London Has Your Eyes

Chapter 17. Alex

In the morning, as we agreed, Janine is waiting for me outside the hotel. She is perfectly prepared for the walk. Janine is wearing light sneakers, denim dungarees, and a light top. She had her red hair in two buns, so it looks cute.

When Janine sees me, she smiles and hugs me.

- Hi Alex! I'm so happy to see you! And glad our plans didn't get cancelled after last night's story. Did Daniel find you in the end? Is everything okay? Are you still mad? - She keeps asking me questions. There's a look of obvious worry on her face, which is kind of cute, considering how little we know each other.

- Hey. So many questions and we haven't even had a chance to make a move yet,- Janine's mood seems to be contagious, -Yeah, found it, yeah, I'm fine.

Janine nods meaningfully and quickly changes the subject, still not daring to say anything to me.

- So? Where shall we go? - She asks, looking around.

- It seems that today you are my guide, not the other way. You lead the way, otherwise we shall get lost and be walking in circles till we are old. Getting lost in three houses is an exceptional superpower of mine,- I said with a wave of my hands. And I'm not lying. I do know how to get lost anywhere in the world. Even a map doesn't always help. I can easily take a new road and not find my way back. It's a terrible thing, and thank God people have invented navigators to make life easier for people like me.

-Alright then, let's go,- Janine has clearly mapped out a route for us, which is fine with me. She had her camera with her, so we took a few shots at every corner. We got along so quickly, like we'd known each other all our lives. I've always been impressed by people like her. They're so, you know, bright and easygoing, and for some unknown reason you start trusting them from the first second. This girl is one of them. And even though I'm not particularly inclined to trust people. And anyway.

We walk through the Sherlock filming locations, cross the bridge, look at that very Big Ben (what without it) and the Abbey. Janine enters the courage, it's the first time I've seen her working. Staring into the camera, she instantly becomes focused. Just so you understand, I don't like filming at all. But it doesn't work on her. We shoot. A lot.

Finally, Janine listens to my pleas and we sit down by the lake in St. James Park to feed the ducks (but really, just to rest, because my energy is just gone).

- By the way, I hate being filmed,- I remarked, - I'm very shy, and I don't know where to put myself.

- Yeah, tell me about it. From the hundreds of photos, I couldn't tell that you were shy,- she grinned as she scrolled through the frames on her camera. - You want to see?

Curiosity takes over, no doubt about it. I flip through the pictures and don't recognise the girl in the frames. Janine saw me so... different. It's as if she's been able to reach deep and pull out what I've been hiding so assiduously. I'm so light and carefree in her shots. I don't know, maybe London is working on me after all? It makes me want to forget all my problems and stay like that forever.

- Alex, I wanted to talk to you about something ,- she says. - I'm sorry if I'm intruding, but I like you, and I wanted to warn you.

- I'm starting to get tense, what's up? - I don't like that kind of talk. Usually something bad follows a phrase like that, so I shrink involuntarily and brace myself for a dose of not-so-pleasant news.

- It seems like something is going on between you and Danny. I don't usually pry into other people's business, but... It's just Danny, he's spoiled for attention, you know? I'd love it if you two could have a real thing going on, but I'm not sure he's up to it. It's like he and Liam are always competing. The girls stick to them, so they don't really force themselves. If one doesn't like something, another one takes her place. You know what I mean? I'm sorry if I upset you, - Janine's face breaks into an embarrassed blush, and I shake her hand so she doesn't feel guilty.