Spending the two next years playing the field was better. I didn’t have one-night stands and would only sleep with a girl if we were in an exclusive arrangement, but I knew none of the relationships would go anything beyond sharing a bed every so often. By the time I’d graduated, including Christine, I’d only been with five girls.
Amy rarely met any of the girls I was involved with, and I never met any guy she might have been with. As agreed, we never talked about our sex lives, and she never really asked about any of my relationships. She’d ask if I was dating anyone. I’d confirm if I was or not. She’d just move the conversation on after that.
All through the last couple of years at high school and then through university, there was a group of eight friends that discussed doing a backpacking trip of Europe. Amy and I were keen to do it, preferring to do something like that when we were young and before we’d started careers and met partners we might see as a lifelong companion. We’d both started working as soon as legally allowed. Mum and Aunt Caroline were aware of our plans, and as they were happy for us to go travelling, they told us to save every dollar we could so we could enjoy ourselves as long as possible.
Of the eight of us, four of them were only interested in going on a backpacking tour for a few months. The other four of us were interested in getting a visa for the United Kingdom that would allow us to work and reside for two years. That would allow us to make some money and travel extensively. Amy and I applied for a visa once we were certain of our plans, and two of our other friends doing the same.
Sitting down one evening with Amy, a map of Europe on the table and both of us with a pad and pen, we were writing down possible destinations and itineraries of travel. Aiming to leave at the age of twenty-two, might exclude the possibility of hiring a car as many companies wanted someone at least twenty-five. If we could hire a car, being so young would usually mean an extra surcharge.
“We’ll just get one of those rail passes,” Amy suggested, “That and bus travel. Keep it cheap and easy. Hostels?”
“Definitely hostels most of the time,” I replied, “If there’s eight of us, we could probably get a whole dorm to ourselves. Private rooms probably won’t be worth it.”
“Rather just get a room at a hotel if we were to get a private room.”
“So we’ve got the major destinations sorted but is there anywhere you’d like to go that’s a bit different?” I asked.
“Actually, there is. I really want to go to Bilbao.”
“Bilbao? That’s in Spain, right?”
The question made her laugh. “I’m glad you paid attention in geography class, Mark. Yes, north-east Bilbao. Basque country. And the reason I want to go there is the Guggenheim Museum. And the city is meant to be fantastic. It’s also a good base to do the Way of St. James pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.”
“How do you know all this?”
“I’ve spent the past three years looking into anywhere and everywhere in Europe that might interest me.” She pulled up a map of Spain, particularly the northern part. “We can enter Bilbao from south-west France. Maybe we could stop in Bordeaux or Biarritz, depending on the weather. After Bilbao, we can catch a train or get a bus across the north, stopping along the way. If we wanted to tick off each province, then we could stop in the capital of Asturias, Oviedo.”
“Hey, I’ve heard of that place. Fernando Alonso was born there!”
That made her laugh. “At least you’ve heard of the place before. Anyway, we could stop in Oviedo for a couple of nights before continuing west. After Santiago, reckoned we’d head into Portugal before returning to Spain. Madrid then Barcelona before returning to France.”
“Nowhere further south?”
“Lots of travelling though if we have the time, I reckon Seville would be great. And maybe Granada to see the Alhambra and all the old Moorish ruins. Remember history class and the Reconquista?”
“Yeah, the Spanish eventually kicked the Muslims out of Spain.”
“Well, Granada was the last Moorish or Muslim city in Spain until they were finally beaten in 1492.”
“Ah, and that’s what led to the Inquisition. Yeah, I remember all that.”
“How nobody expected it…” she stated sarcastically, “Anyway, I reckon Spain would be a great place to spend around two or three weeks. I don’t think we should go there is the height of summer, particularly if we do end up in the south. It can get unbelievably hot.”
Planning everything and saving enough money had us working for over six months after graduating before the eight of us could agree on when we’d depart for Europe. Amy and me, Mike and Cindy, who were also together, would be heading to London in January. Our other friends, Brad, Steve, Rachel and Natalie, all of them single though we knew that might not always be the case, would head over for the European spring and occasionally join us. We knew Mike and Cindy wouldn’t spend all their time travelling with us anyway as we agreed that we’d meet up in certain cities to party on, otherwise we’d do our own thing.
Mum couldn’t stop crying as she hugged me tightly at the airport. When I moved my hand down to squeeze her bum, I felt her shudder as she kissed my cheek. “Naughty boy,” she whispered, “But thank you, baby.”
“Considering what you said about cousins,” I whispered into her ear.
“Now you’re being very naughty.” She paused and whispered, “And your Aunt Caroline?”
“Younger version of you, Mum. Wouldn’t say no either.”
I felt her sigh as she hugged me tighter. “Just be careful when it comes to Amy, sweetheart. We don’t want to see either of you hurt.”
“We’ll be sensible. Besides, might have to come home and steal you from my father.”
She leaned back and smiled. “You’re just a big tease but thank you for making me smile instead of crying all the time now that you’re actually leaving.”
“I’ll miss you, Mum.”
“I’ll miss you too.”
Aunt Caroline hugged me next, and she got a squeezed bum as well. That made her giggle as she hugged me tighter. “Look after my little girl for me, Mark,” she whispered, “I know how much you love her, as much as she loves you.”
“She’ll be safe with me. Won’t let her out of my sight.”
“Keep in touch but make sure you both have a wonderful time.”
“And when I come home, I’m stealing you along with Mum.”
That made her snort. “Please, like either of us stands a chance when compared to my daughter.”
“I’ll get her home safe and sound. I promise.”
We’d chosen one of the cheapest flight options available sticking with reputable airlines, so we did have two swaps and transfers before we arrived at London Heathrow. The four of us had organised to stay in the same hostel, choosing to stay in one of those temporarily before we left in early Spring for the first part of our European tour.
Thankfully the four of us ended up sharing the same dorm. It was a pair of bunk beds, but we had our own private bathroom. It was awkward in that Mike and Cindy were a couple and would obviously prefer somewhere they could share a bed. Having arrived in early January, we planned on leaving for Paris in early April, there was no doubt they were having sex, but I rarely heard them.
Living and working in London as a young Australian was a lot of fun. English women were something else entirely. The accent alone drew attention, but being young, relatively fit, a healthy tan and rather outgoing certainly helped attract attention. Nothing ever came of it though as Amy and I spent every day together, and it just didn’t feel right being out with her for an evening only to leave with someone else. And I certainly wouldn’t take anyone back to our shared room.
What I didn’t miss was the fact Amy would masturbate in the bunk bed below me. She’d normally wake up in the middle of the night and I knew the sounds of a woman enjoying a climax. She was trying to remain quiet, but the bunk bed shook enough to suggest she was really enjoying herself. And hearing her whimper and moan had me rock hard in my bed above her.
I never let on that I heard her, but she met my eyes more than once over breakfast and would start blushing. I did wonder if it wasn’t just that she was horny, but that it was an invitation for me to climb down the stairs and join in with her. It was tempting, but even though we were in Europe, I still wasn’t sure about changing our relationship in such a manner. The idea of having fun while in Europe appealed, but we’d end up returning to Australia and having to end it. I’m not sure I could handle doing that, and the thought of breaking her heart didn’t bear thinking about.
As I didn’t entertain the thought of being with another woman, and didn’t make a move on Amy, I had to find relief with my hand. At least I had a vivid imagination. Amy was a constant thought, but I won’t lie and admit my mother and Aunt Caroline were also fantasies.
Taking the Eurostar from London to Paris was the best option, boarding the train at Kings Cross St. Pancras and being delivered into Paris at Gare du Nord. We’d organised a hostel to stay in for eight of us as our friends would be flying into Paris to join us, with the idea that they’d head to London last, flying out of there but spending a few weeks with us before going home.
“I’m so excited,” Amy exclaimed as the train was leaving London, “Paris, Mark. Meant to be very romantic and all.”
“And yet you’re with me?”
She kissed my cheek, snuggling against me. “There’s no-one else I’d rather be doing all of this with. My best friend and partner in crime.”
“I’m guessing you have a list of places to see?”
“You know I like to be organised, Mark. We’ll spend one day taking in the sights of central Paris. And we need a day in Versailles. A third day is for anything we might have missed.”
After finding our hostel, checking in and dumping our bags, we wandered out into Paris itself, waiting for one of our friends to let us know they’d arrived so we could meet them. We were all eager for a drink and something to eat, eventually finding your typical French bistro. It was awkward as none of us could really speak any French, but the servers were surprisingly helpful and friendly. I’d heard Paris was full of, putting it bluntly, complete wankers.
Leave a Reply