London Quirks.

                                                              Part One: Fourteen Canvases

                                                                     Tonight

                                                       We are young

                                                                     So let's set the world on fire

                                                       We can go brighter than the sun

                                                                                                                - Fun

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                                                   Chapter One: Family Vacations

"Are you telling me that there is nothing you can do? That's... That's what you people call rubbish!"

I sink down in my chair across the airport terminal as my uncle Matt yells at the airport employee for the rude flight attendant that he could barely understand. My aunt Linda just stands behind him with her arms crossed across her chest, nodding her head enthusiastically. The poor employee just looks extremely offended.

"Can you believe they're already-" I turn to make a snark comment to my older brother, Danny, but the seat beside me on the bench is completely vacant. "Danny?" I mutter, confused.

Of course, from across the terminal, I see him playing up the charm on some unsuspecting British girl. He places his hand on her shoulder, causing her blush and let out a laugh. I just roll my eyes. Well, let's just start the tally of girls that fall for Danny's flirtatious ways.

I tuck my legs beneath me, and push my glasses further on my nose. Jet lag make my eyes feel heavy, but I force myself to stay awake.

All around me, I hear people in their busy lives, rushing. Why is it that airports always send people into a frenzy? Even if you're on time, you feel as if something's going to go wrong, or that you forgot something at home. I felt like that when we left, and the feeling never left my stomach.

When my parents told me that I was going on yet another summer vacation with Aunt and Uncle Schmitt, I did nothing but laugh in their face. I was 18, legally allowed to make my own decisions. There was no way that they were going to force me into a painful vacation across the country to see the 'World's Largest Ball of Swine' again.

Then they reminded me that Matt and Linda had no children of their own and Danny and I were the only ones they had to treat as their own. And Danny reminded me that he has been legally an adult for three years now, and he still had to travel in their small caravan all over the place.

Matt and Linda hosted their usual Thanksgiving dinner at their large Victorian house, and that's when they dropped the ball. They announced that this year's vacation was going to be in London, England. Unfortunately, my plan of choking on the turkey was not a successful as I had hoped.

So, here I am, in a completely different country for two whole weeks.

Fourteen long, long days.