Edge of the Ravine

33

Chapter Thirty-Three

London surprised me more than any other city in the world, I think. I suppose, in the back of my mind, I was equating it to the overseas version of New York City. To me, there was more charm here, certainly, but I expected more of what I'd found there: a crappy job that kept my head above water, a friend or two that I could trust, and a desperate urge to escape my situation. I found none of that.

When I realized that no legitimate, honest place would hire someone without a work visa, I realized I'd have to ply some kind of trade to keep treading water. The only problem? I had absolutely no valuable skills in my arsenal. Sure, I could cook and clean. On rare occasion, I'd even known to add back-up vocals on a crappy home recording. None of that was going to pay the rent.

It was only when I happened across an aged camera in a thrift shop I'd been frequenting that I got my brilliant idea. Purchasing the clunky Polaroid at a steal, I quickly set about haranguing unsuspecting tourists. For a small fee, I would take their picture wherever they liked and would give them an instant copy. It was brilliant. And at the end of my first day, I had seventy dollars in my pocket and a budding career in my hands.

Only two days after this discovery, I came across another great surprise: friends.

As I approached a young couple—who truly looked no older than seventeen—I became aware of a group of two women and a man standing several feet away. Vaguely, they looked familiar. Somehow it registered that I'd seen them everyday in the same location for the past few days. It didn't surprise me since there was a small cafe nearby that was obviously the source of their caffeine addiction.

Had they not been staring at me as I made my proposal to the young couple, I'm not sure I ever would have given them a passing glance. As it was, however, once my latest patrons had walked away, grinning widely at the adorable photo they'd posed for, all three descended on me. My first thought, actually, was to wonder what I was doing wrong. Realizing a second later, however, that what I was doing wasn't harming anyone, I stood tall and met their curious gazes with a similar expression of my own.

"You are American, are you not?" asked one leonine creature with a markedly French accent.

"I am."

"And you are a tourist here," remarked another tall, statuesque beauty.

Nodding in answer, I waited only a moment before the third stated, "you are very inventive, using such an old camera for such a purpose. Why not earn a little cash while taking in the sights yourself? Very ingenious."

"Uh, thanks," I responded very unconventionally. Really there was no other possible response and their notice of me was bringing out ounce of shyness I possessed.

A split second-later of awkward silence threatened before one of the two girls with the chestnut curls laughed a little to herself. "I'm sorry, my name is Viviana. Everyone calls me 'Viv' or 'Vivi.' This is Tess and that's Jace."

The tall woman with lighter hair smiled and nodded her head when Viviana acknowledged her as Tess. Nodding back, I still could not take my eyes from her hair. Beside having the same slightly-red-to-pounce stance, her hair was another supporting factor of the descriptive word of leonine. Like a lion's mane, it fanned around her face in an unique style that I knew I'd never wish to adopt. Light as it was, there was a distinct tan color to most of it, and yet the light hit it just right to make it appear red-gold. It was as distracting a sight as any other could be.

Jace, a tall man with short dark hair, nodded when he was named. An even white smile flashed to me and I had the sudden urge to snap a picture right then. So perfectly sculpted was his aching brow, his high cheekbones, and his semi-full lips that I felt he belonged nowhere but in front of a camera.

"I'm Oliver Hart," I murmured a moment later, swallowing hard before I could get the words out.

Jace smiles at me and nodded towards the cafe. "C'mon Oliver. It's just about time for tea. And you can tell us what possessed you to wander all over London preying on your own kind."

An easy smile came to my face as he teased me naturally. Tess, too, beckoned me and Viviana even touched my arm lightly. It was all the incentivize I needed and I quickly fell into step beside the trio. Very much unlike New York, I found lasting friends almost immediately.