"Will you, do it?", Laura asks me while we eat breakfast the next morning.
"Do what?", I ask, while eating my oats.
"Call Leah.", she clarifies, and I almost choke on my meal. I totally forgot about this. I mean, I shoved it to the side.
I shake my head. "I don't know."
"You definitely should", she says and continues to eat her breakfast.
I'm not sure if I should. I obviously want to, but the whole situation feels a bit strange to me. Why did she write her number under the autograph? The only way to find out is to call her.
"Why not.", I finally decide and get a smile from Laura.
It is about 2 o'clock when I'm alone in our hotel room. Laura went out for a walk, she said she needed some fresh air, but I know, that she just wanted to make sure, that I call Leah.I'm sitting on my bed, my phone in one hand and the notepad in the other. I dial the number shaking.
"Here we go", I whisper to myself and take a deep breath. Then I hit 'Call'
Ring....Ring
"Williamson", it says.
"Hey, am I speaking with the thief of my edding?", I say and giggle nervously.
"I wouldn't say thief.", she laughs. God her laugh sounds amazing.
"More like I borrowed it", Leah adds."
Oh, I'm sorry. Am I speaking with the one who borrowed my edding?", I ask now. When did I become so courageous? I'm usually nothing like this, but something about her just makes it so easy.
"You are.", she sounds even bolder than I did. "And I would really like to give it back to you. We just have one problem.", she says.
"What?", I simply ask.
"I don't know the name, of who I borrowed it from."
I laugh now. "We can work on that.", I answer. "Rumor has it, that it's Marie.", I reveal.
"What a beautiful name.", she compliments. I feel that I'm starting to blush. What on earth does she do to me?
"Thank you. So, how does Marie get her edding back?", I ask.
"Maybe I could invite her to a coffee tomorrow? To make up for the inconvenience.", is she really asking me out right now? I shake my head. No, she is probably just being nice.
"Sounds great. Where and when?", I ask straight forward.
"3 pm? I send you the address. I have your number now at least.", she sounds so confident it's crazy.
"Sounds good. See you then.", I am amazed on how confident I am as well.
"Bye", she says before hanging up.
Am I dreaming? Do I have a fever? Laura definitely needs to pinch me. I will have coffee with Leah Williamson tomorrow.
Laura comes back to our room shortly after. I'm sitting on the bed, playing with my phone when the door opens. I look up but quickly look back on my phone. Even without looking, I can feel how her asking look burns through me.
"How was your walk? Did you get enough fresh air?" I start to tease her, still without looking in her direction.
"Oh, come on.," she sinks next to me on the bed. "You know, I didn't go because of that."
"You think I called her?" I look up now while trying to remain a poker face.
"Well, did you?" she tilts her head to the left.
"You really think I called Leah Williamson?" I ask.
She looks down. "You didn't, right?" she seems sad, so I decide to come out with the truth.
"Actually, I didn't chicken out this time.," I laugh, and Laura looks back up."I called her about 15 minutes ago. I asked her if she was the one who stole my edding. She actually thinks she borrowed it.", I laugh.
"And? Will you see her again?" Laura says as my phone beeps.
I look at it and see a WhatsApp. I open it and it shows an address and a message underneath 'Looking forward to see you there tomorrow :)'
"Tomorrow, 3 pm, she invited me for a coffee.", I say casually. Why am I even that relaxed?Laura starts grinning and just as she opens her mouth, I shut her. "Don't say anything please."
The next day arrives, and Laura and I stand in front of a tiny café near Tower Bridge. It looks very pretty from the outside.
"I will go now.," Laura will take a walk through a nearby park in the meantime. "Have fun on your date.," she makes fun of me.
I just roll my eyes. "It is not a date."
"Tell that someone else.," she hugs me shortly and then she's gone. I take a deep breath and feel my hands shaking and sweating. Oh God, don't fangirl Marie, it's just a coffee. Nothing more. Just act normal. Get yourself together for fucks sake.
I open the door to the café. It's cosy, the majority of the furniture is in a wooden, but somehow modern style and a lot of plants decorate the place. It's small but pretty. I look around and don't take long to recognise Leah, who already looks my way and smiles. She is dressed simple. A beige jumper on top of black skinny trousers. She wears a necklace and rings. Good, at least I'm not underdressed in my ruby-coloured hoodie and my jeans.
I walk over to her and sit down in front of her.
"Hi.," she smiles.
"Hi.," I reply and can't help but smile. She seems to have a magical influence on how I act.
I don't really know what to say to her, so I am really glad when a waitress is coming to our table. Leah orders a black coffee and I take a cappuccino. Our drinks come shortly after.
"So, you found your edding thief.," she says sipping on her coffee.
"I thought you weren't a thief?" I tilt my head to the side and smile softly.
"I might be guilty in this case.," she laughs lightly. "But it was for a good cause."
"Really?" I'm really curious what she means.
"Yeah, I wanted to see you again."
"Why?" I can't imagine why she would want to see exactly me again. I mean, I'm nothing special.
"You draw my attention.," she puts down her cup of coffee.
"I thought you were sympathetic."
"Me? Really?" I ask. "I'm nothing special.," I clarify.
"Let me judge this. So, I guess, since you wore an arsenal shirt, you- ", I cut her off. "I actually wore your shirt.," I confess looking down on the table.
"Confirms my theses. You know me.," I look back up and see her smiling.
"Yeah, I do. But I don't want you to think that I just called you because I know you. I somehow just- ", I sigh. "I wanted to see you again to.," I confess.
"Makes two of us.," she takes another sip. "Don't worry. I gave you my number so we're good.," she reassures me. "So, tell me about yourself."
"Nothing much to say. I'm 24, I come from Germany.", I begin.
"So, you don't live in London?" she asks, and I feel like she is really interested in me.
"Not even in England, sadly. My best friend and I are on holiday here."
"How long will you stay?" she questions.
"About one more week and a half.," I answer.
"Would you want to go to a party the day after tomorrow?", is she really asking me this? "Your friend can come to, of course, it's at Kim's house."
"You're asking me to come to a party with the arsenal team?" I ask in disbelief.
She nods. "And a few others, yes.," she laughs. "Only if you want to, of course.," Leah adds.
"I'll be there.," I instantly say.
She smiles again. "Great. Now tell me more about Marie, 24, from Germany.", she smiles at me again and we continue our conversation for about 2 more hours and about five more drinks.