The Last Time

Chapter 1

End of 2009

For fuck sakes why do these trains always arrive so early? My feet are hurting, these heels are not comfortable at all. Wait. I did take my map with me. oh my God I really hope I did.

"Oh I'm so sorry, I'm late, i'm so sorry." She responds rushing for the train.

Geez can you get more embarrassing Eleanor.
Thank God, the doors are still open

Quickly getting on the train she takes her seat and starts going through her paperwork one more time, today she'll be giving a presentation to all the other colleagues about the financial report. She's quite intimidated having to stand in front of people who are far more experienced than her, but she's trying to not let it get to her.

Finally, arriving at LBC corporations at Colmore where she follows a internship, which she feels is very fortunate, because it's a paid internship, greeting other colleagues for today and taking her seat at her desk she's approached by her boss and mentor, Mrs. Greeley

"Good morning, Eleanor" she greets her warmly

"Good morning, Mrs Greeley"

"And ready for your presentation for today?"

"I actually went through my paperwork again, memorizing the words, so I feel very prepared and ready"
She tells her with a smile

She's her mentor, and she's told her before that she can go to her about anything but Eleanor just didn't want to appear nervous to her.

"Oh, I'm sure you will. You've been doing really well so keep up the good work and you'll be fine I promise." She responds, turning to leave.

"yes, of course thank you Mrs. Greeley."

After her nine hour shift, she arrives back home finding mother going through some paperwork

"Hey, how was work?" She greets her without looking up

"It was good I did really well during presentation so"

"Oh that's good, you've been preparing yourself really well, so keep it up you'll be graduating in no time"

"Yeah, I'll just do that"

walking up the stairs towards her room she receives a call from her friend, Emma
She was the first person Eleanor befriended at Uni

"Hey, so how was it?
"Hey to you too and it went really well thankfully" she sighs with a relief

"Oh, thank God maybe now you can just relax you've been really stressed out"

"I guess so. Do you have anything planned with the other girls today" she asks lying on her bed

"Well, we wanted to go to that play if you're still up for it at least"

"Ooh of course, what time will it begin?"

"Well, we want to go at eight and then maybe go and have dinner afterwards."

"Sure that works for me."

"Soooo have you heard anything about Arthur?"

"He's been reaching out but I just don't know if I should respond you know. I guess I just want a clean start and I can't do that if we're still talking."

"Yeah, i understand but I mean you guys were so good together so it's kind of sad seeing the way things turned out"

"I mean, I guess.....I don't know I just don't believe the long distance is gonna work, so why waste each other's time really."

"Actually, if the play starts at eight I need to get ready now, so I'll see you when I get there"

"Oh yes, of course I also need to get ready so I'll see you there then OK bye-bye"

After getting ready to go to the theater, Eleanor arrives being greeted warmly by the girls
Emma, Stella and Rhea.
Emma also being from Birmingham whilst Stella is from Oxford and Rhea from Bristol and despite the fact that Stella and Rhea live further away, hasn't stopped them from meeting up during their school break.
They will be watching the play
'Il Mio Bell'Amico'

It's really popular play so the girls really enjoyed themselves. Afterwards they arrived at Gerry's to have some dinner where they would spend time catching up on their lives. They would soon be returning back to Oxford to start their new term.

Returning back home, she starts preparing for bed. She quietly sits staring at herself in the mirror and wonders about her future, despite the fact that she's been doing really well in school and has a close friend group she still feels a bit empty it's just that she kind of feels like a robot and only does the things that other people ask of her rather than listening to her own needs and dreams. In this moment, Eleanor has never felt so lonely.