~Chapter 1~
I walked down the busy streets of London on my way to work as the cool wind hit my face. It was quite a nice day out for London, but there is always a cool wind that the late September brings, giving us a sneak peek of the coming Autumn.
The sun hit my face and a small smile crept onto my lips.
This is the nicest day we've had in weeks, it's been pretty rainy lately but what can you expect from London?
I followed the large crowd into the metro station, or rather the tube, as they like to call it.
You see, I'm not from London. Or anywhere in the UK, as a matter of fact. I'm from New York. I moved here around 7 months ago because I needed a fresh start. And boy, did I get one. Though London is quite busy, it doesn't even compare to the jam packed streets of New York. It's quite a breath of fresh air.
I am quite surprised with where I am with life, but I'm content. If you told me that I would be living in London and working in a small cafe, a year ago. I probably would've laughed and told you that you had the wrong person because in a year I would be dancing in shows across the world, living my dream as a dancer.
Sadly, that never worked out for me. I tried so many times, for so many different shows but never got the chance. So much shit happened that it didn't feel like anything good could ever happen (which is still yet to be changed). I started to lose all hope, the days seemed to drag on and bleed into the next but pass so quickly at the same time. I just ended up spending most of my days in my tiny apartment that was the size of a shoe. Just thinking.
One day, I just thought to myself,
what am I doing with my life? I don't have any drive, ambitions, or dream anymore. I need to stop. I need to change my life before I fall too far into oblivion. It's a vicious cycle, I need to leave and start new. I'm leaving and starting fresh. Somewhere new, exciting, and somewhere I've never been.
Shortly after that epiphany, I realised that I don't speak any other languages so that ruled out any cool foreign countries and I couldn't move within my own country because I needed somewhere new. So, I decided on the UK. It's a cool place, it's new, it's foreign and better yet, they speak english. Of course there was always Australia but I thought that I would have more opportunities in England as well as I prefer a more temperate place. I don't really like too much heat. Plus, have you seen those spiders?! Eugh, I hate spiders. The way their long, hairy le--
My thoughts got pushed to the side as the tube came to an abrupt stop at my station. I quickly got out and walked up the stairs to join the outside world. I almost forgot how sunny it was before the blinding rays hit my eyes. I quickly slipped on my sunglasses to protect my eyes from the bright light.
I prefer wearing sunglasses anyway because they stop the world from noticing my eyes, they stop the world from noticing me. I hate my eyes. Everyone always comments on them the second they see me, or they stop and stare. I can't stand it when the first thing I hear somebody say when meeting me, is a comment about my eyes. They always question me too. "How come one eye is brown and the other is blue?" and I always have the same answer. "I have heterochromia iridium, I was born this way." I guess that's also why my parents named me Iris, cheesy I know.
I was always pushed around for being different. People just didn't like me, but I never let it get to me. I would generally just resort to dance to escape for awhile. That's always, kind of, been why I danced. To escape for awhile and to let out my emotions.
Actually, thinking about it, my eyes found me my best friend.
~Flashback~
seven months ago:
I sat on the couch bored out of my mind.
It's only been a month that I've been here and I've already found close to a million things wrong with this 'flat'. Ugh, I can't believe I already have to look for somewhere new to move. I need to get out of this flat and get some fresh air, clear my head.
I got off the couch and made my way towards the door. I quickly slipped on some boots and exited my flat. I walked down the hallways until I met the elevator and the stairs door. I looked back and forth between the two.
It's like picking my poison. I either walk down 15 flights of stairs or go into the elevator and have the possibility of it breaking down and getting me stuck in there for, possibly, a few hours.
I decided against the elevator and quickly opened the door to the stairs and started to walk down.
Ugh, damn you, old building.
By the time I'm down the stairs, I'm pretty tired.
Damn. I really need to get in shape. Stupid elevator, stupid stairs, stupid building, stupid un-fit-ness...... yeah, let's pretend that's a word. Stupid -- OOOF!
I was too busy thinking that I didn't realise that I walked outside and straight into some lady and her dog.
Ow. Now my butt hurts from the fall.
"Are you okay?" the lady asked. I looked up at her.
Wow. She was beautiful. She had medium brown hair, long legs, slender figure, brown eyes and she looked like she was nice and not like the usual pretty, stuck up girl. I suddenly felt self conscious, I didn't even compare.
"Um, yeah, are you okay? Sorry about running into you, I wasn't really paying attention, Oh my gosh! Your little puppy! Is he, or she, alright? I can't believe I did that, I'm so sorry, if your dog is hurt then I can pay for it's medical bills or--"
"He's fine!" she chuckled "It's not a big deal, really. Now, do you need help up?"
She reached her hand out for me to grab.
"Thanks" I said as she helped me up.
"What's your name? If you don't mind me asking?"
"It's no problem, the name's Westbrook, Iris Westbrook." I said in my best impersonation of THE James Bond. It didn't really work...
She just laughed "If this little guy was a girl I probably would've named him Iris because of the obvious, you know, heterochromia-thingy mabobber"
I looked down at her little husky pup.
He did, in fact, have heterochromia iridium. I bent down and pet him. He started to wag his tail and lick my hand. I couldn't help but let out an involuntary "Aweh".
" I'm Eleanor, by the way. Eleanor Calder."
I stood back up to shake her hand."Nice to meet you, Eleanor. Do you want to go get a coffee or something?"
"Might as well. I'm not doing anything other than walking this little guy so why not?"
"Yeah, I mean if you don't go for coffee with complete strangers right after bumping into them on the street, what do you do with your life?" I questioned sarcastically.
She just laughed. We continued to talk about life and get to know each other all the way to a "swanky" coffee house.
~Flashback Over~
It's amazing how one, incredibly long, conversation changed my life. It led me to a cool coffee house, which I now work at, and an incredibly cool best friend who, also happens to be, my roomate.
Yeah, later on, after a few weeks, she found out about me looking for a new place to live and she told me that she had an extra room in her flat that she called an office but barely used. So, we ended up moving in together and I have no complaints. We both continue on with our own lives, her with UNI, me with work, but we always have time for, what we call, 'bestie talks', along with the usual times we see each other and talk daily seeing as we live together.
It's been really great and I'm really happy with where I am but there's always a tiny thought in the back of my head that is longing for dance but I always just try to shove that thought further into the back of my mind and sometimes it works and I can get through the day without really thinking of it but then there are days, like today, where no matter how hard I try to shove it back, it always resurfaces.
*Ding Ding*
The little bell above the coffee shop door rang when I walked in. I looked at the clock on the right, partially bricked, wall.
YES! Just made it in time.
I quickly ran into the back to grab the coffee shop's classic black apron. I slipped it on overtop of my black high waisted shorts, graphic tee and combat boots.
Now I'm good to go.
I went out front and started taking orders, bringing out coffees, food and clearing tables.
Only 6, or so, hours to go....and counting.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A/N
Hey!!!!! Okay, so that's the first chapter....YAY!!! I know, it's probably not that good and needs improvement but DONT WORRY It's just the first chapter I'm hoping to improve along the way, with your help of course ;)
Soooooooooooooo..... whatchya think of the name Iris? It kind of fits because of the eye thing, you know?
Anywhoozle, tell me what you, yes YOU, think. BTW Iris is kind of... idk tomboy-ish? but she is also capable of dressing up. She's going to be kind of bubbly too idk just a mixture. Speaking of mixture! She's also going to be looking like a mixture of Kimmi Smiles (if you don't know who she is CHECK HER OUT), like the messy-ish type hair and lack of makeup (only a little eyeliner), but also a little bit of..... I haven't decided yet. Tell me what you think?
Also, I haven't really edited this chapter properly so if there are any mistakes please excuse them but feel free to tell me about them in the comments. And hey! If any of you are interested, I'm in need of a cover for my story! It would be as amazing as dancing unicorns if you could do that!
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for checking out my story, I hope it's okay!
VOTE AND COMMENT!!! please and thank you ;)
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