Hello, everybody.
I know, there is no excuse for having gone this long without updating.
I am sooooo sorry!
To make matters worse, this isn't even a real update. I have a really irritatingly short teaser that ends in an insufferable cliffhanger to tide you over, and I have the rest of the chapter planned out, but I need help! This chapter ( and the next few after this one ) center around a group of Americans in their hiking group. They're a little younger than K Unit, and they're supposed to represent the general Ugly American and such. You know, tactless, rude, arrogant, stupid, etc.
The problem is, I've never been abroad (I'm California born and raised), so I don't know what they're supposed to be like. Any of you guys who aren't from the US, PLEASE HELP ME!!! Describe the most annoying American you've ever met, or ever heard of, so I know what to base my characters on!!!
The teaser picks up at the very end of the chapter, so you're not really supposed to understand what's going on between Alex and Wolf. Oh, and you haven't met Dristan yet, but just so you aren't totally confused, he's another British tourist in the hiking group. Friendly guy. Good with kids.
So, to wrap it up, this is a plea for help creating four incredibly stereotypical Americans (two guys, two girls). Calling all non-Americans!!!
Oh, and enjoy the teaser:
Well, after Wolf brought that up, Alex had no problem picking up the pace, hoping to reach the next checkpoint before Snake cought on to the conversation and the two ganged up on him. Thankfully, he was successful, and the days hike ended in half an hour. Alex offered to help Dristan set up his tent, his pride only feeling a little bent after such a pathetic attempt to avoid the soldiers.
The checkpoint was beautiful. There was no other way to describe it. It was a wide, sunny clearing covered in bright green grass, on the edge of a twenty foot cliff that ended in a deep pool. There was a path along the cliff that, according to one of the guides, lead to the waterfall that fed the pool, and the perfect spot to dive from.
That sounded promising, especially considering the effect that the six hour long hike (along with the 72 humidity) had on one's body. Eagle came and found Alex after Dristan was all set up. Apparently obliviousl to any tension between Alex and Wolf, Eagle cheerfully invited the two to come and "jump off the big cliff" along with the rest of the group.
How much could Wolf interrogate Alex while falling forty feet, right?
By the time Eagle, Dristan, and Alex reached the diving point, a line had formed, made up of the other tourists. Luckily (note the sarcasm) the rest of K Unit was in the back of the line. Alex let Eagle and Dristan go ahead of him, in order to put as much space as possible between him and you-know-who (HP induced giggle). Michael and his friends noisily lined up behind Alex.
When it was Alex's turn, he stood at the edge for a few moments, waiting for Dristan to drift far enough away so as to avoid landing on top of him. Michael was bouncing up and down behind him, clearly impatient for his turn. Alex took a deep breath, looking over the jungle, and then leaned forward and jumped.
The water was freezing, which felt great.
And then suddenly Alex felt as if his head and shoulders had been split open and crushed simultaneously, and he was surrounded by water, although he wasn't sure which way was up... or out? His ears were ringing, and he realized with a panic that he couldn't breathe.
Michael had landed on him.
Stupid American.
And then Alex blacked out.
Once again, so sorry to do that to you.
Oh, and if it helps, the two guys are intended to butt heads with our guys more than once, and the girls are just supposed to make things messier (I'm thinking something along the lines of reasonable but totally unfounded claims made by someone against someone else that results in a few tense collisions between the groups). All help will be sooo appreciated I'll... I'll name someone after you! Yeah, if you help me, and give me a name (and who you want to bear it) I'll totally name someone after you! Villians! Victims! Possible future girlfiends! Possible future boyfriends (?)! Anyone!
Please and thankyou!