Oli and I

Chapter 6

Oli's POV

I was editing a new video when I got a phone call from an unknown number.
I backed away from the computer a second to answer it.
"Hello?"
"Hey Oli it's Rachel. I hope you don't mind, Joe gave me your number."
Oh my god. She was calling me. I had to remind myself that she was going with Joe.
"No I don't mind at all. What's going on?" I checked my breath which I then realized was completely stupid.
"Not much just Arden is with Will today and Joe is busy and I really want to see London. Do you think you could show me around?"
Well I suppose if I couldn't date her then I could be her friend right?
"Yah that'd be alright. Text me where you are staying and I'll pick you up." I responded to her request.
"Ok thank you so much Oli." She said. And we both hung up.
I checked my hair like 20 times in the mirror before I left for her flat.
When I got there she opened the door wearing some patterned shorts and a white cropped top. Damn.
We set out for some key London touristy stuff like the Globe Theater, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Sqaure, the classics. We actually had a good bit of stuff in common that made the journey really easy. We liked the same type of shows, the same type of music, she had actually seen some of my favorite movies. Even if she was with Joe then I could easily be her friend. She was very light and carefree. It was what I wish I could be sometimes.

While it was in my mind I asked about it.
"So how was your date with Joe?" I asked. That's what friends do right? They ask about dates?
"It was good." Was all she simply said. She then returned with a question.
"What about you Oli? You seeing anyone?"
I didn't want to say that I hadn't had a girlfriend since college. I didn't want to seem lame. So I did the stupidest thing I could have possibly done.
"Yah I have a girlfriend." I said in a partially coherent sentence. I almost walked straight into a light post as I said it. We were walking along the Thames on our way to the underground. For once it wasn't raining in the UK but I could have used a downpour just about then to avoid the conversation.
"Yeah? What's her name?" She asked.
I used the first name that came to my head.
"Emily." Yah that sounded like a real person.
"How long have to two been together?"
"A year" I was just digging myself deeper and deeper into a lie.
"Well that's impressive. I hope I get to meet her while I'm here." She responded. I wanted to take it back as soon as I said it. It felt so wrong to lie to her.