“Why do we have to go away?”
“We've been invited by some family friends, apparently they do it every year. It'll be fun!”
“So we're spending a weekend with a bunch of people I don't know?”
“Well yes, but they're lovely and we've been told that there will be people your age there. I'm sure you'll enjoy it.”
“Do I get a choice?”
“No.”
“Fine.” James rolled his eyes and went to pack. Why did he have to go on this stupid weekend? He admitted it could be interesting, a big group of family friends renting a youth hostel and going away for the weekend. Except he didn't know anyone going.
“Hey you're here!”
“Really? I thought I was still at home.”
“Shut up Eleanor, you know what I mean!”
Eleanor laughed and hugged her friend Rosie. “Where's your room?”
“Come on, I'll show you.”
As they walked around the building, Rosie mentioned that she'd heard that there were going to be some new people this time. “Cool. I hope they're nice.”
Well they were at the door. He hoped it would be worth it.
“Oh I wonder if that's the Willows?” Dave hurried past the girls as he went to open the door. “Hello!” Rosie and Eleanor laughed in the other room as they wondered if the new people knew what they were getting themselves in for. “I'll show to your room and then you can meet everyone else.”
Wow. Well, James thought, he seemed happy to see us. I hope everyone isn't like that. My parents knew him though. I guess he's the one that invited us. They dumped their bags and now the loud man was taking them to the main dining room, where most people were hanging out, randomly introducing people as they wandered round the building. As they walked into the room, James decided that until he met someone his own age, he'd just follow his parents. He looked around the room taking in all the people. And then he saw her. And his eyes widened.
“Look Eleanor, Dave's arrived back with the new people. Should we rescue them?”
Eleanor laughed and said “Well I reckon Dave invited them, so they should be able to cope with him.” She turned away and was checking her phone when Rosie said excitedly “Look they've got a son as well and he's quite good looking.” Eleanor whipped round to look at them again and as she took in the boys blonde hair and glasses, her eyes widened in shock too. And then looked her straight in the eyes, with a deer in headlights expression that she guessed probably matched her own.
