Meeting "The Gang"

Darla led the two boys (although in Kyle's case it was a very loose descriptor at the moment) out of the mansion. As they walked down the hill, towards one of the other mansions. Sam and Kyle hadn't noticed the others on the way up, but they were all similar looking in size, but many had distinct flairs. As they strolled down the hill, Darla made conversation.

"Your uncle is like, so cool!" Darla said.

"He seems that way. We've sorta only just met. Haven't seen him since we were kids." Sam replied. "So, do you know Sami and Amy?"

"Do I know Sami and Amy? That's a silly question! I'm practically their sister given how much we hang out. Still can't believe they ditched us for the summer to go on a cruise." Darla replied. "Don't worry, we promise not to say how much cooler they are... to your faces."

Darla laughed as Kyle fidgeted in his unfamiliar clothes. They came upon a large driveway, leading to another mansion.

"Come on, we're all meeting at Melissa's house today. Her dad just installed a new 4K TV in their gaming room." Darla said.

"Sounds cool." Sam said.

Darla walked up to the gate and punched in a code. The gate opened and she led the two into the compound, before heading to the door. Darla knocked on the door, which opened practically immediately. Behind the door was a redhead around Darla's age, presumably Melissa.

"These must be Sami and Amy's cousins..." Melissa looked them both up and down. "I thought you said it was two boys."

"I must've heard wrong. This is Sam and Kylie. Sam and Kylie, meet Melissa." Darla introduced.

"Nice to meet you." Sam said.

"Same." Kyle looked down at his feet.

"Come on inside." Melissa motioned.

The three entered the house and they walked down a long corridor. Like Uncle Mark's, the place was huge and gorgeous, though without the obvious tech flair of the Gladstone family. They turned into a short staircase that led into a movie theater-like room with two rows of chairs set up. Sam and Kyle both gaped as they entered, impressed.

"Woah." Sam remarked.

"Everyone, these are Sam and Kylie." Darla said, presenting the two to the rest of the room.

"The Gang" it turns out included Darla, Melissa, two guys named Liam and Eli and another girl named Robin. Despite Kyle's initial hesitance, it wasn't all that bad once pleasantries were out of the way. Apart from getting pulled into "girl talk" by Darla, Melissa and Robin, being Kylie wasn't all that bad, for the time being. Kyle kept trying to urge Sam to make up an excuse, but he was too distracted by the gaming console and between the three boys (that weren't dressed like girls), they had an intense tournament going.

"So Kylie. They're probably going to be a while." Darla said.

"Sorry if you wanted to play, but they always get like this." Melissa said. "We'll probably get a turn later. But in the meantime, I think we might hit the pool or just relax outside and tan a bit. Wanna come?"

"Uh..." Kyle started. "I don't have a suit with me."

"It's not that far back to your uncle's, we'll wait to go in if you need a few minutes to change." Darla said.

"But..." Kyle started again.

"Don't worry, it'll be fun." Melissa said.

"Let me just ask my brother something." Kyle excused himself and walked over to where Sam was sitting, furiously tapping buttons on a controller.

"Sam..." Kyle whispered.

"What?" Sam absentmindedly replied.

"They want me to go in the pool with them." Kyle said.

"Yeah, sure, go ahead." Sam replied.

"Sam..." Kyle urged, but Sam brushed him off and kept playing.

Kyle rolled his eyes and sighed.

"Let me run home and get a suit..." Kyle said.