Action (DNF)

Chapter 5: Overwhelming

Clay POV.

Sapnap and I happily chatted to each other as we walked through the streets of downtown London. We’d been spending the morning looking through all the different shops for the past hour and a half, only stopping once to get something to eat when it was close to lunch time.

The shopping districts of the UK were quite nice, and had a large range of shops packed into one area which we could check out, but it wasn’t as flash as shopping districts in California or New York.We’d both grown insensitive to the photos that paparazzi took of us as we were going about our business, since apparently they had nothing better to do than bother movie stars.

We decided to stop for a while and get some drinks at a cafe, settling at a comfortable table in the window and ignoring the occasional camera flashes from outside. After we were given our drinks the two of us just began chatting to each other about a range of different things with each other.

“So how is that bartender you’ve been talking to?” Sapnap questioned. “You told me the other day that you got his phone number. How’s that been working out?”
“It’s been great,” I hummed out in response. “It feels like I’ve been talking to him for ages, and he’s coming with me to the charity auction on Sunday.”

“Oh, good for you.” The ravenette smiled before taking a sip of tea. “It’s great that you finally have somebody to go to these events with.”
“And George is sweet and funny. We’ve only really been texting over the past couple of days but I want to meet up with him and hang out tomorrow, if he’s free of course.”

Today was Friday, and the charity auction was on Sunday, and since Wednesday the two of us had been chatting continuously with each other via messages. I’d always be awake when he got home from his job and we’d call and talk about his day, or we’d just message at random points in the day about what was going on at the moment.

“You’ll want to be careful though,” Sapnap spoke thoughtfully as he looked over at me. “George won’t know how hectic these charity auctions can get.”
“I was planning on talking to him about it if I could meet up with him tomorrow.” I reassured him.

“Good, cause there will be paparazzi snapping photos of him as he walks in, a bunch of rich celebrities who will bombard him with questions, and fancy meals that most of the time taste like cardboard. Then let’s not forget about the frenzy of the auction itself, different people all screaming out cash amounts as they try to win necklaces and sculptures and shit.”

“Yes I know, thank you for the reminder Sap.” I spoke while sipping on the coffee I’d ordered, since I had tried tea while I was in the UK but didn’t particularly like it.
“I’m just saying, it can be very overwhelming the first time you go there.” Sapnap said before taking another sip of the tea which he’d seemed to become addicted to.

“Don’t worry, I will explain it to him tomorrow, okay?” I promised the ravenette. He seemed slightly reassured by that. We both knew what it felt like when you became famous, with people taking hundreds of photos and asking dozens of questions because of their hopeless obsession with celebrities.

George would understandably have a freak out if I ‘threw him the deep end’, and exposed him to the shitty life of paparazzi and red carpet without so much of an explanation. “I’ll see if I can meet up with him tomorrow morning.” I told my friend. “I have an interview about the new movie in the afternoon though.”

The ravenette seemed happy with that and watched as I leaned back in my chair and called George’s mobile. After a couple of rings he answered with a cheerful ‘hi Clay’.
“Hey George,” I responded. “I was wondering if you were free tomorrow so that we could hang out.”

“Yeah, I’m free tomorrow morning, but then I have to work from midday until 8:30.” He explained. “So, if you are free then, then we can hang out.”
“Sounds perfect.” I hummed, feeling grateful that I would get the chance to talk to him in person and not have to explain over the phone. “I actually have stuff on tomorrow afternoon too.”

“It’s a bummer that you have to work on a Saturday though.” I sighed.
“Well weekends are when we are most busy.” George explained. “I was meant to be working on Sunday but Wilbur offered to switch shifts so I could go to dinner with you.”
“I’ll make sure to thank your friend next time I see him then.” I smiled.

There was a couple of seconds of silence. “So, should we meet in town then?” The brunette asked. “I know of a couple nice restaurants. Or maybe you could come over to my house.” The opportunity to go to George’s house made me practically light up with excitement.
I tried to hide the way my eyes lit up from Sapnap and I smiled. “I could come over.”

“Cool,” George continued. “So I’ll send you my address. How about 9am? Then we get two and a half hours before I leave for work.”
“Sounds perfect. See you then.” I replied, then I started exchanging a couple ‘byes’ with him before we hung up.

An amused look was visible on Sapnap’s face when I pocketed my phone and I gave him a sneer. “What’s that look for?” I asked, watching as he sipped his drink.
“I’ve just never seen you so happy… other than when you are acting.” He explained.

“George has that effect on you once you get to know him.” I hummed happily, sighing contently as I did. “But I’m going to have to bring something to his house aren’t I? A thank you for inviting me over. Then I will also need to get him something for when we go to the charity auction, some flowers or chocolate.”

“Didn’t you tell me the other day that this wasn’t a date?” He questioned.
“Chocolate and flowers aren’t just date gifts.” I defended myself, causing him to raise his eyebrow. It was a way of him asking me to name other times you get someone chocolate and flowers. “Well, you get chocolates and flowers for your mother, on mother’s day.”

I cringed as I said it, but in my defence I had been put on the spot. Sapnap laughed half-heartedly at me. “So you’re saying that he’s either a date, or your mother? Seems like a lose lose situation Clay.”
“Shut up.” I grumbled, burying my head in my hands in defeat.

Despite what I said, Sapnap did not shut up. Instead he continued laughing and I sighed before standing up. “Well, since you seem preoccupied with laughing at me I guess I’ll get on with my day,” I said to him. “See you around Sapnap.” With that I walked out of the cafe and listened to him desperately calling me back as he ran out after me.
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1228 words

And that concludes day 2 everyone. Hope you all have a nice day and see you all tomorrow.