A Surprise ⇢ Callum Ilott

TWELVE

The metro rushed over the rails through the tubes under London. The passing metro made some people flinch, others didn't react on it. The cold platforms were filled were people; people were going to their job, others to school, and some people were heading to their next destination: London's sights.

A yawn escaped Catherine's mouth, and she put her hands in the pockets of her long, brown coat. She stared at the billboard on the wall.

"You're tired, aren't you?" Callum smirked.

"No, no," Catherine said and looked at him. "Just trouble with waking up properly," she weakly smiled.

"Had a busy week already?"

She nodded. "Yeah, it is."

Catherine and Callum had been travelling for over an hour now, but Catherine was still tired and not fully woken up. It was nine o'clock in the morning, they had two stops left before arriving at Westminster; their destination. The tube arrived, and they made their way in, well, they squeezed themselves in the full metro.

It had been a long time since they both witnessed this many people. Catherine looked around; it seemed like she was about to get separated from Callum by the people who were still trying to push themselves in the metro. Panic flushed through Catherine's body, and she grabbed Callum's hand. Well, she was hoping it was Callum's hand; otherwise, this will get very awkward. She felt a soft squeeze in her hand, and she looked up. Her eyes found Callum's, who gave her a comforting smile.

Five minutes later, the metro arrived at Catherine and Callum's destination: Westminster. Callum made his way out of the metro, holding Catherine's hand firmly. They walked up the escalators and checked out at this bustling station.

"My goodness, this was a whole experience on its own," Catherine chuckled when they were outside. "But we have made it: London!"

"I'm surprised by the fact how many people fit in the metro," Callum said perplexed. They walked towards the Big Ben. "When was the last time you visited London?"

Catherine blew up her cheeks and was thinking about the last time she had visited London. "Err... Probably ten years ago. Well, apart from the airports. You?"

"I live in London, but in a neighbourhood far away from the centre. I feel like when I visited downtown London, it is enough for quite some time," he replied to her question.

She laughed. "Yeah. I can't see myself travel through London with all those people, but it's a city we can be proud of," Catherine added.

"Absolutely."

Catherine and Callum observed the area around the Big Ben and made a plan for the day. They both had a few spots they wanted to visit, so it was their goal to visit those spots. It didn't really matter to them if it went in a convenient route, as long they had seen the spots. They walked around Westminster; observing the Palace of Westminster, Downing Street and walked through St. James' Park, having a look at Buckingham Palace at the end of the walk. They had a short stop at Baker Street and made their way to Piccadilly Circus and Regent Street.

"How old will your little sister be?" Catherine asked when they entered a store.

"Eight years old," Callum said. His sister's birthday was in a week, and he still needed a present. But he didn't know what to get her.

Catherine smiled. "Cute."

"But I kinda need your help," he said thoughtfully. "I don't know what I should give her. Normally I would ask my parents to buy a gift for Saskia, but I took responsibility for once. But it didn't quite work out...yet."