Hey everyone! Another story I just had to post. Those plot bunnies just started to jump around in my head.
Summary: The Hardy family has come to Australia in hopes that Frank and Joe won't get into another mystery. However not long after arriving both the Hardy and South families head over to Western Australia for a camping trip. Out in WA they stumble across a mystery and Frank falls in love. FrankxOC
Getting home from school and knowing you've got a big stack of homework waiting for you is always depressing. Even more so when you know it's due in only one week's time and you've only completed half of it.
I know most people wouldn't freak at that, not at all. I'm sure a lot of people wait until the night before and do it in a rush but you see, I'm a bit of a perfectionist. Yeah, I know, perfectionist. When you're a perfectionist it's hard to ignore the homework and do something else so inevitably each day I go home and get stuck into it.
Not today though, we've got some people coming from the US today. I can't remember their names but they are meant to get to our place at around four o'clock, just twenty minutes after I get home. Despite the fact I'm a perfectionist with school work, I'm the total opposite in cleaning. Mum told me to clean up the bathroom and get the cadet stuff out but I totally forgot. That means I have exactly twenty minutes to get the bathroom clean.
Presently I'm sitting on the bus only a corner away from my stop. My earphones are in, as usual and I'm listening to the Transformers soundtrack. I'm one of those Transfans which you don't hear much about, especially in Darwin. None of my friends actually understand the obsession with the franchise but that doesn't really bother me. Besides, I can always write fan fiction.
The button for my stop has just been pressed so I stand up and make my way forwards. The bus stops and I hop off before walking down a little ways and waiting to cross the road. The bus pulls out and I walk across the road before starting the five minute trek home.
Five minutes later I'm going in my front gate and walking over to pat my dog, Nika. After saying hello to my excitable puppy I go inside and let her in. Dumping my schoolbag on the bag rack I snatch my phone out of the front pocket and quickly send a text to mum and dad saying that I'm home. Grabbing the cleaning stuff from the laundry I go into the bathroom to start cleaning.
After I move most of my cadet gear out of the bathroom I clean the basin and the bathtub. As I'm cleaning the mirror I take a look at my reflection. My blue eyes are staring straight back at me while my long, brown hair is slightly frizzy from the high humidity and my school clothes are slightly rumpled. My features are as average as anything for a sixteen year old girl, average sized nose, mouth and ears. Nothing is really all that noticeable about me. Finishing up with the mirror I take the gear back into the laundry and put it away.
Glancing at the clock I find that its 4:00pm and mum's friends should be arriving soon. Deciding I have enough time to get change I go down the hall and into my bedroom.
My bedroom is two shades of blue, one on the back wall, the other on the rest of the walls. Most of the walls are filled with Air Force posters and newspaper articles although some hold pictures of me doing ballet. After I get changed into a pair of denim jeans and a singlet I leave my bedroom and go into the "kids' room", a room which houses two computers, a large lounge suite and a TV with a PlayStation hooked up.
Sitting myself down in the computer chair I switch the desk-bound laptop on before getting back up off of the chair and walking over to the fridge. Getting out an apple juice box I rip the straw out and jam it in the top of the box before going back over to the computer. As the computer starts up I log into my section of the computer just as I hear the doorbell ring. Turning away from the computer I head towards the front door.
Looking out the window beside the door I see that it's a family of four, two parents and two older boys around my age. The whole family looked to be extremely tired.
The two boys looked around my age. The older one of the two had dark brown hair while the slightly younger one had light blond hair. Both of them looked like they played lots of sport due to the defined muscles on their arms. To sum them both up they were hot.
Noticing that the man in front had a key I quickly assumed that they were the people who mum was expecting. Just as the key was inserted into the lock, I unlocked the inside door.
"Hey, I'm assuming you're the people mum was expecting. Come on in," I said as I opened up the screen door.
As I opened the door, Nika came barrelling through the living room, coming to see what was going on.
"You may just want to drop your bags and take her out the back, she gets very excited but she is really just a big puppy. Nika, down," I said as Nika started to jump all over the man. Deciding to take my advice he drops his bags and takes Nika out the back to pat her. As Nika moved out of the way the rest of the family grabbed their luggage and went inside. Dropping the luggage in the living room they too went out the back to say hello to Nika.
"Hey, I'm Marina. Mum should be home at around 4:30pm because I know she was going to make an effort to come home early. Just leave your gear in the living room for now as I am not sure what the sleeping arrangements are," I explain as I pat Nika.
"Hello Marina, I'm Laura Hardy and this is Fenton and these are my two sons Frank and Joe," Laura Hardy said as she stood a bit back from Nika.
"Hey guys," I said, flashing them a smile.
"Hi, I'm Joe, the more interesting of the two of us. As you will soon find out Frank is school orientated only and has no idea of how to have fun," the blond haired boy teased.
"Very funny Joe. He's just a bit of a joker. I'm not really all school focused, just mainly school focused. Anyway, do you guys have wireless internet? I brought my laptop over with me," the dark haired brother asked.
"Yeah we do, I'll get the password for you when we go inside, I can never remember it off by heart," I replied as I gave Nika one final pat before turning and going back inside.
"Here is the drinks fridge which is where the soft drinks and alcohol are for whenever," I said as I pointed out the fridge. "Also here is the normal fridge where the food and stuff is."
Leading them down the hallway I pointed out the bathroom and laundry before giving them a tour of the outside of the house.
"Well that's the grand tour of the house so you're free to do whatever now. I'm going to go work on my homework but you're welcome to go on the other computers or on the PlayStation," I said shooting Joe a knowing glance. "Also, I'll get you the internet password now Frank. Did you need a power converter for your laptop charger?"
"Yeah, I didn't manage to get one of them before I came over, thanks," Frank replied as he went over to his luggage and retrieved the laptop.
Snatching the internet code off of the computer table I put it on the table where Frank was setting up before heading into my parents' bedroom to grab the power converter. Retrieving the power converter I gave it to him before going out into the other room. Finding Joe sprawled out on the couch playing PlayStation I went over to the computer and got started on the homework.
By dinner time the Hardy family were looking exhausted and ready to fall asleep over the food. It was a wonder they had managed to stay up so long really.
After dinner was finished we all went to the lounge room and sat around talking.
"So, what do you guys usually do for fun over your way?" I asked Joe.
"Usually we do some private investigating, just for fun. We always seem to come across mysteries wherever we are," Joe replied.
"Wow that's pretty cool. How come you guys are over here? I thought the school term would still be on," I queried.
"Yeah school's still on but our parents decided we should come over here. We'll finish up the school term at Kormilda with you. I think our parents are trying to keep us out of mysteries for a while."
"That's pretty cool. I hope you guys do find a mystery, it would make life a fair bit more interesting."
"I'm sure our time here won't be boring, not with your guys camping season coming up. Do you guys go camping a lot?"
"We do a fair bit of camping although we go four wheel driving a lot more often. I think we'll be taking you out on the Litchfield tracks and down to Douglas Daily. We may even go over into Western Australia and drive through the Kimberly. I hope we go through the Kimberly, we've never gone camping through there before."
"That's out in Western Australia right? It's also got those big rocks everyone is going on about," asked Joe.
"Yes Joe, the 'big rocks' are the Bungle Bungles and apparently really spectacular," Frank commented.
"The Bungle Bungles are really cool. We flew over them last time we were out that way. We've never done the drive through before, apparently it gives you more insight into just how big they really are," I said.
"Even if we don't go out to Western Australia I'm sure Kakadu and Litchfield will prove to be pretty fun. The change in cultures is enough to keep most people interested, just not Joe," Frank said, giving me a wink.
"Hey, it's not my fault that I need a little excitement in life!" exclaimed Joe, catching onto the joke.
The chatter continued until it was well past 11pm and the parents decided it was time to retire for the night. In order to fit everyone in for the short time until the extension was finished sleeping arrangements had to be made.
Due to the lack of room in my younger brother, Nick's room, it was decided that one of the brothers had to come into my room. Of course the parents decided that Joe was less trustworthy than Frank, Frank got put into my room for the time being.
A short bit of mayhem ensued as air mattresses were blown up, a couch was turned into a bed and beds were made. By eleven thirty everyone was settling down for the night. Thanks to it being a weekend both the Hardy and mine's families would have some time to get to know each other before school started again on Monday.
Now you've read the first chapter, Review and share the awesomeness!
