Leap of Fate

Another Disappointment

A day of wandering the streets of London with her best friends was a dream come true for Ella, but all she could think about was Andrew. His silky dark brown hair, nerdy glasses and large headphones wrapped around his neck; the way his red, white and black plaid shirt wrapped around his large stomach and how his dirty black high top converse hit the pavement. He was Ella's definition of perfection and she was on cloud nine for the rest of the day. She kept checking the clock hoping time would speed up somehow and she could be back in front of Big Ben with Andrew, learning about his favorite music, his fears, ambitions, every little detail about him down to what he had for lunch last week. The tourguide informed the group it would be the last stop of the day before dinner and then freetime, time moved quicker just like Ella had wished for. Her and her friends took pictures in front of little British shops and headed back to the hotel for dinner. Ella inhaled her meal and then ran upstairs to change out of her sweaty jeans into something more free feeling. She put on a navy blue skirt with white polka dots, a white tank top, jean jacket and silver flats. She took one last look in the mirror to fix her hair and make sure her makeup was messed up and then flew down the stairs while she waited for Elizabeth, Kaitlyn and Victoria. She told her teacher where she wanted to go for free time and waited a few more minutes until Elizabeth came running down the stiars. "I'm so excited to meet Andrew! This is so exciting!" Elizabeth exclaimed. A few minutes later Kaitlyn and Victoria came down the stairs, already looking annoyed. "Alright, let's go." Kaitlyn said walking out the door. The girls walked to Big Ben and waited about 10 minutes and no one that looked like Andrew showed up. "Where is he?" Victoria asked. "I don't know, he said he would meet me here at 8. It's 8:15." Ella said sounding disappointed looking at her phone every two seconds. Ella and her friends waited for another 20 minutes and still nothing, "well he obviously isn't coming, we only have 30 minutes left until free time is over, so let's just go to do something else," Kaitlyn said. "Yeah, I'm going to see if there are a few little shops we can go into." Victoria said walking away with Kaitlyn. "Ella, I hate to agree with them but he's 45 minutes late. We can't stand here all night." Elizabeth said standing up getting ready to catch up with Victoria and Kaitlyn. "You can go. I'm staying here until free time is over." Ella said. "Are you sure you want to stay here by yourself?" Elizabeth asked. "Yeah, it's fine. The hotel isn't far from here, I'll just walk back by myself if he doesn't show up." Ella said. "Okay, please stay safe." Elizabeth said running to catch up with the other two. Ella waited for another 20 minutes, she finally gave up and started walking back to the hotel. Another disappointment from another guy. Ella got up from the bench and started heading back to the hotel. She walked into her and Victoria's room and got into her bed. A few minutes later, Victoria came through the door with bags filled with clothing. "Hey, you came back." She said putting down the bags and sitting on her bed. "Yeah I did. How was shopping?" Ella asked. "Oh, it was so much fun! We met some kids from Massachusetts and talked to them for a little bit and then w-" Victoria stopped and looked at Ella. Ella had that fake smile on her face, as her eyes began to fill up with tears. "Look, we don't have to talk about what I did. What did you do after we left?" She asked. "Sat there. I just sat there on the bench like an idiot. I'm so stupid, you know? I sat there, actually thinking Andrew would show up and we would explore London at night, just him and I. Guess I'm too stupid to see that he actually doesn't care. I mean I just met him, right? I barely know him anyways. You guys were right. I'm just so tired of being disappointed all the time. No guy is ever going to like me, so I might as well just give up now." Ella said getting into bed. "You know what? You are stupid. Matt chased you down at the airport and said that he loved you and you just left him standing there. I know you had to get on the plane, but you didn't even seem to care when he just told you something you have always dreamed of hearing." She said sitting on the end of Ella's bed. "It freaked me out. I have never had that happen to me. I guess it's just better if I imagine it in my head because then I don't have to face anyone." Ella said. "Don't go with Andrew. It is just not a good idea. I know you are freaked out about Matt, but chasing some British boy around London while we're on a school trip is not the answer to fixing your problems with Matt. You need to enjoy this trip and then worry about Matt when you get home." Victoria said getting off Ella's bed and getting into her own. "Yeah, you're right. Sorry that I basically dragged you guys and made you wait with me. It was stupid and a waste of time." Ella said. "Hey, we still had fun. So you missed a night out in London, we still have another night!" Victoria said. "Haha, very true." Ella said.
The next morning Ella was not woken up by her alarm, but some knocking on her window. She stretched and got up out of her bed and went over to the window. She saw Andrew picking up some pebbles off the ground to throw at the window. Andrew stood up and saw Ella standing at the window, he waved excitedly and threw the rocks on the ground. Ella opened the window and leaned out of it. "What are you doing?" Ella asked in a whisper. "I'm sorry I blew you off last night. I got nervous and I just couldn't get myself to leave my flat." Andrew said. "So you decided to some and throw rocks at my hotel window like some Romeo and Juliet moment?" She asked. "Well, I guess you could think of it like that. Can you please come down? I don't want to keep talking to you from your window." he said. Ella grabbed a sweatshirt out her suitcase and pair of shoes and quietly ran down the hall and met Andrew outside the hotel. "This is much better." he said with a grin. "Would you like to grab something to eat?" he asked. "I would love to, but I don't want to go too far from the hotel. I want to be back in my hotel room before my friend wakes up." Ella said. "Well, my flat is only down the street. I can make you something. I am quite good at cooking." he said with a wink. "Haha, that sounds perfect." Ella said. Andrew took her hand and brought her to his small family flat just down the street. They went inside and he showed her a few rooms. They had to tip-toe around because his parents were still asleep. "You have a beautiful home." Ella said sitting down at the kitchen table. Andrew took some bread out of the fridge and put some pieces into the toaster, he took out a pan and put some eggs in it. He finished cooking both things and set two plates down on the table in front of Ella. "I know it's not much for our first meal together.." Andrew said. "It's perfect. I've never had a guy make me food before." Ella said going to take a bite of her toast. They talked about Ella and her like back in America since Andrew had never been anywhere outside of London. They talked about the two cultures and how crazy it was that they were so different. Ella looked at the clock and saw it was almost time for morning check in. "I have to get back. My friend is probably already awake." She said getting up and putting her dish in the sink and running to the door. "Thank you so much for the meal, it was perfect." She said opening the door and running outside. Andrew ran after her, "wait, when will I see you again?" Andrew asked. "Here." She sent Andrew a picture of her schools itinerary for her trip. "Try to meet me where you can." She said running off in the distance. She got back to her hotel room just her friend was waking up. "Morning." Ella said trying to not to sound like she just ran. "Morning, where have you been? You look like you're already dressed." Victoria asked. "Oh no I just got up. We have to be downstairs for breakfast in about 10 minutes, so you better get ready quick." Ella said grabbing some clothes from her suitcase and heading into the bathroom. The girls all met each other downstairs and had breakfast, Ella sat there and barely ate anything because she was full from her earlier breakfast with Andrew. Their teacher split them off into groups for the day and all the students headed out the door to do some more sightseeing. All throughout the day Ella tried to look for Andrew when she could without making it too obvious. "Ella, are you okay? You know, after last night." Elizabeth asked. "Oh yeah, I'm totally fine. Victoria and I talked about it last night and we both agreed I should just focus on enjoying the trip instead of Matt or Andrew." Ella said getting distracted from looking for Andrew. "Ella, can you please come with me? I need to find a bathroom." Victoria said pulling her away from Elizabeth and Kaitlyn. "Why are you acting so weird. I know you didn't 'just wake up' this morning when I did. Where were you?" she asked. Ella sighed and explained everything that happened this morning with her and Andrew. "I thought I told you to stay away from him. This trip is about having fun, remember? How are you going to have fun with your friends when you are chasing after some guy?" Victoria asked. "I don't know! But I have fun with you guys and Andrew. Why can't I have both?" Ella asked. "You just can't, Ella. It doesn't work that way. You have liked Matt for a long time. Why can't you just enjoy your trip and then go back home and be with Matt? Why is that so hard for you?" Victoria asked with a stern voice. "It's not. I understand, okay? I just, Andrew makes me feel happy and I haven't felt like that with Matt and I should if I like him, shouldn't I? I freaked out at the airport with Matt because I'm not sure if I still like him. I have never had this happen to me, so I'm trying to figure this all out." Ella said. "Well until you figure it out, you won't have me." Victoria said walking away.