Travis ran a hand through his honey coloured hair, to what effect was unclear. He surveyed his surroundings, and the only word that sprung to mind was 'quaint'. The weather was lukewarm at best, watery sunshine filtering through the trees. People nibbled daintily at mini hot dogs, politely making small talk with their peers. Not one appeared to be under the age of thirty.
This was what Travis established in the first few moments on the ground of his new home. "Heads up!" It was all Travis could do to spin on the spot and catch the substantial backpack that flew his way on Oscar's words. Following the unnecessarily weighty bag was Oscar himself. "Waddya think?" he asked, referring to Great Britain.
"I think," said Travis pensively. "That there aren't enough kids. Hot chicks, especially. I thought the UK was full of 'em."
"Well, don't look now, but depending on private opinion, a couple might be coming our way now." Then, in a raised voice, "Hey, Katie! Over here!"
Katie was allowing herself to be dragged to her cousin and his undeniably matured friend by Jack and Cass, tutting and rolling her eyes as she went. However, the trio stopped abruptly in their path when Oscar and Travis began to jog towards them. "Oh my God, they're coming our way!" Cass squealed. "He has a face carved by the angels!" cried Jack dreamily. "Yeah, and a body," Cass agreed, both only half in jest.
"Eew. I mean, really? You guys are seriously gross."
"Gee whizz! They musta been real mean to ya when you were just a kid!" Jack mocked, supposedly in an American accent.
"Well, yeah…" Katie grouched in reply. "They're disgusting, anyway."
Jack opened his mouth to indignantly debate the issue, but found he never would, because a particular young man interrupted his thoughts. "Yo, cuz!" Oscar said, announcing his presence brashly. "Long time, no see."
"Gawd, wadda shame. Have you flown over to terrorise me again?"
"Hey, hey, that was years ago."
Before Katie started a full blown argument, as she prone to do, Cass stepped in. "Hey, do you want to introduce us to your friends?" she asked, twiddling a piece of hair between her finger and thumb, pointedly batting her eye lids towards Travis.
Travis had hung behind his friend during the confrontation, looking like he had better places to be. For whatever reason, he was allowed by the teenage population to be a total jerk (or 'wanker' as was preferred by the English with their strange ideas), and he took full advantage of this. Rather than bother to pay attention to the word exchange, he eyed Cass greedily. She was just his type. Slender and leggy, she wasn't tall enough to give the impression of a man, but tall enough to look confident. Her caramel tone and wild hair, along with artsy clothing, gave an air of diversity to the middle class gathering.
And yet, it was not Cass who truly caught his attention. It was Katie. While Cass was slim and aloof, Katie was short and skinny and scrawny. The sleeves of her printed T-Shirt were rolled up, and obvious, elbow-length tan lines were on display. When hair was hurriedly pulled back into a scruffy ponytail, untreated spots were painfully evident at each side of her head. Perhaps it was the angry glint in her eye, the jut of her chin or the determined set of her shoulders that attracted him instantly. Or perhaps it was the look of absolute disgust she had given him as she courteously introduced them to one another.
"Cass, Jack, this is Cousin Oscar, and his friend Travis. In advance, I would like to make clear the whatever happens during the next few weeks is so not my fault.