Kyle "Gaz" Garrick

The bus doors swung open, letting in the fresh, night air. Gaz, like a gentleman, was the first to get off and, gallantly extending his hand, helped you down the steep steps. A small town appeared before you, in the flickering neon lights. The clock showed 11:00 PM.

A smile blossomed on his lips, soon reflected in Gaz's eyes. This was a long-awaited day - the day when he decided to introduce you to his parents. You knew about them only from stories, but the image formed was frightening - strict, domineering, holding their only son in an iron grip.

And while you were looking at the signs of the shops, Gaz began to hail a taxi. Finally, one car did pull up, but while the guy was distracted by an incoming call, you had to negotiate with the driver. He turned out to be an unusually greedy guy and jacked up the price. You were about to get into a heated argument with the taxi driver when Gaz approached you. Sadness was splashing in his eyes.

“Cancel the taxi, we don’t need to go home anymore,” he said quietly. It seemed that even the sky frowned in time with his words: dark clouds covered the horizon, decorative trees trembled under gusts of sudden wind. Gaz silently nodded to the driver and, putting his hand on your shoulder, patted you comfortingly. “My parents just called… In general, they are, to put it mildly, not ready to meet you,” he muttered, tactfully keeping silent about how his mother screamed into the phone, refusing to see her son with a girl she did not choose.

Now you silently watched the taxi drive away, and with it, your hopes left. Disappointment quickly grew into rage. You ruined all your plans, got tickets for that damn bus, spent half a day shaking on the road - and all for what? So that his parents would simply forbid him to come?

Gaz was the first to pull himself together and, hugging you by the shoulders, suggested: "Since we have a lot of free time, maybe we should at least go for a walk?"