Rose waking up first and being downstairs making a fresh pot of coffee and some breakfast for the whole family. The assortment of fruit bought yesterday only remained as a pile of inedible stuff in the fruit bowl.
She took a seat at the breakfast bar of the kichten unit, waiting for the bitter caffeine rush. Her eye wonder unsure of where the fruit went. She stood fast while the bowl lifted, tipped into the composite bucket. It be carried roll to the sink that she used just filled coffee machine with. The sponge and soap splashed and scrubbed. the tap turned on, rinsing the soap suds.
"Good morning?" Her voice wavered.
"Good morning, if I knew you were going to be awake and make coffee. I would have finished sooner. Maybe made it for you ahead of time." the gentleman puffed in wisps of distorted force, he seems very solid and real, "I haven't properly met you. I would like to be called Grey. I am whom protects..."
He ponders with tapping a finger. He give a scan of her actions. He was forgetting what name to use. "William. Its not a normal relationship between us but you can tell we are not normal. I hope I haven't cause to much disruption. Everyone and everything I encounter, there always something wrong. I find to hope I am what that is and feel disheartened if it wasn't."
"You nobility, right?" There is just enough for one strong cup, so she makes do with the expresso strength. Adding stevea additive instead of sugar. Pouring a small shake of unsweetened almond milk.
"You could call it that if you meant for the Damned. Sadly they are just proof that something somewhere is not quite correct. I wish not explain it all but there are many realms, races, cultures and societies. I have no found my place with them. Nor in my many eons of lifetime experiences have I found one that accepts me. Although, I am inexperienced with everything. The larger the universe expands itself the more things I can compare myself with. I have to hit the ground running when my time comes."
She sips the first try of her coffee. The warmth and caffeine rushed her a little to be more aware. Being self-aware of what she is wearing and what she is talking to. The night rob tied closed and that coffee back to both hands. The long silence made her think hard with what it was saying to her and what her husband said last night.
"Are you part of the royal family?" She asked.
"Longer then them. I was mostly pulled together by three brothers, they found my fragements. One claimed I was a hidden god, one claimed I was what made the mage island covered in doorways and the last brother claimed I was whom made the universe. They fought over me. They eventually became twisted with goals related by those assumptions. Creating one of many royal secrets. Two of the three brothers used me to do something... it has lead to what makes the one half cursed and the other gifted." She sits down listening as she has heard the orginal story from her friends. The story of how three grandfathers torn the bloodline into a mess.
Now that she has settled with being very awake, she tries to memorize his looks. He clearly choose this look as strange ghost folks tend to make their self image then their real image. This gentleman was in a black fancy suit, the shirt pure white. A silk black tie sit right into the throat. The vien pattern was visible within shapes of inhuman runic patterns. There was no eyes and the face looked removable at a given moment. Mature teen, no... ageless and confusing. It had gestures to replace expressions. No mouth and nose. Any hint of skin was as his nickname applied, Grey.
"Do you know where the prince is?" She asks.
"I do. Hidden. His father too... well the physical body. Its hard to track souls. The late queen... well. Her body is with her husband's. Her soul... I wish I could do something but its not my place. She choose to be there." It makes a gurgling throat sound deeply within the throat. A sort of hum that sounded unhealthy.
"Are you OK?" It took tilt with her question, stopping that noise.
"Appreciate the ask... but I can't answer your question. If there was anything wrong in a human sense, it would be because of William." She does look worried as in her experience, damned are very visible when they're on thier way to being ashes, "I made of fragments... and I gave some to him. Its almost selfish to admit that me protecting him is like protecting a part of myself. However, there is a cost to this relationship." It moved part of the jacket and took out a drink, it adds to this drink before sipping.
"The cost of magic. Even for someone like you." She nods and it does a low hum. It took a seat, enjoying the drink for a while. It would hover about putting it down or not. A free hand waving slowly with a debate, until finally. It sat straight, not exactly at her direct.
"The cost of soul agreements." It corrected her, a claws shaped from the fingers holding the drink, "I picked William because he was the loudest of this world." It downed the rest of the drink, "I broke this law for him. Such play with souls is not to taken lightly. I am not a god of this universe, which means the cost has direct determent." It tilts with listening upstairs, "Do not let my words be hinder to you... I choose to save the lad because his whom I have been waiting for. Someone with such internal strengths to understand my worst of good chooses."
She tilts in how it was gone in the same sort of bending reflections that comes from a fun house mirrors. The drinking glass was empty but sitting on the counter, she lowered to look for any lip marks or finger prints. The glass was sweating. Beads of water pubble the counter. She touched it the side with the back of her hand, to her surprise. It was ice not glass. Putting it to the sink, mopping up the counter.
"Good morning, your up early." Josh looks at the counter, pouted with how the fruit bowl was missing. He steps with greeting her with a passions deep kiss, parting with tasting her coffee. He tilted with how the counter was wet and a glass in the sink he doesn't own. A raised brow with inspecting her silence.
She about gets most of it mopped up, when she looks back to Josh. Frowning at first then soothed to a dull tilt return with him.
"I dont know how friendly you will be with William or the Damned whom protects him. But it was interesting to see something like that eat and drink like us." She finished wipping the counter, "Its not interested in being a hindrances. Only for Wills safety." She rings the towel out, hung it along the sink edge. Returning to his side, coffee back to hand... most of the cup gone.
"High nobility then?" Josh asked. He peers about how far along the maker was with his share. He leaned to her, listening about her and how slow her response is.
"Grey said thats assuming his rank among damned. I don't think its fully damned." She gives a little pout, "You were right about it having royal connections. Claiming to be part of the legend of the three brothers." She watched his expressions filtering with that confirmation. He looks at something far away, humming.
He picked his mug, pouring the steaming hot coffee. It stained his favorite mug. It was a handcrafted mug with the wedding date of his freinds wedding. The flower imprints had decorated thorn vines. A creamy grey clay mug... the impressions were painted with reds, pinks and blue. Only the few items that he got from Mage Island.
"So why this kid?" Josh stirs coffee as he liked it, two sugars and nothing else. He liked it pipping hot. He leans with wanting another kiss, pouted with being ignored.
"The kid was the 'loudest'" She gestures with the her cup hung on her thumb, "Grey said he was looking for someone who has strong shoulders. From what I guess by his gesturing and body language, a mix of pity and sadness. If was damned, I would say their arrangement makes them both ill looking. But... maybe its not a illness that any normal medical report is going to find." She leans into Josh. They hold with stirring of many thoughts.
"Was there anything else it said that concerns you?" Josh could sense more about her. She was nervous, playing with her nails.
"What Grey seems to be doing might be what keeping William alive. I dont think whatever this is, does not want the kid lost." She pushed into Josh, being warmer in his arms over lapping. He lowers to rest his chin to her head. The coffee can wait for a sip. A soft sway together.
"A rather intimate morning." Raven coos in landing on the counter of the kichten, poking as anything he can scavenge off plates or left open packets. Clearly a little drowsy as he failed to notice a whole slice of fresh cooked toast on a plate. He taps about ignoring it but eventually step to it... a foot holding his beak. Josh and Rose lean separate with coffee, refreshing her amount and Josh take big gulps of his.
"I guess some spirits of the house are looking after us in unseen ways." Rose snickered watching Raven, " Speaking of which, Grey ate the entire assortment of fruit before I came downstairs. He did wash the bowl after... and all the peel in the composite bucket." She points out, "He doesn't have finger prints which just adds to the whole spirit thing. Then again..."
"eating a entire bowl of fruit and having a drink. I know demons do it to appear normal but they don't need to." Josh looks up, "What a strange case, this one. Still doesn't beat the reptiles in Sigil that ate everything."
"Or the ghost whom keeps arranging the mugs." Rose points out with opening the cabinet, "They been here since you bought this place."
"Whose Grey?" Raven rips the toast with claws first. Looking at it for something wrong. He flings about, flustered. He wasn't sure if this was just toast.
"Williams ghost friend that you were freaking out about." Josh answers, "The mystery just keeps going with it."
Having torn enough, it seems nothing on it. Satisfaction that it was just toast, he munched some. Raven pokes about, tilting in angled poses with how there is a paper under his toast. He pecks a corner clean enough to take it off the plate to read:
'It's just toast, G'.
Raven fluffed out into a ball of feathers, stamping at the note. Some of the foster kids waking up were already with phones out videoing him, snickering. Putting the phones behind their backs when Raven looked up.
Those phones were soon combed through, some footage deleting and were placed on the dinner table. The foster kids where now holding breakfast snack bars instead. James walking down last, stood at the stairs watching them all. He peers to the table full of pancakes and breakfast smoothies.
"Are you going to let it all go cold?" He asked with walking to the table. Everyone coming over to see, "He must have been really bored to bother learning to cook like this. Not the strangest attempt of pancake making." James sits down.
"Who cooked all this?" Amy asked.
"Clearly someone whom knows our names." They sit at where the pancakes spelt them. A very artistic style of bird shape pancakes at one side. Josh and Rose too.
Sam sticks right into eating, fluffy and perfect. A little surprise of maple syrup foundation within the pile. Everyone tucked in enjoying it. James softly smirks in watching reactions, it had made his mind wonder a little but he focused as conversation happens. The kids all nervous for the test, and some sage advice was being pass by the adults.
"William, would you like to try school? It give us a good idea of your knowledge levels." Rose asked.
"Can't see any harm in giving ago." He sounded off about it, "I am not sure that it be a good idea totally. Given how schools work here." He scrunched up nervously, "Are you sure its ok?"
"It will be OK. Everyone has a mixed experience with school but it gives you a way to learn about people better. There will not be anything bad to happen. Schools should be a safe place of learning." Rose's attempts at reinsurance doesn't help that she was beating around the bush.
Every memory James has of school as had something of a disaster. He manages to be the weird kid in class whom tries to be wallpaper. A memories of being bullied and being the bully. The age he is didnt matter, he has phantom pains of being in terrible conditions. Should be safe... This is North America, right? Although the news highlights isolated school cases and makes them world wide news.
Its not the biggest problem that Americans worry about. If its the difference between letting a bear into the school and having the tool to scare it off... thats what matters. Not accounting the other wildlife not reported on the news like mountain cats, snakes, spiders and three types of large reptile. Invasion species and native ones. Its not safe to jump into any random pond lake or river like in the UK. Even the coast has jellyfish swarms, sharks and weather problems.
Its actually not paradise like those from cities heavy states or other countries believe.
The rant was long enough for everyone to finish their fill and put on clean clothes. To be ready and out to the car. Most public USA school have no uniform policies, this was due to school sizing and how expensive it would be. Most schools catch nets can be from the other side one state alone, almost one fifth of the youth population of this state attended this place. Grades are determined by score level not age grouping. The entry exam is the whole spectrum of grades in one paper. Dot the answer box of your answer and scanned into a computer for final scoring.
Everyone fits into the car had has phones turned off at the gate. Sealed in clear plastic pouches. This was so the metal detection later was easier. The walk in policies were very strict, a whole list of what was allowed or not. This was part of the welcome pack if accepted as a student. Visitors or outside students had to have a connection with a student of the school or were turned away with a warning. Enough warnings leads to police intervention.
Its not scared to students, they grown up used to it and find it comforting. Its a weirdly like a airport or a jail prison with these precautions and processes in place.
"Dalestand Elementary and Pine tree Hill High. If you took the school bus pick up here, it take to the state city university campus. Most 15 grade student do so all the time and apply to go there for the next semester."
Lizzie sat beside James and was talking about the grade system. Between them for the duration of the drive there, they estimated that the UK elementary school starting at year 3 was the 2nd grade in the USA. However this was not totally accurate as uk is age progression and the public state schools were more grade boundaries.
A smart kid skips grades and those stuck are left behind. If you have to repeat the same grade 3 times, you be referred to a learning difficulty assessment case worker. The UK just encompasses gifted and learning difficulty students the the same classes with maybe a teaching assistant around as extra. UK classes are already smaller the USA average.
What is learnt about is often the same but with country bias flavoring. The UK does not make you sing the pledge every more, however enforcing that you follow British values. Politeness, rights to free speech, right to live and right to vote.
In James's experience, the school he lasted attended at his recollection was with Rick and Karen. A public school that hammered in democracy and allowance of class debates to encourage criticism and critical thinking.
Not to side with just one opinion but have a taste to see other views. Not all British people are taught the say way as some usa states have slightly different bias too.
"Has everyone got everything?" Josh checking the car a last time. Joel and Lizze have already gone to find freinds or stirke it alone away from them. Passionate kiss later, the rest stayed together until entry into the building.
They either walked the metal detector gate, bag check throughly by standing security. They check a name list of those previously cause with things banned in school before. Before that, Rose signed herself and James at the welcome desk before reaching security gate. It was still plenty time before first bell and everyone sorting out bags for first class with swapping books in lockers.
Lizzie was caught up with her friends, they looked like siblings... if not wearing different clothes. That group spoke fluent French and was able to not be easily easedropped.
Amy was still at the gate looking for the id card. ID for James was instantly there and there printed at the welcome desk. When James and Rose were crossing security, Rose passed Amy the card. Every student and visitor has a individual bar code. Its also used for money free payments for vending machines and cafetiere food meals.
Joel was at his locker, he was hard to spot over the sea of students. A jock group came around make the sea part, Joel was locker neighbors with one of them. The tension was tough but it all settled with Rose walking by. She very pretty and it made the jocks ignore Joel. James walked quietly beside her, as he would have been pushed otherwise. Joel walked behind them both, since they were going to a teachers office anyways.
"Have you ever beaten them in a game during gym class?" James asked.
"Dont nose in my business." Joel was uncomfortable with saying anything around Rose.
"Cliché." James muttered. Joel sighed annoyed, as his expecting a ear full about homework with the teacher. He can't escape Rose hearing it, "You're already better then the meat heads. They will try for a sport scholarship and fail it without proof of being good at the minor other classes... like Maths and English studies." Joel stared at James in a scowl, "Your personal handwriting will make all that work worthless for them. Since submitting print worth isn't accepted."
"Why are you helping me? They will eat you alive here."
"I wouldn't let them. Fight for my right to learn." Rose tilts in hearing all of this.
"Not that I like it... but William is right. Jocks back in my day with idiots." She lightly spoke, "If I knew, I would have supported you more."
The office was for a english lecture, there a mix of trophies for school spelling championships and school knowledge quizzes across other state schools. Their masters and other degrees framed in glass along their wall behind the teachers back. Personal photo on the desk of a well off family with the few extended extras being contrast. Brown suit, plead tie. smart comb back short hair and chubby pointed fingers typing at a computer.
"Come in." Not bothering to look up or opening the door. Joel does the honors of opening, let's Rose in. He pushed James through quickly and closed the door behind himself once fled into the room. A jock tries to poke nose at the one little window there is. Just as a tease, the shadow mask blocked the window by being within the reflection.
"Joel, I hope you have my..." Looks up to Rose, "Ah, Miss Drake. I wasn't expecting you in person. What can I do for you before we discuss Joel's issue?"
"I have several things... but the main reason I came was to ask if one my new foster would do the entry exam. Since there was a test this morning, I thought a spare seat could be for him." She directed James to stand with her, "This is Mr Hockley. He is vice president of this school." She directed Introductions, "This is William James Jackson, his another foster from England. A close freind of mine asked to look after him." James offer a handshake. Mr Hockley doesn't follow.
"He should have been directed to the lower elementary department frist." James looked at how there a stake of 900 word assignments with the typical American grading circled in red, correction marks in green and the student orginal worte in black with replied to comments in pencil.
"The spelling for that top paper is wrong.The grammar of the third paragraph isn't in the correct time tense. Is that meant to be a drama piece between soldiers or is it meant to be a debate paper one the playwriting of journeys end?" James spoke softly at frist evolving into a certain and clear voice, "They went 20 words over. How is that a C?" Mr Hockley blinks with looking beside him to the paper on the top stack, being questioned on his marking skills was not helpful.
"I doubt you have read journeys end." He cough, "You have only skim read the title."
"Raleigh is a new to the frontline. He looks up to Stanhope because of boarding school. The themes of each character are in the stage direct. Its meant to be a gloomy take of how horrible the Frontline of war was. The affect of shell shock, mental depression and stress of the frontline." James crossed his arms, "I enjoyed the ending from education veiw and felt heart broken with how true some of the context was." He looks right into the teacher, "A very historical classic peice of history that hasn't translated properly to Modren audiences, yet."
Mr Hockley sits back and thinks about this... looking to Mrs Rose. She gave a worried look, as she was impressedby that too. Joel sits down on a spare seat, just trying to grasp just how fast this situation was becoming. A jock slammed himself backwards away from the door, cuase a commotion outside. Mr Hockley sighed in sorting that out from his official door.
"Whatever is going on has to stop. Get yourselves ready for class. Its 12 mind before bell." The crowds snickered at the Jock in the floor. The swarms moved around, a French commentary of how stupid meat heads are. Even in another language dug into any pride the jock had.
"Mr Hockley," Teacher came around, "Is there a young man and his foster mother in your office?" He closed the door to mask his reply. There whispering and some nosey students tried to hear. Rose look at James with wanting a answer. She looked up with the door closing again.
"Alright class starting soon. Move along." Mr Hockley has a strange expression in coming back in.
"Mr Jackson, you would happen to have your past report cards on you." Sitting down with a gloomy express. He was doubtful what his colleagues told him.
"I have textbooks I use for study." James straightens, "I didnt attend any formal place."
"If I may have a look, please. Any of the highest grading standards." James took off a backpack and rummage through. He took out three and set them to the side. He then picked up a even higher math. He set that to the side. He has a bachelors degree book for this years teachers examination. He has a heavyweight set of exercise books on top, handing them over. Mr Hockley gives it a skim through, end up using the text book for reference. He used the computer a few times and was then tapping about with the mouse. He froze with reading a few emails. He makes quick replies with them, short answers.
"You would not really learn anything being here but we can hire you for a teacher assistant position." He was almost disgusted in saying that, "We are aware of your age, so any salary will be by government minimal. I doubt students will take you seriously, so you have no privileges of any authority. The president of school has already looked through a resume sent at 2am."
Hockley massages a on coming headache. Rose face palms, she knows exactly how this was happening and that this wasnt normal. James puts away the books and has his backpack back on.
"I had not realized. It no wonder my friend across the pond asked for my help." She spoke her thought out loud, "I was just talking about school yesterday."
The long pause as Mr Hockley suddenly clapped hand together. He leans to the desk and gestures a few times before saying anything.
"Well, its escapism at finest. Its not hard believe. How child choose to get away from thier problems can sometimes lead to extreme extraordinary things. Some gain disorders or become disassociated with society. They are often very smart and lead to interesting life chooses.
A example case a child was living in a dark room, they adapted to having sensitive sight. They are now recruited by a night gaurd security team. Another was in a difficult family and used computering to get away, they were old enough. They were hired for a higher government agency." He looks to James, "We have a duty of care to make sure these cases are not mislead into any extremist groups." He looks to Joel, "I think if I assigned Mr Jackson with someone he already knows, he fit in better. Would we agree, Harrington?"
"Yes Mr Hockley." Joel gets up and dreads it.
"Mr Hockley... Don't you find it strange that eight student have the same handwriting style. I mean, I can understand it if was a similar word or the odd single letter. But..." James walking around pulling out three papers. It were the Jock groups, "Look, the letters E, A, B, D, and F. The way the word spacing... It bothered me when I noticed it. Sorry."
James moves away and Mr Hockley makes a note of this point out. Joel gave his in too. There is some awkward silence as the thoughts are being processed.
"You might as well get to class before your late, Harrington. Jackson, following along. I will have to make time for a wider discussion with the other school department with you, Miss Drake.
We will look into supporting avenues of best to cope with Jackson. I can see why you came straight to me. I am the vice president of school and a close friend of the chairman." Rose nods in agreement. The two lads slip put of the office, not going to class right away. Standing awkwardly outside. Joel acts like he doesn't know James.
"We don't normally accept folks into the school without all the background checks and everything. However turning him away without any sort of guidance is exactly why a new government policy are being hammered in. Now... if you excuse me, I have a class to teach. I am sure you have business else where, Miss Drake."
"I appreciate this. I really wouldn't know where to go without this schools work." She gives a handshake, "I will come to collect him with the others. later."
She looks to how the two of them waited outside the office. Mr Hockley stays in his office for a little longer with getting himself together.
"Please no funny business among normal people. It goes for you and Grey." She quietly lowers to tell James, "Just try to fit in or make friends whom aren't spirits. You might enjoy it." She gives him a last check, "If anything does happen, following what everyone else is doing around you." She stand properly with Joel, "I have a feeling you may have to keep an eye on him. Please. I make it up to you."
"I going have to." Joel frowns.
"I make sure not to bother you to much. Its annoying to be a lone wolf and be followed around by a sore thumb." James says, "I look out for you too. Now, which room is it? this place is massive."
"Not wrong there." Joel makes trip back to his locker and then straight to the class door. They walked separately on other sides of the hallway, as most of the way was empty and full of distant door noises. The floors were indicated with the letter and then a room number. This coming classroom was A016.
James goes to opening the door following to nearly take a step. Jeol prevents James walking into the prank and lets the attempts fail. The class muttering about how immature it is. This followed with silence as James walked in first. He goes right to a back desk on the end.
He inspects the desk marks and chair. It was heavily used and worn, the desk sketched names, dates, memes and nasty language. He chooses not to sit down, instead stood at the back wall. Leaning to a file cabinets and standing supply closet.
Joel crawls around and to his seat, using James as distraction to make it to his seat fairly undetected by the majority.
"Whats the newbie doing here?" Lizzie asked, whispering.
"William James Jackson and... he isn't a student. Don't be fooled by his age. He can out smart Raven if he wanted to." They stop as the bell rings. Every to the desk and stood.
The school speakers play the American pledge, most spoke the words or joined at the end with a Amen. Seats sat on the next bell. Mr Hockley comes in does a look. A late student brushed in, smelling strange and sat on the last available seat.
"Johnson, this is the 12th week of missing the pledge. Clearly I need to speak to your parents about being the pride of our nation means to you. The 4 assignments I have asked for from you are still missing." Mr Hockley sees deaf ears as this student is slumped and not facing him.
"Must be your 2 time in this Grade level." James said behind, "What a waste of potential. You could have had enough knowledge to get off the stick in the mud from that dusty desert of a farmers acre." The students gasped at that.
Johnson stares into James, almost in retaliation to stand up and bet a 1 grader into the floor. He settled back as he waited for Mr Hockley, the man of detention to put th twirp in his place. For a clown Johnson is, he has alway relied on the sink sinking both of himself and his victim.
"I have to agree with Mr Jackson. Maybe having you around to prove a point will be enough motivation to Johnson here. Moving on." Johnson pulled trance, staring blankly at the air... for a while he thought he misheard it.
As the class was silenced and the continued discussion of todays classes having changed schedule for the grade change exam. Johnson sunk on his desk, thinking of what just happened. Humiliated by a child that is clearly a teachers pet from a whole new level. He will spend the rest of this class staring at James or inspecting interactions. Working how how best to get back for his petty feelings.
The class was up to note passing games as test rules are explained. James came forwards with taking some the stack and walks down the rows placing the papers down. He looks at all the manner of creature sitting on shoulders or are attached to people. The desks of some having dancing figures and the sense of more then human eyes watching him. The sounds of the teacher drowns out as the last paper is placed.
"Time starts now." Pens and fluttered papers whip around. James walked around spying at every bit, from how people sat and focused. The expression of concentration and spaced thinking. Drumming or pencil flipping. A paper note was caught in passing and pocketed by James.
"Yes, Mary." A hand put down very quickly, she made all the normal lads sigh. Clearly a popular girl for her figure and not her smarts.
"May I use the toilet?" Hockley nods and gave her a card. She quickly rushes out.
The test is about quarter way through. This student returns, James at the back. Mr Hockley was walking around now. He passed James twice and at a third time handed him a paper. James reads through it and nods. He took a pen with a clip board and dotted every answer in, name at the top and triple checks.
He finished his test as everyone will finish theors in 10 minutes. He frowns softly to himself and took out a notebook, making notes about people. He had time to make a back of class sketch.
"Tests in." James helps collecting them, his at the bottom of the pile. He puts the stack to the front, "You have 5 minutes of staying here before the bell. You can chat amongst yourselves." He looks to James, "I guess your test is in the pile."
"Yes sir. I had also sketched the veiw of the back of the class." He shows this and Hockley looks at it, nods impressed. See that James didnt bother looking at test papers.
There was focus with hair and clothing. How bags hung on the back of chairs. He doesnt let this distraction as he flicked through to find the test paper. It wasn't the same one everyone else was doing. It was a University entry exam test. He took out the grading matrix for it, looking through it. It wasnt perfect but that wasn't the point. This made a passing entry score. He was so into the marking that the bell made him jump.
"Go have lunch." He waves the class away, "You may go too, Jackson. You do that thing I asked back at my office."
James nods. He sees that the foster family were all waiting for him. They all surrounded by their freinds. He follows with them to lunch. This group had invertedly prevents Johnson from making his plan work.
"How old are you?" One the friend excliamed.
"It doesn't matter." James played nervous with them.
"How long you been in the country and which part of the UK are you from?"
They all had these curious questions. They don't stop the entire day. He doesn't answer them much of anything. It made them more picky for questions. He was soon used to it as background noise as he watched the creatures that were among people. It wasnt any different to the UK, in terms of what things attach to humans. The oddity of that was comforting and weird.