Waking up disorientated was one thing, but disorientated and pissed was a whole new and infuriating thing.
Alex would not be able to see the tree today, Erica would not be moved on her decision to visit the town.
A town that was not going anywhere, a town that they could visit at any time. However, in the words of his twin, he needed to make himself more aware of his surroundings and actually try to have social connections in an environment that was now his new home. Suffice to say that he found this completely detestable and wholly undesirable.
"Come on, bro. It's not that bad." Erica said as she dragged him towards the car, their grandmother already sat in the driver seat and gently pressed the horn to hurry the twins.
"It's not that it is bad, it's the principle of things." He grumbled. "I do not like meeting new people, it makes my spine tingle the wrong way, I don't like it."
"You'll grow out of it," She stated, matter-of-factly, as they sat in the back seat. "You need to, in all honesty. I want to feel relief in the fact that you'll have friends who have your back when I'm not around."
"I don't need friends, at the very least I have you to watch my back."
She sighed. "That is all well and good, idiot. But I am not always going to be there to have your back. You need your own squad."
He squirmed uncomfortably under her gaze, slightly lurching as the car sprang into motion. "People tend to not like the way I am," He smiled lightly. "I'll try it anyway."
"That is better." She erupted into a giant grin, "Grammy is taking us to the town and we can all enjoy some premium grade, country-side ice cream. Isn't that right, Grammy?"
Their grandmother chuckled from the back seat, the warm sound filtered throughout the vehicle. "Too right, we'll stop off at the butcher's first, we need a leg of lamb."
Alex interjected curiously, "We having one of your famous roasts?" he poked his sister in excitement. "The one with the famous chicken gravy?"
His grandmother tutted from the front seat, "Yup, but I am going to need you two to be on your best behaviour for the entire trip, that achievable?"
The twins nodded in unison, food was always a subject on which they could agree.
Erica, however, was still curious. "So, what exactly are me and this dork going to be doing whilst you scout for supplies?"
"I expect you two to make yourselves familiar with the layout of the town, together," Their grandmother eyed them wearily, "I have taken the liberty of putting some money in your pockets, you have thirty pounds each, spend it wisely."
Alex perked up with curiosity. "Pounds? As in Pounds Stirling? Aren't we on American soil?"
Looking in the rearview mirror, Alex watched as the elderly lady grinned, it was a pleased smile, like she had a rather interesting story to tell. "You guys moved over to America when you were very little, I'm honestly surprised that you still remember the currency."
It was Alex's turn to grin. "We do learn Geography, plus it would be kind of hard for me to forget, we moved when I was around eight." His grin faded to reveal an inquisitive look, "Still, I am confused by the pound thing."
His grandmother turned the wheel, gently taking the car around a corner, Erica listened too with rapt attention, although it was a while before she continued the story.
But continue she did, after a long and dramatic exhale. "Shortly after the first British colonists settled in Jamestown - roughly a short twenty years later, the British crown began an exploration of the area and surrounding islands in an attempt to further secure additional resources for the empire. That is when they found this island. The island and the township within are the last remnants of the colony that was once established here."
"Huh, I never knew that." Erica mused.
Alex nodded, agreeing with her. "Mum and Dad never told us about this, but why do you still use pounds?"
"Ah, well... When America was undergoing the civil war, this island and a few similar colonies swore fealty to the crown and made the decisions to still be governed by British rule. So, for all means and purposes, this is British soil and British rules and currency still apply here."
"Wow... That's just wow..." Alex exclaimed.
"Mhm, you are quite literally home." She thrilled happily, pulling the car into park beside what seemed to be a Greengrocers. "We're here, unbuckle yourselves."
Erica laughed sheepishly. "We kinda never managed to buckle ourselves in, it was such an interesting story."
Their grandmother frowned, "Road safety is an important thing, you know. Seat belts, make sure you wear them on the way home and from now on, understand?"
Alex nodded, whilst his twin awkwardly smiled and mumbled a promise about being careful in the near future.
Seemingly satisfied, she sighed and stretched her arms. "I'm heading into the store, but I will probably be a while. So look around, enjoy, and meet back by the car in like..." She glanced at her watch. "Let's say forty minutes? That enough time for both of you?"
Alex started to complain, but Erica hurriedly hushed him. "Yes Grandma, that's perfect! See you in a bit." She waved their grandmother off, who entered the Greengrocers, not before giving a wry smile.
As soon as their grandmother was out of viewpoint and eyeshot, Alex elbowed Erica in her ribs in an effort to get her hands from around his mouth. She let go with a yelp, rubbing her side and glaring at him, all while he spluttered dramatically like someone had shoved rancid socks into his mouth.
"You are an arse. A whole arse." She said, still glaring. "I hope you are proud of yourself."
Alex chuckled in response, "I'll be even more proud of myself if I can convince you to let us sit in the car till Grandma comes back." He gazed longingly at the vehicle. "What do you say?"
"Not a chance." She said, speedwalking towards the nearest shop. "I can always leave you by yourself."
He grumbled and followed behind her, trudging along and occasionally kicking a small pebble out of his path.
As they walked through, some things stood out to him. Things that made him think that maybe it wouldn't be so bad staying here.
The air had a weird rustic quality that seemed to make everything feel magical, in an old and arcane sort of way. It kind of felt like the Middle Ages had come to mix with modern-day in an interesting juxtaposition of worlds.
Here and there cobblestone roads merged with tarmac on some streets, whilst odd old shops that looked out of place - like one building tentatively named 'Ye Old Newsagents' - that sat next to a more modern-looking cafe that went by the odd name of 'The Afterlife Cafe & Bar".
"Hey, you see that?" Erica inquired, pointing at the cafe.
"I don't know, you tell me. Its almost like I don't have eyes and I'm not facing the same thing you are." He responded sarcastically.
"Whatever," She scowled. "I was asking because I was hungry and I thought we might get a bite from the cafe."
Alex, conceding, decided to apologise. "No, you're right, I'm sorry for the attitude. I guess I am a bit hangry."
"Apology noted." She sighed. "Now, are we going in or not?"
"Lead the way." Was his only response.
Feeling incredibly pleased with herself, Erica crossed the road - which was bizarrely empty for this time of day - and with Alex following closely behind, attempted to push the big double glass doors open.
The doors, however, slid open the moment she came within touching distance, making her windmill her arms in an effort to stay upright.
Alex sniggered, steadying her, and then barely concealed a gasp.
The inside was like no cafe he had ever seen or visited before. The first thing he noticed was the stark white minimalist decor, he had never seen anything like it outside of a modern home.
By the very sliding doors that his sister almost fell through was a peculiar fridge full of drinks with peculiar names and pastel-coloured packaging. Personally, they reminded him more of a science experiment than actual edible foodstuffs.
Despite being a cafe, the counter reminded him more of a pub. Several patrons sat at the counter, shoulders slumped, many seeming half asleep and barely there.
Oddly enough, most of them did not seem to be nursing any kind of drink that could explain their haggard and confused expressions.
As the twins approached, with Erica still looking around in barely contained awe, one of the patrons moved. He sat up jerkily, slowly turning to regard them with a lazy and empty look in his eyes.
Erica flinched as the man started to speak, his speech was slurred, almost dreamlike.
"Where... Where am I?"