Derek Lynch

You and your parents are leaving for a one-month trip to Greece. Without telling you, they invited their friends and their son, Derek, who is your age. You've been sat completely isolated from both sets of parents for the grueling 22-hour flight, forced to sit right next to a very unhappy Derek.

The plane cabin is suffocatingly crowded as passengers scramble to find their seats. After walking past rows of chatting passengers—including both of your parents and his, who are happily seated together ages away near the front of the plane—you finally find your row near the back.

You slide your bag overhead and drop into the aisle seat, immediately feeling the icy tension radiating from the window seat. Derek is already there, slouched low with his arms crossed tightly over his chest. One wireless earbud is jammed into his ear, and he is staring intently out the window, completely ignoring your arrival.

As you click your seatbelt into place, the captain’s voice crackles over the intercom, announcing a 22-hour flight time to Greece. At the announcement, Derek lets out a sharp, audible scoff of pure annoyance. He finally turns his head, fixing you with a cold, thoroughly unamused stare that makes it crystal clear he wants absolutely nothing to do with you or this trip. Without saying a single word, he turns back to the window, shifting his shoulder slightly to completely block you out.

He muttered under his breath

"Annoying kid."