Author's Note: Hey guys... So, uh, yeah, this is like, extremely late. I could write some excuses and such, but I'm not going to, because you guys don't really care about them, and you're probably gonna be mad regardless. But! There is a bright side! The wait is over for the next however long it takes you guys to read this, and then it begins again! Doesn't that just make this little interaction we have here seem so fulfilling? ...probably not, tbh, but hey, I tried. Anyway, enjoy!
*****
Ryna gasped audibly as the ocean came into view from behind the welcome center.
"You alright mon?" Raas asked, looking at him uncertainly.
"Yeah, its just that I've never seen the ocean before. I didn't realize it would be so... big," he said, boyish wonder creeping into his features. Raas just chuckled and punched his shoulder lightly.
"If you spend all your time lookin' at the water, you're gonna miss the beach babes mon," he replied, pointing toward the stretch of white sand that was between them and the endless blue of the ocean.
"True, though I'm only really interested in seeing one in particular," he mumbled to himself, "Do you know how the room assignments are going to be done?"
"Ya mon. Partners together in bungalows, Singles in the hotel," he said.
"Partners in Bungalows... They're just inviting crazy shit to happen aren't they?" Ryna asked.
"True, but it isn't like this is High School or anything mon. Van-Cademy is open to anyone that passes the test, regardless of age. Our class is just strange because we all happen to be around 20," he explained. They entered the welcome center, and approached the receptionist. There were other people he recognized sitting around in the lobby, some already chatting with members of the opposite sex.
"Gramps IS a genius," Ryna thought. The receptionist looked up at him, staring for a brief moment before she caught herself.
"How may I help you?" she asked, keeping her tone professional.
"Hi, I'm here to pick up my room key," he said, smiling at her. She looked away, the slightest color rising to her cheeks.
"Name?" she asked.
"Ryna Harcourt." he replied.
"Number?" she asked.
"4047--" he began without thinking. Then he caught himself, "Sorry miss, I'm afraid I already have a girlfriend,"
"Aw, well if you ever feel like playing around, you know where to find me. Here's your key," she said, pulling a cardkey out from under the desk and handing it to him with a wink.
"Thanks, though I don't think I'll take you up on that offer," he replied, turning away from the desk. Raas stepped up behind him and got his own room key.
"You didn't even do anything mon, why the hell did she try and get your number?" he asked incredulously.
"I'm just that good," Ryna replied, nodding his head to lend weight to his words.
"Some guys have all the luck mon..." Raas mumbled discontentedly.
"Cheer up Raas, you got 11 days to relax and find a nice girl, you'll be fine," Ryna said, grinning at him. "Worst comes to worst, I'll play wingman for you,"
"No offense, but you'd be the worst wingman. Recent history has proven that," he replied, cracking a smile.
"I wasn't trying yet. I can be pretty damn persuasive when I want to be," he replied, stroking his non-existant beard again.
"You have to grow a beard for that to work mon," Raas said, pointing to his chin-stroking hand.
"First rule of literature is the suspension of disbelief Raas. You just have to roll with it and pretend either I have a beard and its not weird, or not notice it in the first place," Ryna said, continuing to stroke his chin.
"See, at this point its just bothering me," Raas sighed, shaking his head. As he finished speaking, two hands reached around Ryna and covered his eyes.
"Oh, who's this?" he asked, reaching his hands behind him to feel for the culprit, "Hmm, short and slender body, definitely a girl. Sensara?"
"You got it," she replied, letting her hands fall away from his eyes. "Did you get the key?"
"Yep, I got it," he replied, dangling it from his hand for her to see.
"And the receptionist's number," Raas added jokingly.
"No no! I almost gave her mine, but then I caught myself," Ryna scrambled. He threw Raas a deadly glance.
"Hahaha sorry mon, I couldn't help it. Well, I oughta get to my room, I'll see you two lovebirds soon," he said, turning and exiting the welcome center.
"So you were chatting up the receptionist huh?" Sensara asked in a less-than-amicable tone.
"I was getting our key and she asked for my number. Nothing else happened," he said, stroking her hair gently.
"Mhmm, sure," she said skeptically.
"I'm gonna kill Raas later," Ryna muttered. Sensara's expression lifted as she pulled away from him.
"Let's just get to our bungalow before a swarm of women descends on you," she said, grabbing his hand and pulling him out into the salty sea breeze.