Page 16 of Midnight in Paris

‘Me too,’ she said. ‘Loads.’ For once, her friend didn’t make a joke. ‘Do you want me to talk to him for you instead?’ Libby said then, looking at the envelope in Sophie’s hand. ‘Or you could call him? Send a text?’

‘Come on, nobody dumps anyone by text, Libby?’

‘True.’

‘And, yes, the letter’s a bit… lame. But I wanted to explain it properly and I know if I talk to him…’

‘You’ll end up in bed?’

‘Something like that.’

She’d written the note the night before – it had taken ages even though the final letter was only three paragraphs long. Thanking him for the time together, for the trip. Asking whether they could still be friends. Breaking up with Tom Gardner, while things were still OK between them.

‘And it’s not, you know… eighteen pages – front and back?’ Libby grinned, referring to theFriendsepisodes they’d been bingeing over the last month.

Sophie laughed. ‘No. He’ll get through this one without falling asleep, I think.’

‘Well, I still think you’re borderline insane. But if that’s what you want, I’ll help.’

‘Thank you.’

It wasn’t that the trip hadn’t been wonderful – it had. Almost too wonderful. She’d adored Paris, loved everything about it, in fact. It was just that… the more she’d fallen in love with the city, the more she’d realised how different she and Tom were. He wanted to go to restaurants and for the odd walk but otherwise, spend all day in bed together. She – although she’d enjoyed herself – couldn’t waste the opportunity like that. She wanted to look at the art; wanted to admire the buildings. Wanted to soak it all in.

‘Are you sure that it’s not just that he’d been there before, so he’d seen it all?’ Libby said, voicing one of Sophie’s own fears. ‘Most people would be bored going round the same gallery for the twentieth time. Maybe you didn’t give him a proper chance?’

Sophie turned the envelope over in her hands, studying it. ‘The thing is, it’s not just Paris. It’s not just that we’re different. Obviously, I knew we were different when he asked me out. Thatcan be nice sometimes, can’t it? It just seems silly to try to keep something going when everything is going to change.’

Libby nodded. ‘I suppose.’

‘Can you actually imagine Tom waiting for me? Having a long-distance relationship with me? With anyone?’

Libby laughed. ‘OK, I admit he’s not the type. But there’s a first time for everything. And you know, people find ways. Can’t one of you change your plans or something?’

‘Well, he’s off to London for that internship – and for the record, I’ve noideahow he managed to land that.’

‘Knowing people in the right places?’ Libby suggested.

‘More than likely. Anyway. Good for him. But,’ she shrugged. ‘I’ve got my teacher-training course. It’s a good one and it’s near Mum and Dad. I can’t afford to live out again ’til I get a job.’

‘Even with that massive bursary you’re getting?’

‘It’s a few grand, Libby.’

Libby nodded. ‘True.’

‘Anyway,’ Sophie said decisively. ‘There’s no future in it.’

‘Teaching?’

‘Tom and me,’ she said firmly.

‘You’re probably right.’ Libby pursed her lips together.

They were silent for a moment, then Sophie said: ‘Do you think he’ll be all right?’

‘Tom? Yeah, pretty sure he’ll find a way to move on.’

‘Don’t soundquiteso confident about it.’

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