LDN

Welcome party

Their eyes bore into mine, all five pairs of them. It was like they were made of something different. Does everyone look at you with such intensity here? I faced three girls and two boys, all perched on a brick wall as I peered out of my mother's Volkswagen. The contrast between the prosaic image of the dull bricks and the cool kids which adorned it pretty much mirrored all that I had witnessed of south London so far. Beauty and sophistication battling grit and imperfection.

The tallest girl was coaxed between the others. She had a slender body wrapped in a thin layer of beige skin sprinkled with choclate freckles. Her earthy eyes locked with mine for a second and she smiled. I wasn't sure if she was mocking or welcoming me, but her smile disappeared as quickly as it had appeared as she pulled out a sleek iPhone which at this point had been awarded her full attention. Her wavy hair was like a pile of wood ready to feed a famished fire. At the top of her head dark mahogany ripples escaped her scalp; they then melted into a tender oak which travelled to her breast and then faded into a shy pine. She wore a oversized camo jacket and a black turtle neck. Making her look quirky but also slightly mysterious mysterious. This was paired with dark denim jeans and a pair of bloody red knee high heeled boots ( the thought of walking in them made me nauseous). To her right were two black girls. One was of average height, her dark skin complimented by a striking pink lipstick and smoky eye make up. Her lips were plump and her eyes were small but sparkeled. A massive explosion of curls enclosed her slim face, some were reserved and coiled other were massive waves that threw themselves at you. It was as if she just rolled out of bed but it worked. She had her arm wrapped around her companion. This girl was short but somehow was able to pull off the mile long burgundy braids which probably should have swamped her. The two girls wore chequered summer dressers. The shorter girl's dress hung loosely at her chest reduced at her small waist and seemed to desperately cling to her thighs. Her small lips and massive alert eyes made her seem like a cartoon character.

With them stood two males. The first was a muscular ivory painted teen. His sea green eyes and cheeky grin hinted at free friendly spirit. But he stood at about an intimidating 6 ft 3, reminding you that he in fact was not your friend. He wore a cap which he turned the wrong why displaying his defiance as well as his dark toughs of hair. As my mother called our new landlord my eyes fell on her Nokia and then to the final member of this enigmatic south London crew.

His complexion mirrored that of the shorter black girl, they were both the colour of toffee. He also had wide eyes like hers but his conversely lacked any sense of animation. His  seemed empty but he still managed to send a shiver down my spine as our iris' synced. His plump lips were pressed in a thin line. I offered him a smile. His small round nose crinkled as his eyebrows bent and frown lines emerged. His eyes slowly travelled up and down and he turned away. Ouch!

He was a few inches shorter than the other guy and was of a slim build. His hands were lost in the pockets of his navy blue tracksuit and he stood as if he was fed up with the world, but there was something beautiful in the simplicity of his picturesque slouching stance. I too looked away.

My mother babbled into her phone when nerves or excitement get the better of her, her lips become loose. She exited her parked car and gestured for me to do the same.I slid my petite body out of the door and frowned as the giddy wind kissed my face and played with my hair. I ran my fingers through my dark mane and stared across the street - the group seemed menacing against the backdrop of a miserable grey sky and the mass of flats that seemed to graze it.I turned to face my new home. A fairly new private apartment made of sandy brown bricks and what seemed to be a thousand doors. I wondered if this one apartment could house my entire home town. Probably.

"AY JAMES GIVE ME MY SHIT BACK YOU FUCKING PRICK", a voice deeper than the pacific bellowed shaking the ground beneath me. His voice sent ripples through my body and my surroundings seemed to spin. My hand instantly caressed my skull.

I twisted my body and saw the girls bolt down the street, the mixed raced one holding her heels against her torso as she ran. The boys had vanished but the distant sound of their guttural laughter lingered behind.

Before I was able to blink a large figured loomed over me, "Oi where did they go?"