Holidays.
This used to be my favourite time of year.
Both the summer break and of course the winter holidays over Christmas. But for me, it was just so I could stay home and play video games or be treated to a free holiday by my parents.
This year, I didn't want to be away.
With a new group of highly attractive female friends from school, the last thing I wanted was to spend time away with my family. Sitting by the pool in a tropical location on Christmas Day, I felt a sense of frustration.
Partly due to being sexually frustrated but also just very much needing the company of someone my own age to speak to. I left the beautiful hot sun outside and headed back to the hotel room to spend a few minutes getting myself off just to relieve some tension.
By the time I got back to the room, my phone was ringing. I could see that it was an Instagram call from back in the United States.
Incoming call: Tayla
Surprised to hear from her on Christmas Day, I answered.
"Hey Tay, Merry Christmas!"
"Oh Leo, so good to hear your voice, Merry Christmas to you too! How's Fiji??"
"It's great," I replied, despite not wanting to be here, a little spoilt I have to admit.
"How long are you meant to be there for?"
"Two more weeks, pretty much."
"Oh snap."
"Why? Is something wrong?"
"No, it's just Declan's parents have a holiday home in Queensland, Australia, he's inviting all of us to head down there for a week or two, and be there over New Year's Eve, was hoping you might be able to make it but understand if you cant since you're already away."
In my mind, I was quickly working out the distance between Fiji and Australia. It wasn't too far at all, a much easier trip than it would be for everyone else coming from home."
"I'll be there!"
I made the decision just to agree without working out if it was actually possible or not.
"Really?? That's wonderful!"
"When will you be there? Who's going?" I asked, with so many questions I wanted answers to.
"Myself and Declan are leaving tonight, I know it's so sudden but Declan only just got the green light from his parents that this could happen. His parents have even chipped in for flights for the other girls, they're all leaving Florida tomorrow."
Listening in, I couldn't believe just how much money his parents had to be affording everyone's flights.
"A few of Declan's friends are coming too, they'll be there before New Year's Eve. Really hope you can make it, I know flights can be expensive but everything else down there will be sorted by Declan!"
"I'll be there, don't worry."
"Amazing! I'll text you the details. See you soon, enjoy your Christmas!"
It wasn't easy, but I managed to convince my up-tight parents that it would be safe and affordable enough to head to Australia for the rest of the holidays.
I'll save you all the details of the back-and-forth arguing that it took to get my way. Once I reminded my mother a million times that I was 18 and a legal adult, I finally had her blessing. Before I knew it, I was on a plane, about to land in one of the northern states of Australia.
***
"G'day mate, welcome to straya!"
"Sorry?"
"I said welcome to straya mate, you're a Yank aren't ya?"
I was standing outside the Brisbane Airport in Australia, in front of a very interesting character. The guy in front of me was in just a singlet and a pair of shorts. Instead of shoes, he had flip-flops on, and a cigarette in his hand.
My first thought was that he was homeless but he was standing at a bus bay outside the terminal. After further conversation, I figured out he was actually part of the bus company, assisting foreigners in getting them on the bus to their hotels.
They may have been odd but the Australians I met right away were certainly friendly, wanting to help.
I was led onto a bus that was heading south, down the coast to the Gold Coast, a real tourist destination. Following Tayla's texts, I worked out exactly where I had to go. Standing outside the front of a double-story house by the beach, I checked the address three times before finally knocking on the front door.
Just the sculptures out the front of the property made me think about how much this place would be worth.
"Hawkins!"
Opening the door to greet me was Declan Walker himself. He had his arms wide open, a beer in his hand, sunglasses on and a big grin on his face.
"Hi Declan," I said in a quieter tone, standing in front of him with my suitcase.
"Come on, get inside," he told me as I wheeled my suitcase inside.
Everyone knew the Walker's were rich.
But I never knew they were this rich. To have this sort of property on United States soil was one thing but to have it in foreign countries too, showed just how much money they possessed.
"Can give you a tour a little later, you need a drink first," he told me.
We then made our way further through the house, Declan led me outside where we stood on a large patio deck that overlooked the beach in the distance. Just below us was a decently big backyard with an area dedicated to a beautiful in-ground pool that was right next to a bubbly spa.
In amongst the bubbles, I saw Annie relaxing.
My heart skipped another beat. Maybe for a couple of reasons, she was looking amazing of course but I began to get nervous with the two of us still not on the best of terms, not having a chance to clear things up at the end of the semester.
"Beer pong," Declan said as he lightly pushed me in the back as he walked past to head down the outside steps from the deck, "Me versus you next game!"
I followed him down to the grass, I was more interested in chatting with the girls than getting straight into a beer pong game but this wasn't my house I guess.
"Look who I found roaming the streets," Declan said to the girls as he approached the outside table that had red cups set up there.
Midway through a game was Rose and Tayla. The two brunettes squealed as they came running in my direction. I can't describe how quickly my excitement to be here rose at that moment. The girls were both in two-piece bikinis. Tayla had a normal dark grey string bikini, her long brown hair flowing down past her shoulders, and dark sunglasses on. She came from behind as Rose reached me first for a hug, her brown hair up in a messy bun, the sex bomb in black bikini bottoms and a yellow bikini tube top that covered up her breasts.
They both gave me big hugs with Rose leaving a sloppy kiss on my cheek. I could smell the alcohol on her, it was about 1 pm in the afternoon here but she was already pretty drunk.
"Our boy's here!" Rose exclaimed.
It was hard to forget our last encounter in the bathtub. My very own bathtub...
However, it was nice that we had moved on from the awkwardness of the aftermath of my little incident with Bella. If only I could fix my issues with Annie, everything would be sweet.
Speaking of Annie, here she came.
I watched her body closely as she exited the nearby spa. Coming out of the water, her red bikini bottoms were wedged right up her ass cheeks. She fixed them up as, her butt in our direction before exiting the fenced area to join us.
She politely smiled in my direction but it wasn't the same enthusiasm I received from the other girls.
"He,y Leo."
"Hi Annie," I said as I hesitated I initially leaned in but stopped myself.
She put her arms out and looked at her own dripping wet body, "Won't hug you, I'm a little wet."
"Preach sister," Rose joked as she grabbed the ping pong ball off the table and tried to hit one of her cups from a distance.
"Hey! That's cheating!" Tayla called out behind her, chasing back after her.
The two girls began to wrestle over the little orange ball for their game. They laughed as Tayla was almost humping Rose on the ground. Declan stood back with his drink, enjoying the little show the girls were putting on.
It made me very horny but I was also aware that Annie was beside me. There was no way I could enjoy this New Year's holiday here overseas if I didn't sort out our problems right here, right now.
We made small talk before I suggested we go for a walk while the sun was still up and shining. She was happy to do so after drying off and throwing on some short shorts over her bikini bottoms.
With Declan's place so close to the water, it was naturally the ideal place to walk to. The beach was beautiful despite the packed crowds of locals and tourists on the sand. I certainly wasn't the person who liked that sort of environment.
There was a genuine awkward silence as we walked down the Australian beach. Besides some very brief casual conversation starters, we didn't speak. It was obvious that we were both thinking about what we could say.
Eventually, I went for it, opening my mouth to speak, "Annie, I..."
"Leo..."
It turned out she was about to bring it up as well.