Geoff stood in the doorway of the bathroom, undetected, as he watched Gavin stare at his reflection. He was wearing a button up shirt, dress pants and a tie. If he didn't know any better, he would assume the young Brit was headed for a job interview.
"H-hi. M-my names Gavin Free and...a-and.. Oh, god-"
Geoff winced as Gavin practically stuck his head in the toilet bowl and hurled up his breakfast for the third time that morning.
"C'mon dude," he sighed once Gavin had rinsed out his mouth. "It won't be so bad."
"That's easy for you to say. /You're/ not the one transferring in the middle of first semester."
Gavin trudged back into his room- the Ramsey's guest bedroom- and climbed back into bed. He burrowed under the covers and curled up into a ball.
"Gavin, what are you doing?" Geoff asked, sounding both exasperated and sympathetic.
"Just put me in a box and send me back across the Atlantic." came his muffled reply.
The thought of going home before he even experienced anything truly American was saddening, but it was better than fainting in front of his whole class.
Poor Gavin always had a weak stomach. The sight of wet bread made him gag, the smell of blood made him faint and public speaking was a combination of both.
The Brit felt the bed dip on one side as Geoff sat down.
"That's too bad. I know the guys were /really/ looking forward to meeting you. Especially Michael."
Gavin felt that fluttery sensation in his stomach again. The one he always felt when Geoff mentioned Michael. It had been two weeks since he had 'met' his older housemates' friends, and he was still eager to become apart of the group.
Then again, what if they didn't like him? What if they thought his accent was stupider in person? Or that his easily triggered gag reflex was too disgusting to stand?
Gavin felt the covers shifting and suddenly he was staring up at Geoff.
"I know you're scared, buddy, but you don't need to be. I'll only be a floor away if you need me, and you'll be sitting with me and the guys during lunch."
Gavin twiddled his thumbs as he processed Geoff's words. He only had one good friend back in England, Dan, who was decidedly quite popular. It might be nice to be in a close group of friends. If they wanted him that is.
"Alright. I'll go." Gavin said, sitting up. "But if I pass out on the stairs I'm pinning the blame on you."
"Fair enough." Geoff hauled Gavin to his feet and led him into his own room across the hall. "Now, lets find you something cool to wear. You look like you're going to church."
~•~
Michael munched on a granola bar as he watched Jack and Ryan argue over who's turn it was to use Jack's tablet.
Ray sat on the other side of the couch, sitting upside down as he played Subway Surfers on his phone. With all of his wriggling and exaggerated movements it was a wonder he didn't fall off.
Michael glanced toward the clock again, sighing when he saw that only a few minutes had passed.
The four of them were in their HQ, waiting for Geoff and Gavin to arrive. The room was an old and unused sound booth close to the library that use to function as the schools news room. Now it served as their base of operations and their study hall.
"Where are they? Class starts in forty-five minutes."
"Relax, man." Ryan chuckled, having lost the argument with Jack. "You're acting like you've never seen Geoff before."
