Strings Attatched || Stuart Twombly

2.

I smiled at the man whom stopped me at the stairs, he took my luggage in hand apart from my rucksack and shoulder bag and checked the tag attached to the top handle.

"West-Avenue room thirty-two," He recited. "I'll drop them off at your room, I'm Adam, Google support."

"Thankyou," I nodded as he left, I walked off up the stairs, knowing exactly where Lyle's office was after visiting him around six months ago. I figured I'd surprise him, since he's never a big fan of said things.

Lyle Spaulding.

The placard on the side of the glass door gave me security that I was in the right place in this kindergarten maze of rainbow colours. I pushed open the door, seeing my brother instantly facing away from me across the large room.

There were five adults sat around as he stood front and centre, completely oblivious to my arrival. The second day of internship, teams. This was Lyle's team.

I began creeping up behind him, all of the mysterious people frowning as I did so but not saying anything.

"Alright, let's get some meet and greet going on up in this heezy." He spoke in slang as usual and I cringed, he had so many insecurities still.

"I'm Lyle and it's pretty much WYSIWYG - what you see, is what you get. . been here at the Goog for four years, working on seven projies - en este momento." My older sibling clapped his hands together, his usual talk going straight past all of his interns.

I took it as my time to surprise him soon after. "Seven projects? That's a hell of a lot of work." I smirked as Lyle instantly turned around at the sound of my voice in recognition.

"Holy shit," He gulped eyes wide as though he'd seen a ghost as he caught my green eyes. "Lyle. . Lyle can't believe it, how is she here?"

"Yeah, I got a question." A guy sat at the back of the room sat up, looking at Lyle as he draped his arm around me. "Is Lyle always going to be referring to himself in third person? Because if he is, I might want to punch Lyle in the face."

"Dually noted." I nodded slapping my brother on the arm and he looked down sheepishly. "So, this is my brothers team? Two old guys, who worked as salesmen. A homeschooled boy who looks to be terrified of his own shadow, a girl who likes to foreplay as Star Wars characters in her spare time. Then there's the cocky guy, with smart ass comments yet he actually is so shy he uses the facade to get noticed and not overshadowed?"

Lyle nodded, they however, looked slightly appalled and offended at my analogies.

"And what the hell is that supposed to mean?" The girl in the sun yellow dress with beautiful dark hair snapped.

"Like you know shit about computer technology." The cocky smart ass decided to poke fun at me but I smiled, these were the people, the right people. "Why don't you walk yourself about four paces behind you and jump from the window? Maybe it'd do us all a favour, you judgemental bit--"

"Relax, god you're even quicker off the mark than I anticipated." I held my hands out in defence of my observations as I began to explain. "I was merely complementing my brothers great kick ass team. The miss match interns are the ones most likely to succeed, due to their range in personalities their knowledge spans further. It was merely a compliment hot-shot."

"Well little lady, maybe you should keep your extremely rude compliments to yourself?" The blonde older man with scraggy hair rose his eyebrows at me but I just smiled.

"Now, now Nick. . that's the first compliment we've received here in two days, I mean it's a hell of a lot better to be called old salesmen than trees. ." The other, larger man patted his friend on the shoulder and I took it as my opportunity to introduce myself.

"Asher. Asher Spaulding." I held my hand out to the nearest intern, the guy looking as though he'd pass a kidney stone if you said boo.

"Yo-Yo Santos." He nodded. I held my hand out to the cocky guy.

"Stuart." I frowned at his plainness, we'd have a lot of thick rock to carve through, but I moved on nevertheless.

"I'm Nick, pleasure to meet you miss. Oh and this is my pal Billy." The blonde man patted his taller friend on the shoulder harshly as both stuck out their hands with a curt nod. "Billy McMahon, aka the best salesmen and Google intern in this joint."

I smirked, the chance he had of that was most likely zero, but I liked their sense of humour. They seemed like they were both going to be a riot over the summer. Maybe working at the cafe won't be so bad? If I can hang out with Lyle and his mismatches.

"Neha Patel." The dark haired girl gave a small smile as she sat on a desk, I shook her hand with a grin. "Let's make a mental note. . I'll need you here, this summer, if I'm the only girl in this team. Because, no offence guys, but I like my sanity."

"We'll kick their asses into shape." I grinned and she mirrored my look as I stood beside Lyle again. I didn't want to oppose their team, so I planned to settle into my apartment for the afternoon, maybe catch a coffee later off campus but work doesn't start till tomorrow.

"I only swung by to surprise you Lyle," I picked up my shoulder bag from the table. "I really need to unpack, working at a cafe sure has its rules and I need to skim over them. So I'll be in my room, text you it later if you want to stop by when you're not busy. Oh, I almost forgot! Mum and dad say hey too, wish you the best. See you later."