Good Luck Anna

28 Weeks Later

  The next morning is mentally much better, after my fantastic pep talk from Alex, plus two very long phone calls with Becca and Thomas, I'm still feeling like an idiot but less hopeless than yesterday.

   Slinking into the living room finding Alex in a familiar position on his laptop, undoubtedly working as that consumes most of his spare time now a days. 

   Sinking into the couch across from him, Alex takes in my jean clad legs, raising an eyebrow he muses "going somewhere?"

   Attempting to look as innocent as possible while asking, "well, I was wondering if it would be OK to skip school, to go into London with Thomas instead." fluttering my eyelids has no effect on Alex, "he just wants to cheer me up that's all."

   "So, let me get this right you are asking me if you can skive off school to hang out with Thomas." I nod hopefully, he sighs shaking his head. "Fine but this is a one time thing, Anna. Don't smile at me like that I'm serious. I want regular texts and you need to be back here before its dark."

  Diving from the chair an exited squeal leaves me while I do a happy dance, "Thank you Alex you are the best brother ever!" shaking his head, I skip back to my room to collect my bag for the day.

   Waiting for Thomas in the permanently packed Kings Cross, my wandering mind begins slipping back into depressive thoughts. To stave them off I cram headphones in my ears cranking the volume up on my eighties playlist.

   A hand lands on my shoulder making me nearly jump clean out of my skin, screaming so loud that at least fifty commuters turn their irritated gaze to me. Muttering a sorry, I turn my anger on the now chuckling Thomas. Hissing "What the fuck dude, do you want to kill me."

   He carries on laughing at me, wild inky hair bouncing all over the place as his broad shoulders jiggle, sparkling eyes so full of light, he is like a beautiful mirage, too unattainable to really exist.

    Thomas drags me into a secure bear hug, which I enthusiastically return, inhaling a lung full of his cool water aftershave, which is quickly becoming one of my favourites.

    When we pull apart his thumb strokes my cheek, - in a familiar movement that seems to come out of him whenever we meet in London. - Unable to control my head I lean into the touch, grabbing his free hand with both of mine.

   Leaning in close he whispers, "are you alright?"

         I am now

 "Yip much better, thank you for hanging out with me today I really appreciate it." My voice feels all raspy when it makes it to my lips. His head leans in more before shaking it quickly, hand dropping from my face. The sting of rejection causes my hands to also part from his.

  "Right so I have something cool planned for today but we need to take the tube, you got your oyster card?" he sounds completely normal as if he didn't just send electric flying through my skin.

   I just nod dumbfounded, like anyone in this area would ever leave the house without a way to use the most efficient mode of transport through London, 

   It's much smarter to jump on the tube for five minutes than spend half an hour stuck in traffic above ground. Only the super rich and tourists with no rush to be anywhere are daft enough to drive anywhere in central London.

   Following him like a baby duck we make our way over to St. Pancras where we partake in the local tradition of no talking until we are getting off on the other side.

   When I ask where we are going he just smiles at me, to be honest if I didn't know Thomas as well as I do, let's just say that I would be notes apping my will about now.