The Greatest Adventure

Chapter 1

Randomness that popped into my head one night. Ed is such a cool guy. I couldn't resist. This is the first thing I've ever published. Be kind. <3

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Stupid. Stupid stupid stupid. That’s what was running through her brain since she'd climbed four flights of stairs to a party at a stranger’s apartment. Er, a stranger’s flat.

Hanging with the cool kids in high school was dumb and never got her anywhere.
Trying to do the same as a damn grown woman was turning out to be an even bigger mistake.

Hell, she didn’t actually want to hang out with the ‘cool kids’ in this instance. But sitting alone in an empty flat for the third weekend in a row would have probably made her want to jump off the roof of said flat.  And in a cruel twist, here she was, on the roof of a stranger’s flat.  In the dark.  Somewhere on the outskirts of London.

London.  That was the reason for her craziness.  She’d been in England for three weeks now.  The only person she knew outside of her job was, well, no one.  Her flatmate Bev was a fellow teacher at the school she was now employed by.  After nearly a month, she had finally been dragged out of her little bubble of seclusion.

If she was smart, bold, or brave, she would have been venturing out around their town on her own, learning her new country and culture.  But she’d hid, in a comfy chair in the corner of her bedroom, chatting on her tablet with her loved ones back in America, until Bev decided to drag her out to this party. 

She was a wallflower with a drink, studiously watching her flatmate be the life of the party with two other people she was apparently close with.  She was comfortable with her beer, in a quiet corner.  There were a few people on the couches with guitars, playing random music, none of with sounded familiar to her.  Near the kitchen/dining room area, there were a bunch of people yelling and laughing, playing what seemed to be a version of the drinking game FlipCup. 

After a few minutes, she realized her flatmate had vanished. Then she saw the couch crew had added some pot to their little party.  She decided she did not belong in this scene.  She texted her mate to try and locate her.  While she waited, she ventured out onto the rooftop patio for fresh air. 

The view was ok.  Nothing postcard worthy.  It was just nice to be able to breathe.  Her social anxiety had been building just by being out with strangers.  Now she was able to inhale without the weight on her chest.

“Hey, America,”

She glanced behind her.  A few chairs were arranged in almost a circle near the wall.  He was sitting in one, with a drink in one hand, his feet propped up on another chair.

She was puzzled, “How’d you know...?” arms crossed in front of her, she turned towards him.

“It’s not a huge party, word gets ‘round,”  She nodded, understanding.  “Looking for someone?”

“Not really, just needed the air,” she said casually.  She glanced at her phone.  No reply from Bev.  The dark and brooding guy was studying her.  “Well, and waiting for my friend to resurface,” she admited

“You came with Bev,”

“Yup, that’s her,”

“Pretty sure she took off,” he told her.

“You’re joking...”

He patted the arm of the chair beside him.  She accepted the invitation and slid into the seat.  “Bev’s always been...whimsy.” he said, “Chance she may reappear by morning,”