longer than I expected it to be, but the plus side of it was that I got plenty of rest. When I woke up, I noticed that Julia and Leah were asleep. I smiled as I noticed Julia had a sleep mask pulled over her eyes. She had a hard time sleeping when it wasn't completely dark.

I stretched my arms over my head and let out a satisfied groan as I felt the bones in my back crack. I got up onto my seat and looked behind me. Sitting in the row behind us were the three boys, Atlas, Dawson, and Jude.

Jude was on his phone, but he looked completely bored. Dawson was asleep and had his head was on Jude's shoulder, but Jude looked like he didn't mind. Atlas had the same book in his hands (I couldn't see its title) and was too immersed in it to notice me until I said something.

"Uh, how long was I asleep?" I asked, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes.

"Uh," Jude said, glancing at the time on his phone, "About three hours, the others fell asleep like an hour ago."

I nodded, "So, how long till we land?" I asked, trying to ignore the feeling of Atlas's eyes on me.

"They announced that we'd be landing in an hour." He said.

A wide smile broke out on my face, "Yay, England here we come."

"You're really excited," Jude said in realization.

I nodded excitedly, "Yeah, I've been wanting to do something like this since eighth grade."

Jude's eyes widened in surprise, "Wow, and you finally got your wish."

I nodded, my cheeks hurt from how hard I was smiling, "Yeah, I just hope nothing goes wrong. Ya know?"

He nodded and we said nothing for a few minutes. Eventually, he spoke up, "Did you know we were coming on this trip with you?"

I shrugged, "My mom told us that you guys were coming with us, but we didn't know who you guys were."

He nodded, and I smiled, "I mean, I didn't mind. New friends, why not?"

I glanced at Atlas as I said "friends" to see that he was already looking at me. He licked his lips and continued to stare at me. I blinked hard and tore myself away from his gaze.

Jude let out a laugh, "Yup, you seem cool, but your younger sister is cooler."

Atlas let out a small laugh while Jude let out a longer one. I rolled my eyes at them, "Whatever. I practically raised her."

Jude laughed, and I noticed that Atlas, too, had a smile on his face. I smiled to myself in satisfaction. Next to me, Julia stirred, letting out a small yawn. She stretched her arms over her head and let out a groan.

She looked up at me and smiled, sleepily. I smiled back at her and watched as she got up and sat down on her knees to face the guys. Jude looked up at her and smiled. She smiled back and looked to Atlas.

"You don't talk much, do you?" She said. My eyes widened slightly and I stared at Julia, gobsmacked. Asking straightforward questions like that was something Leah would do, not Julia.

Atlas smiled a little at Julia and I frowned. Why couldn't he smile like that at me?

"I do. I'm just not feeling so chatty right now." He said to Julia, glancing up at me briefly.

She nodded, "Oh, so I think I got it. Dawson talks like it's nobody's business."

Jude and Atlas laughed a little at that and nodded. As if on cue, Dawson stirred in his sleep, but didn't wake up.

"No, don't do that." He muttered in his sleep.

Julia covered her mouth to stop herself from laughing too loud. I giggled quietly. Jude rolled his eyes and Atlas shook his head, a small smile on his face.

When Julia got herself to stop laughing, she turned to Jude, pointing at him, "You're like the responsible person in the group that knows how to have fun."

Atlas snorted and Jude glared at him, "I do know how to have fun."

Atlas raised his eyebrows at him, "Then explain what happened at the last party we went to."

Jude's cheeks flushed red and he rolled his eyes, "Whatever. I don't have to explain myself."

Julia giggled at that, "So, am I wrong?"

Atlas shrugged, "Eh, you're almost there."

Julia smiled, "Okay, and you..."

She pointed at Atlas and frowned in thought. I stared at her and looked at Atlas to see him watching me. His blue eyes were following my every move. Every time I tucked my bangs behind my ear, every time I'd smile, and every time I'd shift a little, he was watching. I smiled nervously at him to which he looked away and back to Julia.

"Oh, I got it! You're like all tough on the outside, but really on the inside your like a golden retriever." She smirked.

Atlas frowned at her and Jude started to laugh. He tried to get his bearings, but couldn't and would end up laughing all over again.

"Wait-" He started to say, but started laughing again.

Julia had a wide smile on her face, "Was I right?"

Atlas rolled his eyes, "No,"

I smiled a little and looked at Atlas for a little. He was avoiding eye contact with everyone now and had his head back in his book.

I wondered if Atlas was actually like that. If he was just putting up a hard front to protect himself from future pain. I wondered if he just needed someone to make it a little less scary to be hiding all of you deep inside you. I shook myself from my thoughts to see him looking at me.

My eyes widened and I sat back down on my chair leaving Jude and Julia to their conversation and Atlas to his book.

-

When we landed, I didn't think I'd ever want to use my legs that bad. The moment we were ushered out of the plane, I realized that my legs were stiff and sore. I could barely walk two steps without tripping.

When I thought was finally getting better at using my legs, I stumbled a little and tripped into Atlas. Leah tried to catch me before I fell, but Atlas did it first. His hands landed, once again, on my hips, steadying me upright.

I looked up at him, my cheeks red in embarrassment, "Uh- I- Um- Sorry."

He nodded and let go of my hips once I was standing on my own. I tried to cool my face down by fanning my face away from everyone, but it wasn't working. I was still blushing like a damn idiot. I let out a groan.

Leah walked up to me and smirked, bumping her elbow into my side, "Well, well, well,"

I rolled my eyes as we walked side by side to the baggage claim area. I really didn't need this right now. Couldn't I process my shame on my own?

"Why are you so awkward around Atlas?" Leah continued to smirk at me, glancing at Atlas every few seconds.

I huffed, "I don't know, I'm just stupid around guys. Plus, Atlas is kind of mean so I get extra clumsy around him."

Leah laughed, "He isn't that mean. He's pretty nice when you talk to him a little."

I rolled my eyes and let out a dry laugh, "Sure he is."

Leah shook her head, a small smile on her face, "Just try. Don't make the trip weird."

I nodded and watched as she skipped off and stood next to Julia, pulling her phone out and staring at it.

I thought about what she said and sighed. Don't make this trip weird.

I let out a quiet groan. I was the one looking forward to this trip more than anyone here. I was not going to be the one to mess it up or make it weird. I better not, I reprimanded myself.

I caught up with the girls and giggled as I caught a glimpse of Julia's phone. Her home screen was a picture of Julia and Leah in ninth grade. It was the day before the first day of school and we were at the mall. Their braces were in full view with their wide smiles.

I didn't need braces as they did and I was so thankful. Julia and Leah were posing in front of a mannequin. I said I wouldn't take the picture with them because I'd regret it in the future. They called me a buzzkill, but hey, I'm not the one regretting the picture.

Anyways, one day like at least a year ago, Julia got mad at Leah for stealing her favorite sweater and dropping ketchup on it, so she put the picture as her home screen. Leah hated the picture and begged her to take it off even after she washed her sweater. Julia didn't let up and kept it even after they made up.

It was funny to watch.

Leah glared at me and I put my hands up in surrender, "Sorry,"

I was about to comment again, but stopped when Dawson bounded up to us and threw his arms around Leah's shoulder, "What are you girls giggling about?"

"Nothing!" Leah smiled, holding on to Julia's arm away from Dawson's eyes.

He squinted his eyes at Leah and looked at me, "Why does Leah look so embarrassed?"

Leah glared at me and at that point, I couldn't keep it in. The way Leah looked so tense and forced was too hard to contain. I let out a small snicker and hid my mouth with my hands. Dawson was smiling, waiting for me to elaborate on what was so funny, Leah was glaring at me, and Julia had an embarrassed smile on her face.

"It's nothing," I assured him, "We just remembered some joke we had from a few years ago."

He nodded, "Oh, you guys have non each other a while."

Julia nodded, proudly which made my heart soar, "Yeah, since fifth grade."

He nodded, acting disinterested and I frowned, "Why are you making that face?"

He let out a laugh, "Not to brag on anything or piss on your little princess party, but we've known each other since we were seven."

I rolled my eyes, "Whatever, that's not as cool."

He gave me a look, his eyebrows raised and a small smirk on his lips, "Yes, it is."

"Mm-mm," I shook my head, "So what if you were seven. What'd you guys do till you were 10? Play with your toy trains and then transition to Fortnite?"

Dawson rolled his eyes, "What'd you guys do in fifth grade? Play with your little American Girl dolls and then gossip about Jacob kissing you on the cheek?"

I glared at him and he let out a fake gasp. We stared at each other for a few seconds as we walked, neither of us letting up. Slowly, I saw a small smile trying to make its way past his lips and I let out a laugh.

I pointed at him, "Haha, you lost."

He let out a groan and stomped his foot. He pouted to Leah after, "Leah, she's being mean."

I gasped and looked to Leah for support, but saw that she and Julia were staring at us with their lips parted. I frowned.

"What?" I asked, confused.

"You guys are weird you know that?" Julia asked, to which Dawson and I laughed.

When we got to the baggage claim and found our bags, we made our way to the exit. As soon as we made it past the airport doors, my eyes widen and my breath hitched.

I turned to Julia, "Oh, my God, we're in fucking England!"

She smiled, widely, "Yeah, you just noticed?"

It wasn't much of a view since we were still at the airport, but... the weather, the feel of the air, the people!

Atlas walked off and got us a taxi in a mere 6 seconds. When he came back, he told us that the guy was waiting for us. We looked to the curb and saw that a short man, stocky and very English-looking came up to us and offered to take our bags. We willingly gave it to him and Jude and Atlas helped while Dawson stared at a woman passing by. Leah huffed, marching to the car.

Julia groaned and followed her. I frowned at Dawson and when the lady finally passed, he looked at me.

"What?" He asked, completely confused.

"You are so..." I decided not to finish the sentence and dragged him to the cab. Once everyone was in and our bags were safely put away, the man drove off.

"You know where you're headed?" The man asked, his accent thick and his voice sort of gravelly and slow. His voice fluctuated a little like he stressed some of his words and distressed some of them. He also skipped the letter "h" completely in the word "headed". It was kind of nice to listen to. I got excited and started bouncing in my seat just hearing it.

I was in freaking England!

"Uh, yeah." Atlas said, looking up from his phone, "The Hilton London Hyde Park Hotel."

The man glanced at Atlas for a second and nodded, "Americans?"

Atlas nodded, "Yeah."

He nodded and I gasped as I looked out the window, "Oh my God. That building..."

I don't know what it was, but it looked like it could've been a museum, a palace, or a mansion. I looked to Julia whose eyes were wide like mine and Leah whose face was practically pressed into the window.

"Beautiful innit?" The man said.

I nodded, "What is that place?"

"That's the Victoria and Albert Museum." He said, proudly. I noticed he switched all of his 'th' sounds for 'd's. I nodded along, but in reality, I had no idea where that was.

I guess he picked up on it because he laughed a little, "Well, uh, down there's the Kensington palace by Hyde Park, and across the park is the famous Marble Arch, and even further down is Buckingham Palace."

He switched all of his letters again.

Julia almost screamed as she looked out the window, "Oh, my God, they're wearing those hats."

The man laughed and Jude joined in, "They're called English Caps, I think."

"We call 'em flat hats here." The man chuckled.

When we finally pulled up to the hotel, I tried not to gasp again, but it was so hard. Everything was beautiful. Absolutely stunning. From the mildly crowded streets to the tall hotel buildings, and the cars whizzing past us like madmen. It was all so new and extraordinary.

When we climbed out, the man helped us get our bags and bid us farewell. He looked at the guys and pointed a finger at them, "You take care of these ladies, yeah?"

The guys nodded and I saw Dawson roll his eyes, jokingly. When he drove away, we turned and made our way inside.

"We're in fucking London!" I squealed and everyone laughed. I even saw Atlas smile softly.

A/N: PLEASE DONT BASH ME BCUZ OF THE ACCENT PLS. im an american that had never been so PLS i tried !! I REALLY REALLY tried. also, all the english people out there, be kind enough to give me some pointers !!