"Don't tell me you're one of those girls,"
Three days after properly meeting, Elspeth repeated herself, simultaneously groaning and fiercely yanking away Lorraine's ipod. The blond, with her ear buds still in place, launched herself after it and winced as she felt her ears sting.
"One of what girls?" Cringing, Lorraine paused her song, some sort of catchy tune.
"You're a closet directioner."
"If you're insulting me, I don't understand," puzzled, Lorraine studied her roommate. Elspeth just rolled her eyes and tapped Lorraine's forehead making the blond cringe away.
"One Direction. The song you're teeny-boping to -"
"But, I swear, I only stole my sisters songs before I left."
"Mhm, sure," Elspeth didn't look convinced, tugging on Lorraine's arm and leading her toward the cafe ahead. "You can explain while you buy me lunch."
"Why am I buying?" Narrowing her eyes, Lorraine pouted but nodded in thanks as Elspeth held open the door for her. "You're the one insulting me."
"Because you're listening to One Direction, and I swear I'll hide every pair of pants you own if you start screaming their lyrics."
"Why would I scream the lyrics? I'm not 'directing' anything."
Elspeth walked through the clanging door of their lunch stop, closing her eyes as if in pain at Lorraine's words. She moved her bag on her shoulder, "Please, just stop talking. Sometimes you really just make things too painful - hi! We'd like a table for two please."
Lorraine had barely shared a smile with the seating hostess before Elspeth had looped her left arm through her right and began talking ardently. It hadn't taken long for Lorraine to know that Elspeth, or Seth as she sometimes preferred to be called, was an acquired kind of friend. You grew to love her and look past her blunt personality. Half the time Lorraine felt like she was being accused for things she didn't know she was doing, but when Elspeth gave you her signature crooked grin or winked at you with an extra animated flair, you knew she was just teasing.
As much as she loved her new friend, Lorraine wouldn't be at all shy to tell you Seth was very good at confusing people, including herself.
"Are you looking forward to the trip?" Elspeth stared up at Lorraine confused why she wasn't already sitting down in the booth across from her, leaving the latter to blush and fumble. "The one in London?"
Lorraine nodded, "Oh definitely, I just hope I get chosen to go."
"I'm sure you will, no sweat," smiling at her over her own menu, Elspeth stuck her tongue out from her lips and continued reading.
Lorraine rolled her eyes and hid her smile behind her own menu. While debating the difference between flapjacks or a nice plate of eggs, she secretly hoped she would be in the top six students out of the fifteen in their summer program to go.
Time seemed to be flying in Bradford and Lorraine found it near impossible not to smile when waking up to the gloomy skies of the United Kingdom. After the initial jet lag, each of the high school seniors staying as part of the engineering program were thrust into a strict daily routine, but even that felt like less of a chore than it was supposed to be. She was enjoying her summer more than she ever would have at home in sunny California. After three weeks she would without a doubt take these dark skies over the false cheery ones at home.
However, no matter how much fun she had in Bradford, everyday receiving ridiculous tips from Elspeth, she still found herself the exact same 'goody-two-shoes'. She had resorted back to wearing her smart skirts and pressed blouses, completed with a pair of short heals and had even gotten used to the odd stares she and Elspeth got whenever they went out together. Besides her appearance, Lorraine couldn't not scoff at the professors, who were supposed to be around at all times, yet barely ever visited. When she'd first voiced her opinion one day to Elspeth, the dark haired Canadian had only responded with a swift smack to her head. Lorraine didn't ask anymore after that, assuming that translated into a simple 'don't jinx our freedom'. Although, when the professors finally did come around, they seemed to give Wentworth enough time notice for everyone to pull their own weight in rushing toward the foyer and look put together.
YOU ARE READING
Resistance and Resilience
Fanfiction"It physically hurts me how you're so boring." Lorraine Booth was never an outgoing person, but all it takes is being crowned the 'goody-two-shoes' of her senior yearbook for her to take a drastic summer change. But she's resigned to needing help, a...
