Almost Eden

Chapter 7 The Search for the Fourth

The next day I called Adam and told him all what I had found out the day before. At that point, it was official, everything was set. All tickets were to be used except the fourth one at that point.

​I mean... what else were we to do? There was nothing left to do. Social butterfly my ass! There was no possible way that I could ever convince one of the students at our school to spend time with three of the biggest outcast of their class. Besides that, there was no talking Adam and Willow into conforming to the low standards of others; being different was practically what they lived for, can you blame them?

​"...so you see, there are major plans we need to either make or break right now, got any ideas?"
​Adam was quiet for a moment as he pondered my question. "I'm not quite sure. This is a pretty sticky situation you have gotten yourself into."

​"Oh gee thanks for not rubbing it in."
​"Sorry. Hmmm... maybe you could hold interviews and randomly pick someone."

​"Adam, I'm sorry, but I am not wasting my time interviewing a bunch of losers just so we can have one more person on the trip."
​I can't believe I ended up interviewing a bunch of losers just to have an extra person on our trip. Of course, like everything else, this didn't go over so well either.

​"So... Scooter is it? Uh... what attributes do you have that we would find interesting in considering you for this trip?"

​"Well, I like to collect things. Like lint, yea I really like lint. I also collect pennies and string, but what I really enjoy is slurping spaghetti through a straw! Mmmm... that's a favorite!"

​"That's just disgusting." Willow said aloud giving Scooter a rather cynical look.

​"Yea..." I coincided, yet trying to put it in a nicer way and failing. "Hmm...No she pretty much hit the nail on the head."

​"Next!" Adam called out.
​"Before we begin this interview, I just wanted to say that I'd be honored to hang with you guys this summer, you're like totally cool." We nodded lightly and were pleased to see the next participant's enthusiasm. "By the way, how are you planning to travel?"

​I answered kindly. "Oh, we're going to be arriving there by plane."

​"That's wonderful! I just love flying! First class is just so luxurious..." ​

​"Uh... Tammy, we're not flying First class."
​"You're not?"

​"No, we're flying commercial."

​"Oh, I see. Well I'm going to have to leave then, aren't I?" As she stormed out angrily, I heard her mumble to herself. "Can't believe I almost spent my summer with those losers! Ugh!"

​Finding an extra person at such short notice seemed nearly impossible. Over the next few days, we stumbled across many awkward interviews like those of Scooter and Tammy. It was a disaster.

​Finally, it was the day before the trip. It was time to face the music. I had to tell my parents that I could not fill the last space on our trip and that one of them would have to go with us and chaperone. This was destined to suck.
​I exited my room and left the door slightly cracked. As I entered the narrow hallway, I rehearsed what I would tell my parents over and over again in my head. Suddenly, the phone rang and my heart started to beat a little faster. I turned back and returned to my room. On the third ring, I picked up.

​"Hello?"
​"Hey Chrys, it's me Vince."

​"Hey," It finally clicked in my head. Why didn't I invite Vincent all along? I mean I got along with him well and this would give my friends a chance to get to know him better. "Hey Vince, how would you like to tour Europe with me and a few friends?"

​"A free trip and a chance to hang with you? Sounds great."

​"Perfect."