Spring in Australia is tourist season, and for good reason.
The Territory has hit the dry season, making the heat tolerable for the non-locals, and the humidity practically disappears. Leaving you free to see ancient wonders.
Whereas down south, the ski slopes in the Snowy Mountains are still open, and the powder is soft and fluffy.
The water is beginning to warm up, so you can travel the enormous coastline to any of the beaches.
Any clime that you want, is right there at your fingertips.
One of the more popular tourist destinations didn't see all of those, but it did span the entire nation. A ninety year old traintrack that ran from Adelaide in South Australia, all the way to Darwin, cutting right through the heart of the country and covering nearly three thousand kilometres.
Three days of good food, comfortable cabins, and sights found in few other places around the world.
It wasn't the kind of trip that Lee would usually be taking, too expensive for his conscience. He never could self-indulge.
He'd only take a holiday like this one if it was for a girl, and a train trip isn't exactly the most private of places. It was a showstopper for any girl with a decent set of pipes, like most of his exes.
Wasn't that Lee looked for loud girls, he just usually found them.
However, he still found himself in the green city. Standing and looking at the River Torrens, the Karrawirraparri. It was slow, tranquil, and beautiful, just as much as it stank.
It smelled more like a lake, than a river, which wasn't exactly what Lee had been expecting.
The sun was still rising, the expansive sky turned a deep crimson from the combination of just another sunrise, and the sand sitting just outside the city limits.
He yawned and stretched, thankful for the morning cool wind. Knowing that the city was going to be heating up, and where he was going to head was going to get even hotter.
"Lee!" He heard an excited yell, but before he could turn someone hit him from the side, crash-tackling him to the ground in a fierce cuddle.
He glared at the redhead, "Ow."
She sat up and shrugged, before grinning at him and grabbing another momentary hug. She bounced to her feet with way too much enthusiasm, and then she gagged. "Wow. Someone let the river go."
"Rotting seaweed." He agreed, rubbing one of his shoulders, "How have you been, Izzy?"
She yawned again, "Coffee-less. Wanna grab some? Probably somewhere nearby we can sit for a bit."
It had been a little over six weeks since he'd seen her.
Six weeks since he'd woken up one morning to his sister doing something for him that had felt amazing, and completely changed his perspective on her.
Lee wasn't exactly comfortable, even now.
Isabella was every man's wet dream. A bright redhead, with a casual attitude to life and sex, and an open mind ready to try anything for the first time.
Walking towards her, trying to catch up, Lee could see a small sway to her hips. Her firm ass, highlighted by denim short-shorts that were barely long enough to cover her panties.
"It's still tight."
Lee raised an eyebrow as Izzy grinned back at him, slowing down to let him catch up. "What, now?"
"My ass. It's still tight. One of my best assets, if I do say so, myself." Izzy smirked.
He winced, "Please tell me you're not going to do this for the entire trip."
"Huh?"
Lee glared at her, "Yeah, right. Like you don't know. It was my first thought when you asked me to come, and the reason I said, no."
"Sorry." Izzy said painfully and scratched an anxious hand through her hair, "I wasn't trying to tease you. Well, not entirely. Mostly just trying to see if my outfit looks as good as it makes me feel."
He sighed, and gave her a once over.
Somehow, despite it only being spring, Izzy's legs were beginning to tan. She had always been like that. A light brown in the sun months, and a pale white in the winter.
She was wearing thongs on her feet, the flipflops showing off just how much of a local she was. As if she were trying to compensate for her far more nerdy worklife.
Further up, her silver stud, with a blue gemstone, stuck just into the edge of her bellybutton. The little jewellery on display from her exposed midriff.
Her cutoff top was loose-fitting, black, and had some see-through lace around the shoulders. Over which her red hair cascaded, falling down below her shoulder blades.
Her fringe was a little differently cropped than when he'd last seen her, curling towards her face, and helping to highlight her baby blue eyes.
"Iz. You're stunning. Like always."
She grinned happily, "Good. So... This place looks nice."
They stopped in at the coffee shop. The architecture was from the older city, all stonework and overhanging wooden balconies. Like stepping back into the 1800s.
Izzy ordered a cappuccino, and Lee got himself a black coffee, and the two of them decided to take their drinks outside.
"You planning on trying to get a date, on this trip?" Lee asked her, turning the conversation back to her outfit, "Be kinda awkward, seeing as we're sharing a sleeper cabin."
She shrugged, "Probably not. Never hurts to be prepared. But... Nah. I've just been a bit... Down. Not feeling pretty. Happens."
"Really? You've never seemed that concerned about the way you look. You're the girl who prefers toys to the real thing." Lee was surprised.
Izzy rolled her eyes, "No. No, I do not. I really fucking like the real thing. It's just... Not worth the effort involved to get it. And one night stands are just an STD waiting to happen, so... Batteries and silicone."
"Dancing around the topic. As usual." Lee commented, before sipping at his coffee and leaning back in his seat. Saying nothing, the most effective way to make someone talk.
Izzy didn't seem to mind the silence.
She sat in her chair, with a quiet sort of smile on her face as the wind gently blew into her face, the breeze playing with her hair.
This trip was looking like it was going to be a long one.
Lee really had turned her down, the first time Izzy had called him. Apparently she'd booked it six months ago to go with one of her friends, who had to bail at the last minute.
Something to do with an unexpected pregnancy, and having to meet the family of a guy she hadn't actually wanted to get to know that well.
With a spare ticket, Izzy didn't want to waste it, but everyone she knew either had plans... Or she didn't trust enough to share a sleeper cabin with, without reading into it.
Lee had finally agreed.
Mostly because he'd been wanting to take this particular trip for years, and partly because he was hoping that he and Izzy might be able to find a normal relationship, again.
"I noticed your new jewellery last time." Lee gave up and broke the silence, "How long have you had a piercing for, Izzy?"
