Page 93 of Meet Me at the Metro

I’m dreading this dinner with my stepmum and stepbrother, but maybe having her there with me will make it a little more tolerable.

Suddenly, her bed doesn’t feel so small anymore…

Because being able to have Nora this close feels so fucking right.

26

JUST A FRIEND

E L L I E

Iwatch the trees sway outside beyond the classroom window, noting the burgundy and orange shades of the leaves as they fall from the branches and get swept away by the breeze. It’s funny how quickly the weather changes between summer and fall here. So fast, within a week, I’ve found myself trading out my short, airy dresses for pairs of long, blue jeans and wooly sweaters. Summer in England gives the beauty of blue skies and warm rain showers, while fall time gives the beauty of moody, overcast skies and frequent cool mists.

In a city as wonderful as London, I’ve found myself equally appreciating both of its sides.

Connor nudges me with an elbow and returns my attention to Professor Henderson’s lecture ahead. I peer at the clock behind our teacher as he drones on aboutJulius Caesar,so thankful to discover there are only two minutes left of this class.

When we all finally begin packing up for the evening, Henderson informs, “I’ve reviewed each of your analytical essays for‘The Tempest.’I’ll enter your grades on the campus portal tonight and send out an email when they’re up for you all to review. Have a nice fall break. You all are dismissed for the night.”

Connor and I make it out of the classroom within seconds. He sighs as we walk down the long campus corridor. “Bloody hell, I need a drink.”

I roll my eyes and laugh. “I’m sure you did great. You’ve never made lower than a 92 on your assignments.”

“Yeah, but what if this time is different, and I’ve completely screwed myself beyond unscrewing?”

“Shut up!You know you did amazing, and you know what…youdoneed a drink! I vote we skip our piano lesson tonight and go get one.”

“I’m sure you’d love that,Miss Butterfingers.”

That’s Connor’s new nickname for me now that we restarted our piano lessons. We’ve been back at them for a few weeks now, but my fingers are still unwilling to stay on top of the keys when running through a scale, and he’s found a lot of enjoyment in giving me shit about it.

“Pleassse.” I give him a pitiful puppy dog face as we push out of the doors leading to the courtyard. “It’ll be fun! And I can finally introduce you to Evie! I planned on meeting her tonight at this bar by our apartment, so it’s perfect. She loves making new friends!”

“Evie, theexotic roommate?The one you said is always screaming profanities at you?”

I can’t help but laugh. “She’s nice, Connor, I swear. She’s extra as hell, but she’s the friendliest person you’ll ever meet.”

“I don’t know, Ellie. Mum’s been pulling late nights at work lately and asking me to stop and get her some takeout on the way home tonight.”

“Doordashher something,” I shrug. “Please, please, please!Come. It’ll be so much fun. When was the last time you let loose, huh?”

“I let loose.”

“Typing out your essays in the bubble bath isn’t letting loose, Connor.”

“Piss off!” he exclaims, nudging me so hard my feet stumble against the streetlamp-lit sidewalk.

“Please, Conn! Let’s have some fun! It’s the weekend for crying out loud!”

He smirks. “I don’t know… Now that you’ve mentioned it, a bubble bath does sound nice.”

“If you don’t stop! You are coming out with me and Evie tonight, dammit. I’m not taking no for an answer.”

He chuckles. “You know, you’re a lot more assertive than I assumed you’d be when I first met you.”

“Well, then stop judging a book by its cover,” I quip. “You come, and your first drink will be on me.”

“Free alcohol,hmm? That is quite convincing.”

---