SHATTERING LIFE | Anthony Lockwood | Lockwood and Co

8. A Strange Feeling

━━•✩.♡.✩•━━

'Cause I'm gonna make this place your home
Settle down, it'll all be clear

– Home (Phillip Phillips)

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In the morning I felt well rested and ready for the day ahead of me. My second night on Portland Row was actually way more relaxing than the first one – especially after the warm shower I took before going to bed. A good bonus was that Lucy didn't snore, unlike my little brother.

We started the day early with breakfast which consisted of burnt toast, this time with butter for me and jam for the others. Before leaving the house, Lockwood insisted on having to visit a place so the three of us waited for him until he got back. He didn't answer any of our questions when we wanted to know more information about his plans though. However, apart from that he seemed to be in his normal mood. There was no sign after our yesterday's conversation.

Soon though, we headed for the train station with our luggage in our arms. We easily hopped on the right train and chose a set of four seats facing each other. George and Lucy ended up sitting in front of us while Lockwood and I sat down in front of them.

For the first few minutes, I kept staring at the vanishing buildings behind the window. This was my first time leaving the busy streets of London. My parents had never taken us on a vacation outside the city because all they had ever cared about was their work. Their empire. They couldn't afford to leave it without supervision.

I didn't even know when or how but somehow I managed to fall asleep. First, I was focusing on the trees we passed and next I found myself waking up from a nap. It must have been the gentle shaking of the train that made me nod off. But when I opened my eyes again, I was surprised by the soft surface my head was lying on.

Wait.

I blinked a couple of times and instantly straightened up, my head almost colliding with the glass on the other side. My sudden moves drew the others' attention though and now they were giving me questioning looks. I slightly turned my head to face Lockwood. He was holding a newspaper which he must have been reading while I was sleeping. On him. Then my eyes fell on his shoulder. He had taken off his black coat and now was sitting there only in his white shirt. The shirt that was a little bit rumpled thanks to me.

"Uh– Sorry," I uttered quickly. I had no idea what to say to someone who had to bear my weight while I was asleep. Why didn't he lean me back against the window? I could clearly remember that that was my last position. Safely against the glass, away from Lockwood.

Oh, God. I felt so stupid. No, embarrassed. Stupid and embarrassed – yes, that was it.

"That's fine," Lockwood answered casually. Thankfully, he didn't seem to be angry or upset. That was a good sign. "You have great timing actually. We're almost there now."