Jamie

A Car Ride

A/N: can we just appreciate how adorable Jamie looks here?🥺

„...Jamie?"

„That's me!", a deep voice said.
Elinor turned on her heel and faced a quite tall man with fluffy blond her and a beard, tilting his head on one side to look at them with his hazel eyes. His hands were buried in a black oversized coat that almost completely covered his frame. He smiled and reached out for a handshake.

„I'm Jamie, i play cello in the orchestra that accompanies Anna..."He stated and made a little curtsey „...and, i'm your chauffeur for today."

Elinor chuckled and shook his hand, holding up some fabric of her coat with the other to return the curtsey „Oh what an honor to make your acquaintance!", She answered jokingly.

„He's quite a talented one, Both with a cello and with a car!" Anna laughed and nudged him with her elbow.

„Nananana," Jamie shook is head and pointed at Anna,not averting his eyes from Elinor „She's the star here. Not once have i seen or heard a violinist that skillful."
„Oh shut it!" Anna grabbed his shoulders and turned him around leading him to a yellow car that Elinor assumed to be his. „He's a liar, only spilling fine words because you are here."
„I actually approve his statement." Elinor said smilingly, moving a bit closer to Jamie.
He put one Arm on her shoulder and looked down his defined nose, meeting her eyes.
„I think... we will get along splendidly.", a smile shaping his features.

„Elinor, i thought you were on my side here!", Anna laughed. Jamie gave her a contented smile, fetched out his keys and made his way around the car to unlock it. Then he went back to the boot to help Elinor load in her bags.

After a dull sound of the boot lid being closed, Jamie went to the near side, opened the door and made a welcoming gesture as an indication for Elinor to take the seat next to him. Meanwhile, Anna had made herself comfortable in the backseat right in between the two front seats, curiously observing the happenings in the front. She smiled at the quiet looks that her friends gave one another, relieved that they get along so well.

They drove through downtown, through the winding streets of London. Elinor realized the sky being clearer than before. No signs of clouds like the one hovering above Manchester when she departed.

After a while Jamie inserted a CD that was laying in the glovebox and clicked the play button. In the next moment the sound of Vivaldi's Autumn concerto filled the car, „Quite fitting for the season isn't it?", Jamie said, raising a brow at Elinor as they stopped at some red traffic lights. „Indeed, and one of my favorites as well.", Elinor answered. „And perfect for some last minute nonviolin-practicing!", he added, turning almost completely on his seat to face Anna to make sure for her to feel addressed. „Unlike you, I practiced my runs.", Anna threw back. „Just as to be expected of you.", Jamie said smilingly, giving her a cocky grin.

The drive went on, the three of them bawling alongside Vivaldi's first movement of Autumn. It was quite ridiculous to sing a piece without any lyrics they figured but they went on, laughing and rumbling.

A few movements later, Elinor spotted a white tower that protruded beyond the remaining buildings that surrounded it. It was snow-white and had a dome-like roof. Turning into the street, Elinor got to see the rest of the building that reminded her of a church, which it probably was hundreds of years ago. The elegantly curved archways that consisted of high pillars adorned the entrance, giving it a rather pompous look. Equally curved windows were arrayed above them, making sure for whatever room hid behind them was sun-drenched.

„We have now arrived at Cadogan Hall, I hope you had a pleasant stay Mrs Harris and please continue to delight us with your presence in the near future.", Jamie announced, unlocking the back-seat door to let off Anna. „Always my pleasure", she said playfully and opened the door, „See you later guys! oh and Jamie, be here at 5 at the latest so you have enough time for tuning and everything." „will be there.",he said as she closed the door and went through the entrance.

„Juuust the two of us🎶",he sung, tilting his head at Elinor while he restarted the car. She smiled and supported herself against the window. „Don't you have to be at the final rehearsal too? Or are you expendable.", she asked teasingly as she watched him keeping his eyes on the street. „Actually, i'm a first-chair player but Anna could convince our conductor to make an exception because of a special guest she wanted to bring." He corrected. „Oh god i'm not that special.", she sighed „People are gonna think of me as some extraordinary person even though i'm really not.". „...Anna told me loads of stories about you, and you seemed to me as a quite extraordinary and lovable friend.", he said, raising an eyebrow at her. She chuckled and sunk deeper into her seat, her arms crossed. „She always exaggerates...how did you guys meet by the way?". „We met in Uni, both doing music studies in London.", he said. „We played Mendelsohn's Quartet in A Minor together, in our second semester. She was quite an enthusiastic lead for us and we became close friends after."

Elinor smiled and kept silence, only listening to the second movement of winter. The slow, yet melodic theme reminded her of a cozy night in front of a fireplace and watching snow flakes fall.

Jamie's eyes were set on the street, his fluffy blond hair falling into his face, hampering his sight. Elinor rummaged around her pockets until she found what she was looking for. She leaned over to Jamie, stroked a bit of his hair aside and pinned it with a small hair clip.

„Cute."

Jamie observed himself in the driving mirror, chuckling at his sight. „Better than before, i have to admit", he ended up saying.

A few moments later he turned into another street and came to a stop in front of a simple apartment building.

A/N: a quite short chapter, but i'm feeling more motivated now that Jamie is introduced :) Please comment and vote!