When you pick a holiday, maybe it's not that bad to get lost

[Alex Cullen]

Alex loved the busy bustling in the town as they were all preparing for the winter coming. With his rucksack swung over his shoulders loosely, he sent greetings to the first villagers on the street as they smiled at him. Yes, he was the local hero if you may, becoming the national sprinter for the Olympics. But still he had earned the respect and kindness by pulling in favours for everyone who needed it.
He would never admit it but using magic had helped a lot of struggling people in this place and he was glad. The joyful atmosphere bubbled up as he strode through, shaking hands with Jamel, a young girl who had the job of looking after a big family. He was especially close to her because of this, helping out her parent-less house as best he could. A young boy came running up to him and Alex swung his arms out for him, lifting him into the air and letting him pretend he was an aeroplane.
A big smile was plastered on his face as the boy squealed with happiness. This was of course, the 2nd youngest in Jamal's family who had kept onto Alex while he was training though he always tired so easily and he ended up having to carry the sleeping 5 year old all the way back to the village afterwards. Alex laughed as the boy whispered something in his ear about a white girl in the village. Well, if there was a white girl in the remote part of Jamaica at this time of year, he'd be sure she was definitely lost.
He still found it funny how he was not regarded as the white person anymore too. Not that he could pas for white now really. His dark tan was far from what he had been in New Zealand, and he was very firm from his running. But he'd never look like the locals with their chubby noses and huge lips. Even his full lips weren't that big compared to the other mens. At least he managed to keep in with them for his reckless manners and strength.

 

[Harriet Turner]

Harri had landed with James in Jamaica not all that long ago and had been eager to set off exploring alone, after receiving a ten minute long lecture of safety Harri had reminded him that she was 16 and not 6 and was more the capable of looking after herself. Now though, as she trailed through the streets feeling more then just a little uncomfortable from the heat she wished she had taken more directions from James as to which way to be heading. She had not crossed a single patch of shade as of yet and as her eyes scanned the surrounding area she really wished she had bought her glasses along with her. She pulled her bright red hair up into a messy ponytail and immediately felt cooler. As she paused looking around the busy market place her eyes were drawn to a figure walking, mildly familiar through the blur her eyes were creating around the figure she watched as he seemed very popular amongst the locals, especially a young boy. She walked closer before the face became clear, "Alex?" she mouthed, barely making a sound. She looked at him, he looked so different, taller and much more tanned. "Alex?" she repeated before flying at him and embracing him warmly before stepping back realising she was currently looking very hot and flustered.

 

[Alex Cullen]

Alex had just placed the young boy on his shoulders as he walked with Jamel, chatting with her about how to cook cous-cous with the kids and the task of getting them to help when Jamel's brother started shouting and pointing his head in the direction of something that he found amazing. Alex laughed and tried bobbing him on the head, only to find the little brat had dodged it artfully.
'I taught you well,' he replied back in Jamaican, as some of the mothers in their porches laughed at. As he stared back to what the brat was still shouting at him for, all he saw was some bright red hair before someone crashed into him at full force. 'Wo,' he warned, taking a step back while one hand went up to protect the boy from falling off. His face was blank as he looked down to find someone was hugging him, a bit too warmly to be one of the locals. As the person moved back, he raised an eyebrow.
'So you're the white girl the village is going crazy over?' he stated, the rhetorical question sent to her. He chuckled lightly as he smiled in her way. Yep, definitely a tourist. It was quite cool he had thought but obviously still too hot for the likes of her. She seemed to be dyeing with the heat of the day. Feeling his caring side come out, which it usually did when he was around children, he asked Jamel's brother to get the water out the rucksack for him. 'Hey, you want some water?' he asked the red head, a warm smile on his face. Offering her the water bottle, he noticed quite a number of people staring in their direction, including the little hands of Jamel's clinging to his t-shirt, asking for reassurance of this new person.

 

[Harriet Turner]

Harri rushed back embaressedly, it wasn't quite the warm reception she had imagined. She had thought about contacting Alex ever since she left, but she just couldn't bring herself to ever write anything down however many times she picked up a quill. "Erm yeah sure, thanks," she said gratefully swigging some of the water. She felt a blush rising to her cheeks as she stood back, "Erm I guess I best be going then," she said "Erm bye Alex," she said taking a step backwards and turning around before realising she was completely lost. She sighed before turning back, "I'm lost," she said now feeling more embaressed. Not only had she just made a complete fool of herself hugging her friend infront of all these people only to get an icy reception. She shivered slightly as she got goose bumps on her arms, before snapping back to the heat and once again feeling slightly uncomfortable under the glaring light of the sun.

 

[Alex Cullen]

Alex stared, curiosity in his eyes at the response he was getting from this young girl. If anything, he'd say she was about 16 perhaps, the same age as Jamel roughly. But yet, she seemed to be very embarrassed about being here. Or maybe even awkward. Had he done something wrong in the short time she had been here?
Taking Jamel's hands in his as she drunk her water, squeezing them slightly for comfort, the confusion was readable from his face. Another thing that was going so bad for his life. Not only was he scaring away everyone he cared about, it seemed to work for strangers too. Well, didn't life choose the most easiest route for you to go down.
Alex took back the bottle handing it back up to the creature on his shoulders absentmindedly. Like him, the surrounding faces were filled with curiosity and confusion as she blushed. Though Alex knew better than to think it was just the heat this time. No body just got heat waves like that, he was sure from his first days here with his own climate change routine too. But he let herself turn around and start to go. He would not force her, this would be like another mind game. Watch and learn.
A concerned smile grew on his face as she turned back before a full blown grin appeared. 'Yeah, it's okay. I already knew that,' he replied, a still essence of mockery. Well, it was very unusual for visitors in this place. His grin whipped away as she shivered right in front of him. C'mon. In this heat, she could find something to be cold about? Freeing his hands from Jamel's, he walked forward to her, placing his hands on her shoulders.
'Hey, you alright? You seem like you've been on your feet a bit too long. My gal's house is just up the street if you want some shade,' he told her, worry coating his words. Sure she was a stranger, but something was so familiar about her, coaxing him to speak to her more, find out about her. And his name, how would she know of his name so easily?

 

[Harriet Turner]

Harri's eyes narrowed, was Alex playing or did he genuinely not know who she was, "Alex?" she said, sure he had changed but she had known it was him from the minute she set eyes on him. "Erm yeah sure," she said, baffled as ever but even through her confusion she couldn't pretend that the fact he know had a girl didn't hit her like a punch in the stomach, she remembered their parting moment and she couldn't help but smile a little. But she guessed that was natural, she had moved on in her time at home but nothing serious. If anything she had been slightly reckless. She tried to shake off the memories from the past three years, "So are you living out here now? I thought you were a proper Scot," she replied, laughing at her feeble attempt at conversation.

 

[Alex Cullen]

Alex laughed as she seemed to have a thing with his name. Sure, it was pretty normal to greet people with their names, but to further question it to him was not exactly what he'd call normal. 'Yes, I am Alex. You can stop being so unsure now,' he joked with her, with a shake of his head.
As she agreed, he smiled widely. Great. He was sure Jamel's six year old sister would love to see what a white girl really looked like. Especially one with bright red hair and a gorgeous face like that. She was constantly wanted to know what Barbie looked like in real life and although he had insisted to her that she didn't exist, well, stubborn six year old usual.
He smiled, letting Jamel sprint ahead of them to try and probably clean up her spotless house. He smiled and raised his eyes brows as he looked at the brat still on his shoulders. He would of shrugged normally but seeing as that might knock his off, he ended up with a wink at him. He turned back to the tourist and gestured to walk with him.
What she said next though surprised her. He was sure nobody really knew he was a Scot. Even the Olympics didn't have that imformation gathered about him. He had just put in an unknown nationality as he had the excuse of being a child in care for this. He cast his gaze on her as she walked, her laugh sending chills down his spine. 'I, yes, I live here now. It's where I found the trials being held first for the Olympics and now that I'm running for it, I saw it fit to train here myself,' he replied, a cheerful note to his tone, though secretly, he was wary of this person now. What if she was trying to find something out for the other countries which would permit him from competing in summer? He had to do it, he had promised himself to do it.

 

[Harriet Turner]

Harri laughed, it was nice to hear his voice again, "Sorry you just seem...different," she said, her eyes wandering over his face before briefly lingering on his lips then eyes, atleast they were the same.
Harri smiled as the girl ran ahead, before returning her gaze to Alex. It was hard to believe he was actually hear, living and breathing and talking to her.
"Your running for the olympics?" she said, "Ahh that's amazing! All that running finally paid off then?" she said grinning, her London accent was even stronger now she had been at home for so long, it felt out of place and harsh compared to the peaceful noises around her.

 

[Alex Cullen]

Alex smiled though he still wasn't sure why this complete stranger kept saying that she knew him. Well, there had been several people he knew with red hair, heck, there was loads of girls but like he remembered the names of a dozen of them. And the accent was no help. He had met and lived with many people with the accent. Oh he was getting nowhere to knowing who this person was and why they were here, other than they were 'lost'.
He scratched the side of his face, smiling awkwardly as she congratulated him. He'd never been good with praise about his private obsessions or talents, mostly his running and singing. 'Eh, yeah. I guess it did.' he replied, looking away to the streets' bustling. They were about outside Jamel's 3 roomed house so he gestured to her to just go through the open door.
The living/kitchen was practically empty, save Jamel with her big bright smile that brought the dark out of the room. 'So, you have a name then?' he asked the girl, taking the brat off his shoulders and setting him on the kitchen counter top. Next thing he knew, he was being slapped on the back of the head by Jamel, yelling at him not to put him on the table with his dirty feet and hands. Alex just looked at her like a guilty child before laughing and doing as she asked.