Music And Silence- A Reylo AU

Chapter 5- Hopeless

Why was it that when you watched a kettle boil, it seemed to take forever?
Phoebe watched the kettle restlessly; she was showered, standing in her bathrobe, waiting to fill her ready cup. Today, she'd see Hux. The plan was to meet at Borough Market, sample some food, meander down the river, and talk. They'd talked nonstop via text and kissed nonstop when together. Today was the real test; Phoebe was nervous, which was why she was up at 8 a.m. tapping her foot at the kettle.

"It'll take longer if you watch it," Rae said, peering around the kitchen doorframe.

"Morning. Want a cup."

"Nope. We got in at three, and it's now," Rae checked her watch, "eight. I'm peeing and heading back to bed. Phoebe, you're up awfully early this morning."

"Hux and I are meeting at Borough Market, spending the day together."

"For an early breakfast?"

"No brunch."

"Then why are you up? And showered already!"

"I don't think I slept. I'm so nervous."

"Pheebs, he adores you. You've got nothing to worry about."

"Rae, we'll be sober in daylight. Actually talking."

Rae sighed and ran a hand through her bedhead, stepping into the kitchen, taking her friend by the shoulders and running them down to take both hands in hers.

"Phoebe, close your eyes and repeat after me, I am a strong, intelligent woman."

Phoebe rolled her eyes but closed them and took a deep breath, letting it out in a fluster, "I am a strong, intelligent woman."

Rae smiled to herself, "No man, no matter how cute or how rich, will make me alter my integrity and be something I'm not. If he cannot love me for the tall, blonde, beautiful, kickass lawyer I am, then I can and will do better."

Phoebe opened her eyes and smiled, "I love you."

"I know. Now repeat what I said."

"No man, no matter how cute or rich, will make me alter my integrity and be something I'm not. If he cannot love me for the kickass lawyer I am, then I can and will do better."

"You forgot tall, blonde and beautiful."

"I know. Thanks, Rae."

The kettle beside them bubbled, finally giving Phoebe what she'd been waiting for.

"Right, enjoy your tea, chill out for a while. I'm going to pee, and then I'm going back to bed. Enjoy Borough market, and for the love of god, do not sleep with him."

Phoebe pulled a shocked face, "I would never."

"You have, and you would. If he's as amazing as you say, promise you won't get carried away, fall more hopelessly in love and go back to his, or bring him back here."

"I pinkie promise," Phoebe answered, offering Rae her little finger. Rae shook Phoebe's with hers with a smile and exited the kitchen. Phoebe stood and made her tea. She had no intention of letting Hux become some fling, but Rae was right; she had to keep her head. Try not to act rashly; she was very much in danger of falling in love too fast. She needed to chill out. She went to the living room and decided to put on a film to kill the time until she had to leave. No rom-coms, they were too dangerous and nothing dramatic, something easy; easy was easier said than done. No one makes a film for easy watching that no one has to pay attention to. She eventually landed on Logan Lucky; she'd seen it before, she enjoyed the concept, and the accents were hilarious.

Several hours later, having sat dozing on the sofa watching a film instead of being perfectly dressed for three hours, Phoebe got herself dressed, nothing flashy, just casual. It was still winter but bright and unlikely to rain, so her sheepskin denim jacket would be warm enough. As she looked in the mirror, she thought she looked like she'd stepped out of Top Gun, worse ways to look, she supposed. Borough was almost perfectly central to her and Hux's location. She and the girls lived in South London, Hux East, and conveniently, both of them only required one tube. She sat on the tube, trying to distract herself from counting every stop, her foot tapping agitatedly as it had the night before. She scrolled through her playlists; her chilled playlist would be perfect; bit of Portishead and Train would do nicely.