(Sorry I am leaving this note, but I have to say a few things! First off, I posted this on Fanfiction.Net too, Also, it might get sad at some points, and may seem sad now, but don't worry! it is only the first chapter. Lastly, the spot for your name is a blank space like this: ______. There is also a spot for your best friend in the story. I did not give them a name so you can replace it with any real friends you may have. Enjoy : ) )
"Come along, Love."
It was a dream. You knew it was a dream because he was there.
"You don't want it to start raining again, do you?"
No. It was a memory.
He led you forward, your hand in his, as you hurried along laughing, racing the storm clouds behind the two of you. A fond memory turned sour from time.
Thunder crashed, and your head jerked up. Your eyes were met with a bright light coming from a plane window, which, after adjusting, became the tops of buildings and ant-like people that seemed to get bigger by the second. You felt your face with one hand, confirming that this was once again reality. Your eyes were wet, and you felt a little cold under the thin brown blanket given to passengers, which your other hand was clutching tightly.
You stretched your legs out and yawned as you leaned your head on the headrest. You close your eyes again, clinging on to the fragments of the dream. Perhaps it was bad to like them after so long. Perhaps it was bad that you even had them. you open your eyes and mutter to yourself. "Oh well... I suppose it can't be helped."
You were glad to have slept through most of the descent. Avoiding ear problems from the pressure was always a pleasant surprise. Another quick look out the window showed the grey rain clouds that were a trademark of your location. As the plane touched down on the runway, that location was confirmed by a polite woman on the radio overhead.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to London City Airport. Local time is 3:46 PM and the temperature is 14 degrees." The message was repeated in French directly after, which you tried to understand with your limited knowledge of the language.
You couldn't help but smile despite your nerves. As soon as the plane parked and emptied, you grabbed your luggage and eagerly ran off the plane. You picked up the rest of your luggage, and by the time you left the airport, a light rain had begun, and it smelled so familiar, so welcoming. your eyes shone as you gazed upon the city.
"It's good to be back."
Suddenly, you got a call on your phone. You moved under a tree as to not bother others and keep your phone out of the rain as you answered it.
"Hey, _!" The voice on the other end of the phone sounded too excited.
"Oh, hey, (friend's name)! I see your plane just landed!" you sighed. "Man, tracking sites. Isn't technology amazing?"
"Y-yeah! but... why did you need to track my plane? You KNEW I was coming today..."
"Well, actually..."
"...You DID know I was coming today, right?!" your voice got slightly more aggravated.
"Well, since this morning I did. Anyway, I needed to track your plane to catch you as soon as you got off! The thing is, your room isn't going to be... well, ready."
"What do you mean it won't be ready?! It's literally your building. You have the keys."
"Yes, well..."
"(friend's name)?"
"Yes, my dear sweet beautiful friend?"
"Where are you right now?"
You heard a loud ferry horn through the phone.
"(FRIEND'S NAME)!"
"I TOLD YOU, I FORGOT UNTIL THIS MORNING!"
"YOU LEFT THE FRIGGIN COUNTRY? I HAVEN'T BEEN HERE IN YEARS!" Your yelling was more from being nervous than from being angry. Your friend laughed it off, as she usually did in situations like this.
"I'm sorry, I really am! But you could probably kill a few hours in London until I can get you the keys and help you move in, right?"
You shook your head and glanced at your heavy luggage. It would be nice to put your things away and settle in. That and the rain was starting to pour harder... but you were also eager to rediscover London. With a smile, you answered, "No problem."
"Great! I'll get there as soon as I can. I'll call you later!"
She promptly hung up the phone and you were by yourself again, not that you minded it too much.
You looked around at the city streets. It had been years since you had been here, but you were still able to recognize all the buildings that made up the city, albeit with a little trouble. Even though it was mostly the same, it felt different. Almost as if you were looking at it through a different lens. You were a whole different person since the last time you were here. You had changed. You had grown.
and now you were soaking. the rain was starting to come down a little harder. What was a light sprinkle had become a gentle shower. "Damn..." you curse to yourself. "Why didn't I bring an umbrella? It's not like I don't know what the weather is like here..." You tried to put your coat over your head a little, offering minimum coverage from the rain. stepping through some puddles and gripping your luggage tightly, you decided to look for a place to spend your time.
Walking down the city streets again, you felt almost as if you were home. Not all the buildings were familiar, but there were a few. Oh! It's the old fish and chips place you used to go with him - no. Now was not the time to be thinking of him. Just enjoy London, you thought.
Except you couldn't help but think of him. He was such an integral part of your life in London, that he seemed to be attached to every familiar building you saw. You shook your head, trying to ignore the memories leaking into your thoughts.
You had been walking for about a half an hour, ducking under trees and awnings of shops, and the rain had gotten worse. It was now a full-out downpour. You checked your luggage, concerned. Everything inside was going to be soaked if you didn't find a shelter of some sort. You weren't much of a shopper, and most of the areas nearby were mostly for tourists. You scanned the area quickly through the blanket of rain constantly hitting you in the face. Then you found the perfect place. You squinted to read the sign.
"Crew's Quarters..." Your feeling of defeat washed away with the rain when you recognized one of your favourite pubs in all of London. "I didn't know it was so close to the airport!" It was an old pub that wasn't too popular, but one near and dear to your heart. You loved how old it was. It seemed so cozy and broken in. It didn't hurt that the name reminded you of pirates and the open sea, both of which you have loved since you were a child.
However, you hesitated for just a moment. There were very few places that he wasn't attached to. They were so strong here, that you could practically see the two of you in the window laughing over a pint.
You took a deep breath. You have changed, and you weren't going to let something like this stop you from going into one of your favourite pubs. Exhaling, you hoisted your luggage and crossed the street triumphantly. The rain seemed to give it's all in that moment, reminding you of a waterfall. You could barely see 3 feet in front of you. You tried to cover your head a little more with your coat, which was already soaked.
You saw a figure dashing from the right of the sidewalk, and it was hard to discern any real features due to the heavy rain. They seemed to be the only one still in the streets- most people had run for cover. While they were quite wet, they were in a much better condition than you thanks to their jet black umbrella and cap.
You normally wouldn't pay attention to a stranger on the street, but as he got closer, he swung the door of the pub open and called towards you.
"Hey, get inside! if you stay out any longer, you may catch a cold!"
you slowed your run down to a walk as you got to the door. You nodded in the stranger's direction while looking at the floor, muttering a thank you. His voice seemed familiar somehow, but you thought nothing of it.
"...hang on a tick..." he puzzled. You felt him grab your arm suddenly, and you tensed up and let out a confused shout. You looked up, a little frightened, wanting to know what stranger was breaching your personal space.
However, it wasn't a stranger at all.
His eyes darted around you, shocked. your expression mirrored his, and your mind went blank, then everywhere at once. Fear. Happiness. Nervousness. Confusion. So many emotions went through your heart that you didn't know how to react. This wasn't a memory. This wasn't a dream. You looked into his bright green eyes, and his brow furrowed. All you could think to say was his name.
"...Arthur? Is that you?"