Ride

The Coffee House

This is a story of love and loss. Of finding others unexpectedly and finding yourself. In London I met two boys who would become my best friends, one boy who would become my rival, and another very special man who would become the greatest love of my life. This adventure isn't without peril or woe, but I still wouldn't change a thing. Read on and learn how I befriended Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, and Niall Horan.

Heathrow Aiport, London

"Damn it."
I mutter unpleasant words harshly under my breath while looking at myself. More than any other language, English has the most satisfying swear words.

The harshness of several foul strung consonants soothes my irritated mood as I attempt to fix myself up.
Swear words became an institution of my vocabulary due to the city lifestyle I've picked up at American University in D.C. Also due to my city lifestyle is the cheap plane ticket I bought, which forced me in a seat in front of a small child. This wouldn't have been too awful if the said small child hadn't thrown it's leftover plane lasagna over the back of my seat, landing smack dab in my lap.
Damn.

After I sufficiently cleaned myself up, I left the restroom and wheeled my two checked suitcases to the front of the airport and called myself a cab.

Of what I've seen of London, through photography and BBC television, I expected a pale blue sky and mellow environment to be the first taste I'd receive, but, naturally, I was stupidly wrong.

At 12:41 a.m. GMT, the sky was pitch and cars were pulling in and out of the airport in a sporadic and frantic fashion. I whistled a cab over and gave the man the address of the Marriott hotel I was given a room at.

The reason I'd come to London was for an internship I applied for out of whim; A company called SiCo. My career counsellor told me that interning with a record label would be a defining step regarding future opportunities, but I was desperate.

At 20 years old, I, Riley Clarke, still had absolutely no idea what she wanted to do for a degree. Taking this internship was dodging a life defining bullet, and I dodged extremely last second.

My train of thought was disrupted by the stopping of the taxi. I thanked the cabbie and paid him with the only British bill I had. This Marriott was huge! It expanded at least 20 stories up and flaunted it's success with expensive decorations in the lobby. When it was my turn to check in I got my ID out and the SiCo company confirmation papers. "Riley Clarke, checking in, please." The woman at the computer put the papers an arm's length from her face and squinted; trying to read the fine print.

The woman, her name tag reading Dessie, pursed her lips and began typing things on the computer. A moment later she pulls away from the screen. "I'm afraid I haven't found any room being gifted by the...psycho company."
Internally, i slunked. My first day of the internship was today and I couldn't even give myself a 6 hour power nap!
Externally, I nodded, apologized for wasting her time, and walked with my luggage outside.
Damn it.
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I eventually found a coffee shop ridiculous enough to be open: Blooms Brumes Cafe. I walked in and the place was deserted, bar one person. I sat down a few seats away on a stool at the counter. The jet lag was just starting to hit me, and it was hitting me hard. If my jet lag was a person, it would be a Muhammad Ali in his prime.

I nestle my head into my arms and frustratedly yell "AGGGGGH!"
The barista dropped the drink she was working on and sighed.

The guy sitting a few seats over moved beside me. "Perhaps you should get some rest," the voice advised. My eyes narrowed. If only he knew! I sit up, blinking the blurs out of my vision, and retort "That's a weak piece of advice from a guy who is also in a café past one a.m."
He chuckles. "touché".

We sit there in silence the next few minutes; Me, staring at the back wall of the room, and him, sipping his drink and looking at me expectantly. At that moment I cracked.
"If you're so fascinated with my worn and torn travel persona, make yourself useful!"

I daringly reached into his right back pocket and snatched his keys. I picked up my two suitcases and purposefully walked outside, hearing his sounds of protest. "What in the Queen's name are you doing?" he asks bewildered.

"I'm killing two birds with one stone. I clicked the unlock button twice on his keys and heard the *beep beep* of the car calling attention to itself.

"Am I a bird?" He alarmingly questions. I opened the left side of the car to plug the keys in, finding that the steering wheel was abnormally on the right side.

Damn it, England.

Before I could open my door to switch sides, the guy slides into the right seat and locks both sides. "Don't you think you should get to know a guy before you try to take him home?" The guy is wide eyed and takes a deep breath. "I'm Liam."

"My name's Clarke, Riley Clarke," I offer back.

This situation was completely unexpected by both me and most definitely Liam. I wasn't ritually this abrasive, I think the exhaustion and travel have taken their toll.

"Well Liam, you've caught me at a rather sweet moment. My hotel is denying that I have a room there and until I get my monthly stipend from the internship company I cannot get another room. By taking your keys I was forcing my presence into your home and putting into motion my intention to commandeer your shower and couch. Questions?"
Liam tsked once and held out his hand "Well, Riley, I need my keys. Please."