BUTTERFLY TRAILS
Well…so I'm finally beginning a new story... Dunno how long this is gonna be… So for the time being, just read on…
CHAPTER 1: Awkward Beginnings
"Do I just HAVE to stay with this geek, Grandpa?" asked Ben, a note of extreme dismay and frustration in his voice.
"Huh!" replied Gwen, nose in the air. "I too don't have any special wish of staying with a dork-face like you! Got that, Ben?"
Ben stuck his tongue out and turned away from his cousin, groaning at the thought of having to spend seven days with Gwen – together – IN ONE SINGLE ROOM...
It was their fourth summer out with Grandpa. Both cousins had turned 15 – already well into puberty. But fortunately, akin to what one would have thought, their bickering had somewhat decreased – though the insults they hurled at each other were still the same. Even though neither admitted it, both had grown too close to each other, and both – voluntarily or involuntarily – somehow didn't like insulting the other. And every time they snubbed the other, though they liked it outwardly, somewhere deep down, they regretted it…
"I'm sorry guys," Grandpa was saying. "They only had one single bed room left – though both of you have to agree that this definitely IS a change for you!"
Ben smiled half-heartedly. He sneaked a glance at Gwen, who seemed to be having some trouble carrying her luggage. Reflexively, Ben put out his hand towards her. "May I?" he said, in a very courteous tone.
"What??" said Gwen, looking up at Ben – her eyes wide. Her cousin was offering to help her? Was Ben in his right mind? Or was he just playing some nasty joke on her? She eyed him suspiciously. "You're playin' some trick on me, aren't you?"
"Fuck you, Gwen! Here I am, trying to help you – and you!" retorted Ben, forgetting that he was speaking to his cousin and not to his school friends.
"WHAT?" spat out Gwen, hugely shocked. What on earth was Ben speaking? "What did you just say, Ben Tennyson?"
"I…I'm sorry," said Ben quickly, lowering his gaze, and turning a very visible red. He quickly glanced around to see whether grandpa was nearby, because then he would get quite a severe admonishing from him for swearing in front of Gwen. But thankfully, he was nowhere to be seen – he'd probably gone on ahead.
"Hey sorry, Gwen," repeated Ben, not daring to look up at Gwen. "I just forgot it was you I was talking to… This swearing and all…it comes quite naturally to me, you know, and…"
" You mean to say you've got a natural talent for swearing?" said Gwen, a hint of disdain in her voice.
"I didn't mean that!" said Ben indignantly, finally looking up at Gwen. Oh god. Why was she behaving so weirdly? It was just a simple curse word he had used; he used it all the time with his classmates!
"Gwen, look," he said firmly, "It's just a simple curse word for me…I didn't mean it in any other sense! Actually I'm used to saying such things all the time…and it just – just kinda slipped out. But if it offended you, I'm sorry."
Gwen gave a long, hard stare at Ben, and then shrugged. "'Kay…whatever…" she said, lifted up her luggage with some effort, and walked forward, leaving Ben behind, staring after her. Finally, he too shrugged. He really hadn't meant to offend Gwen like that – and he had apologized too. If Gwen was still angry with him, he'd got nothing to do anymore. He'd done all that he could. With a sharp pull, he lifted up his suitcase and walked towards the hotel.
A/N: Yeah…I know that he chapter was short, but I just couldn't put in anything else, otherwise the second chappie would have had an absurd beginning. So just leave a review and let me know how it went…
