In response to the question of how many chapters I'm going to write: I don't know! I had planned it to be a short one, and I'm hoping to wrap it up fairly soon, but who knows…:)

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"Hi, sorry I'm late," Valentina gushes, hurrying onto the front patio of the hotel, where we have been waiting for her. I look, surprised, at her sleek black pantsuit.

"Aren't you coming rock-climbing with us?" Wheeler echoes my thoughts. Valentina looks at us sheepishly.

"I'm really sorry. I know I promised to show you around, but I've really got so much work to do and-"

"I thought you said you'd taken some time off?" I cut in. Valentina looks decidedly shifty. I don't believe she couldn't get away because I've seen enough from the last couple of days to know that, around here, what Valentina wants, Valentina gets.

"I know, I know," she says regretfully. "But this is one of the busiest times of year, Linka, and today has just been crazy. I really have to stay here..."

"Do not worry, Valentina," Kwame says kindly. "We will be fine." She shoots him a grateful look, but I am still suspicious. My analytical mind is working in overdrive. For one thing, for a supposed busy period the hotel is not exactly swarming with guests. And there are at least 4 other managers…

"Oh, I haven't left you completely stranded," Valentina says quickly. "My friend's sister works for the tourism office. She's agreed to fill in for me. Oooh,there she is-". She waves as a tall, athletic figure heads towards us from across the patio. As she approaches, I can see that there is nothing particularly distinctive about her features –short brown hair, big grey eyes- but there is a certain warmth, and maybe even mischief, twinkling in her eyes.

"Everyone, this is Laura," Valentina introduces us.

"Hey! It's a pleasure to meet you all!" Her voice is light and cheerful, as she glances briefly at each of us.

"Sweet! Another American!" Wheeler exclaims. "Hmmm…let me see…New Jersey?"

"Yup, Jersey City," she grins. She may have plain features but she has a very pretty smile, I notice, feeling suddenly sour for no fathomable reason. "You sound like you're from the area, too."

"Brooklyn," Wheeler grins back. "Couldn't ya tell?"

"I thought so but I wasn't quite sure!"

Wow. I knew Americans were friendly, but the way they're grinning at each other, you would think they were the best of friends. Oh well, I guess it must be nice meeting up with someone from home. Still, anytime they want to get the rest of us in on the conversation is fine…

"Ok, well, I'm glad you two are getting along," Valentina smiles happily. "Now I don't feel so bad." Huh? What about the rest of us? "Anyway, I really have to get back to work. See you in the evening. Have fun!" She dashes away before I can say anything. I watch, bemused, as she hurries back into the hotel through the revolving doors. When I turn back to my fellow Planeteers, Wheeler is animatedly recounting some story to Laura. She hasn't said a word to the rest of us yet. Which is fine. A little rude, but fine.

I open my backpack and go through to make sure I have everything. Rifling through its contents I have a nagging feeling something is missing. What could it be? I'm sure I packed everything…Ah, the first aid kit! I can see it now, in my mind, on my bedside table where I had placed it ready to pack in the bag…

"Give me one minute; I've forgotten my first aid kit," I inform my friends. Wheeler and Laura don't even look up, engrossed as they are in their conversation. It doesn't bother me, of course, but I would have expected her to make an effort to welcome everyone else, too.

I hurry back into the hotel and head up to the suite to retrieve the first aid kit. On my way back down, I notice something strange in the café to the right of the hotel lobby. A woman is sitting at one of the tables, a cup of coffee and a newspaper on the table in front of her. Unless Valentina has a twin walking around in the same clothes, it's definitely her. But what is she doing lounging around when she just claimed she had a mountain of work? I want to go in there and confront her, but I can see the others waiting for me outside. I decide that it can wait till we get back, so I hurry back to the patio to join my friends.

"So, I've somehow found myself in Lower East Side in just my boxers…" Wheeler is saying, as I step outside into the warm sunshine. Laura is shaking with silent laughter. I glance from Gi to Kwame to Ma-Ti, but they shrug back at me. Apparently it's a New York story that the rest of us are not welcome in. Especially not me, I suppose. Wheeler has been distinctly cool towards me since that first day, so I'm not now surprised he's going out of his way to avoid talking to me. That's fine, though. I'm glad he has someone else to chatter incessantly to. It'll be nice to enjoy the holiday with a little peace and quiet. Yes, I definitely prefer it this way…