means hold up in Greek. I will make sure to always give you the translation if I know it. There will be a lot of translations.). I stopped in my tracks. A feeling of fright came over me as he pulled me between his legs.

Pearl turned around to check on me in just the nick of time. She barreled towards the bouncer and slapped him. She yelled something like, "llithioi kyklopes! Den einai gia sena!" (This means: Stupid cyclops! She is not for you!) She pulled me on into the club saying some other words. I had no idea what she was saying. When she calmed down she told me what she had said. I laughed thinking she just called him a cyclops as an insult. She told me she had been taking Greek lessons. That is how she knew what to say. I never once thought to question her story.

The entire place was filled to the brim with people. The dance floor was in the middle of the warehouse. The tables and bar at one end, and the other was the only entrance and exit. There were two floors. The upper floor had the DJ and pool tables. The lower floor had an underwater theme. While the upper floor had pictures of the Garden of the Gods all around. Each picture was named for the Olympian God it was named for.

Pearl pulled me straight to the bar. She ordered our drinks. She found us a table. I must say she was really taking charge. After we had had a couple of drinks, and were both starting to feel really good, she decided we were dancing. I had no option. As a matter of fact, I nearly dropped my drink when she grabbed my hand and jerked me out on the dance floor. I was having so much fun that I did not even care. She immediately started dirty dancing with me to a weird song. I have to admit, I had never heard music like what was played here. It was like techno, combined with classic. No words were spoken. It was upbeat and fun to dance to. However, I will say it was different.

There was an animated wave on the wall as well. Just above the wave was a time line. When ever the music would change the wave would move to different parts. I assumed it was to show when the music was popular. Later much later I learned that we were going through different time lines. It is important to know, because as each song changed new people came in. The new people were dressed in togas but togas of all kinds. There was a surge of new commers and out goers with each different song. But it is this way at every club so I never thought twice about it. Thinking back on it is was a sign that should have made me question what was happening.

After a while a handsome man with a limp stepped up to Pearl. He had a bit of a hump on his back as well. But his facial features were so handsome. He introduced himself as Hepha. He said it was his nickname. He asked if he could steal Pearl from me. Pearl leaned over and explained that Hepha was her date tonight. He had brought a friend for me as well. I nodded and headed back to our table. Hepha and Pearl twirled around the dance floor looking like a couple deeply in love. They had eyes only for each other. I also think, that just to tease each other their hands were not idle either. This let me know for shure it was Pearls new boy toy. Which made me giggle and grin, as I sat by the dance floor, at our table, watching them.

I was happy for her. However, I wanted to finish my drink before I could have a double date dumped in my lap. I sat down and downed what was left of her drink, then mine, and ordered two more. I loved watching Pearl have so much fun. However, I wish we had had some of our other friends come along. I was board, and I knew I was on the verge, of meeting the second half of this blind double date.

Pearl knew I hated blind dates. But she is always afraid that I wont ever try dating some of the idiots I have met recently. That is probably why she did this. She has never tricked me with a double date like this before. She knows why I hate blind dates. My last one was a nightmare. Not only was the guy in no way good looking, he kept picking his nose, ate with his hands, picked his pimples, and then wanted to kiss and rub up on me. I swore never again! But I guess I will have to allow her this one time. I will make sure though that she knows it is only one time!

All of a sudden, I felt a tap tap on my left shoulder. I turned around to see am extremely handsome man standing there. He had a short crop hair cut with neatly trimmed beard and mustache to match. He was probably five foot ten or eleven inches tall. He was extremely chiseled. I mean the man looked cut out of marble! His toga fit amazingly as well. He had an insignia on his shoulder of the symbol for Aries. On his head he had golden wrap.

He asked if I was Joy. I was struck dumb for a moment. All I could do was shake my head. The man smiled at me and told me he was Hepha's friend. I looked out on the dance floor and Pearl was cheesing at me. She was also not doing a very good job at pointing at this guy. She put a hand by her face and pointed in his direction, making googly eyes. She was mouthing, isn't he handsome. I rolled my eyes at her after I nodded and cheesed back.

I looked back at the model behind me, "I am sorry! I was not expecting, you!"

He looked down at himself, "do I have something in my teeth, or perhaps on my toga?"

Oh! I put my hands up, "NO! No, you do not have anything on you. I just am pleasantly surprised."

He laughed, "Bad blind date experiences?"

I nodded, "sweetie you have no idea."

We sat there for a while, talking and laughing about nothing really. When a romantic song came on he put his hand out to me. "Would you possibly like to have a dance?" I stood up on jello legs. And he led me out on the floor. He was an amazing dancer. I know I stepped on his feet a couple of times. But you would have never been able to tell. He was very sweet, talking nonsense in my ear. We dance to many different songs.

After the current song had finished we went back to the table for hydration. At that point, I had no idea how long we had been together, but I had not seen pearl since he came up. I looked around and could not find her. I was starting to get worried. I apologized to him and told him I needed to call Pearl. I did not know where she was. He smiled and waved at me to go ahead. It only rang twice before she answered. Out of breath I might add! I could hear her friend in the background as well.

Pearl: Hay honey, are you having fun?

Joy: Pearl! Where are you?

Pearl: We went out to his car. We will be back in in a little while.

Hepha (in the background): I could take you home and we could finish this there.

Pearl: Would you mind if I went on home with Hepha? We are kinda involved. If, if you mind I can come on back inside.

Joy: No Pearl. It is your birthday as well as mine. You should get to have some fun too. I can call myself a cab. Go have your fun.

Pearl: Okay! (she whispered into the phone) You like Aries right?

Joy: Is that his name? I had not asked yet.

Pearl: Yea, now answer the question.

Joy: Yes, he is fun. We have a lot in common. At least, the last song. (I laughed) we are enjoying talking with each other.

Pearl: Great! I hope your night ends the same as mine. See you in the morning girly!

At that Pearl hung up. I looked at my watch. It was only eleven o'clock. I was enjoying this guy, Aries. He did not seem to have attention for anyone else so far. So, I decided to stay a little longer. I told him that Pearl and Hepha had headed home together. He just laughed, "there goes my ride."

We had a few more drinks and talked about many things. He was a rather interesting guy. Like, his parents where Greek. They loved the name Aries from the God of war. That is where he got his name. His last name was Homer. Aries Homer did not sound to horrible. Like me he was in college. He on the other hand was majoring in physical endurances. He wanted to be a physical trainer. We even talked nutrition some.

Before long though, they were calling the last call. I offered to share a cab with him. He told me he had a guy he could call for a free ride. He made his call and a few minutes later he said his ride was out front. When we got out side there was a cute brand new Ford Mustang. It was cabby yellow. On both of the back sides were wings. There was a good looking guy driving it as well.

Aries leaned into the window, "Ermis, se parakalo para to spiti." (Hermes please take her home) The driver nodded. Aries opened the door for me. I sat down and Aries shut the door. I rolled the window down, "I thought we were sharing a ride." Aries smiled, "He is coming back for me. I paid your way home. Please have a pleasant night." It hit me then I had not given him my phone number. "Do you want my number?" (Inwardly I chided myself. I never give out my phone number to anyone. If I give them a number I usually give my and Pearls rejection number. They never questioned me about it, and we got some of the weirdest calls.) Aries smiled handsomely. He had this look of knowing what I was thinking. He said, "Well, actually I was afraid to ask on a first date. On the other hand -how would I get another. Yes please!"

I wrote my real number down on a card I found in the back of the cab and gave it to him. He took it and kissed the back of my hand. The car pulled away. I watched out the back glass as he kept waving till- we were out of sight. I sat back in my seat grinning like a fool. I have never had such a nice time with a guy before in my life. After I rip Pearl a new one, I will have to thank her for a wonderful birthday.