Chapter One
1276 Words
There is only one word to describe how I felt then. Hot
I could feel hot sweat seeping down my back angrily. All I wanted was to get out of my clothes and sleep in a bathtub filled with ice cubes or even better, a fridge. Naked.
I shifted my weight to my left leg as I adjusted the strap of the heavy bag on my shoulders. I wondered what it was I kept in the bag that made it so heavy.
I huffed out in exhaustion and looked down my feet. My white converse stared back at me and I immediately regretted not wearing sandals instead.
At this rate I'll be the last person to leave here.
Or
Did they forget I was coming.
That was impossible.
They couldn't possibly forget.
My mum told her sister I was coming to California that day, she even told her the estimated time I should arrive at the airport.
What if she was already here? I thought.
I didn't even recognize who was suppose to pick me up. I just knew her name was Cassie and she had a daughter named Kat. Although my mom showed me a picture of them both but well I only remember faces I see physically.
"Hello Miss did you order a ride?" A short man that looked to be in his forties said, his eyes on me. I turned back to check if someone was behind me.
"Are you talking to me?." I asked not finding anyone standing within five feet behind me.
"Oh a British tourist. I see." he smiled. "You chose a lovely place for vacation I must say. There's a lot to see here. I'm sure you won't regret it."
"I'm not here for holiday." I replied before looking elsewhere not wanting to engage in a conversation with a stranger.
"I take that as you didn't order the ride then." he said.
"No I didn– "
"I did." A deep resonating voice cut me off.
I whipped around and standing before me was a guy standing a little over six feet. His hands were in his trouser's pockets. On his waist was a black jacket tied around it. His grey T-shirt had few dark patches from his sweat. He had on a pair of sunglasses so I couldn't see his eyes but I could tell they were beautiful. Why? Because every other facial feature of his was beautiful. The glasses were perched on his straight nose the lens frame brushing over his defined cheekbone. His lips were not full but still pinkly beautiful. His hair was brown and curly and shiny.
I looked down and on both hands were the handle of his baggage. One of which looked awfully familiar. It looked exactly like......I glanced at the few luggage I brought with me and saw the exact replica of one of the baggage he held.
"Are you Colton.?" He asked. Who? Me?
"Yes." Someone behind me answered and I turned around to see who it was. I had forgotten there was a taxi driver there with us.
"You can carry this to the boot." He gestured to his luggage.
"Yes sir." The man replied before lifting both luggage and walked away.
"They're not here yet?." I heard him say behind me and I turned around again to face him.
"Who?" I asked confused.
"The one who is supposed to get you from here."
I shook my head. "No, She isn't. You're from Wales?." I asked before I could stop myself.
"What gave it away?."
I was sure he raised his eyebrow as he said that with the way the glasses on his face skewed a little.
I just shrugged. One of my best friend back at home was from Wales and he used to sound like that in primary school before he lost his accent.
"You look like you need a rest. I could give you a ride if you don't mind?."
"Do you Welsh lads just offer random strangers a ride or that's just a thing you do." I stood akimbo.
"You're not a stranger. We're both foreigners here. We're both from UK. If anything, we're closer together than with anyone here."
"Thanks but no. My aunt will be here soon."
"Okay. I guess it's bye then." he said and walked over to the taxi.
I was stood for about another twenty minutes before I saw a girl holding a brown cardboard run over to my direction.
Her face was all flushed and red by the time she got to my feet. Both hands rested on her knees and she breathed loudly through her mouth.
"I'm so so sorry." She said as she tried catching her breath.
"Uhm excuse me?." I asked with furrowed eyebrows.
"Oh my god." She squealed like a stucked pig and I jumped a bit. "Oh my god. Oh my God."
"Are you.....okay?" I asked the confusion clear in my voice.
"Oh my god. Angela." She said slapping the back of the girl who had miraculously apparated to her side.
I was going to ask if she was alright again when she pulled me into a tight hug it almost knocked the breath out of me.
"You're even prettier in person. Not as pretty as me but still pretty. Pretty enough to stand next to me." she said as I pulled away from the hug.
"And that accent. Oh my god I'm so jealous of you right now. Can we switch accents?." She asked with large blue eyes and I stood there in confusion.
"Katherine?." I asked.
"Oh my god." She squealed again.
I was beginning to think she was always going to squeal anytime I said something to her.
"I hate when anyone calls me my full name. Everyone including my parent calls me Cat with a 'C' but you cousin, with an accent like that, you're allowed to call me Catherine." She finished with her trying to say her name with a British accent. "You make my name sound so elegant." She grinned.
"Oh this is my best friend." Cat said.
"Hi I'm Angela" The girl with a pixie cut said a friendly smile on her face.
"Hello. I'm Eleanor." I gave her my best I'm-really-happy-to-see-you-and-not-tired-one-bit smile.
"Eleanor?." Angela asked and I nodded slowly.
She raised up the cardboard in Cat's hand and I read the words written boldly on it.
Cat welcomes you to California
Ellina
"That's not how to spell my name." I pointed to where my wrongly spelt name was written.
"It isn't?" Kat asked. "When I spoke to you on the phone you said your name was Ellina."
I nodded. "Yes my name is Eleanor."
"Her name is Eleanor." Angela said.
"Eleanor? No. She said it's Ellina." Kat said.
"That's because of her accent Cat. Her name is Eleanor. And it's spelt E-L-E-A-N-O-R." Angela said and Cat looked at me. I immediately nodded my head confirming the correct spelling of my name.
"Ohh. What a weird pronunciation. How can you pronounce 'OR' like an 'A'. Anyways let's move. You must be tired right?" She asked and I shrugged. "Don't worry, don't bother with you suitcases and bag. Angela and I got you covered." She said before she pulled the bag on my back away from my shoulders.
"Uhm Thank you." I said.
"Oh it's nothing." She said before walking away with Angela, my bag and baggage in their hands. "Don't you just wish you have a cousin like mine." I heard Cat squeal excitedly not so quietly.
I just rolled my eyes, carried what was left of my luggage and walked towards the direction they were headed.
- Writer
