Being a Barrow - A Sequel to Barrow's Boy

Trains

     Everything that occurred throughout the rest of their night out felt incredibly awkward to Teddy. Ashton stayed by him and Abi, which was fine in itself, yet odd after his earlier disappearance. When asked, Teddy told Everett that he had seen Victor and Mae leave (a lie, but he did know for sure that the two of them had left), which caused Everett to develop a slight pout that Teddy honestly didn't have the mental capacity to deal with. Instead, he focused on checking on Danny and Monty, who themselves had decided to leave once Monty felt up to it. And Hazel, where had she gone off to? Theodore couldn't see her amongst the crowd, so he asked Abi and Ash to keep an eye out for her. At least Percy and Dottie seemed perfectly content keeping each other company. 

      Once they'd all dispersed for the night, Percy joined Teddy and Ashton for their walk to the flat, having planned to stay the night there until the next morning, when the Levellers and Dottie planned to take the early train to Downton. Dottie herself had gone with Abi and Hazel to stay the night in Hazel's flat, while Everett had gone home with Miguel, telling the others that he would meet them at the train station in the morning.

     Ashton had immediately retreated to his room after they returned to the flat, leaving Theodore and Percy to go to the former's room to try and get as much sleep as possible before they had to get up to catch their train. Percy, luckily, seemed to have calmed down now that he knew exactly how Dottie felt about seeing him, and so the two of them were able to sleep without much fuss. 

     Teddy wasn't exactly surprised that Ashton wasn't up with them in the morning (it was ridiculously early, after all). He and Percy were quiet as they got ready and had something small to eat, Teddy leaving a note on the kettle for Ash to find later:

     Perce and I left to catch our train. Be home Sunday night. Beechams is on the shelf in the loo in case you need it after last night.

     Their train ride home was mainly uneventful thus far. Abi and Dottie had passed the time by exchanging stories from their respective teaching experiences, with Dottie seemingly enjoying the fact that she was sitting with Percy's arm around her. Teddy had taken their travel time as an opportunity to study, though how much he was actually focusing on the book in front of him was debatable. And Everett, unexpectedly, had stayed quiet, scribbling in the notebook sitting on his lap, feet on the edge of the seat so his knees were bent. Eventually, Percy was the one to inquire. 

     "What are you working on, Ev?"

     It took Abi nudging Everett for him to look up and realize that he'd been addressed. 

     "This new song I've been toying with. Not sure it's any good-"

     "I'm sure it's good-"

      "You haven't heard it," Ev countered. 

     "Alright, come on, Ev," Percy interrupted. "You've been in this sour mood all morning, and I have a feeling it isn't because of any of us. So, spit it out, what's making you all bitter and pouty?"

     Everett looked up from his rough notations, then between each of the others, eyeing the way each of them looked at him. He watched Dottie the longest, as if assessing whether she got to know. 

     "I suppose you're sticking around for the long term?" He asked her. Dottie's eyebrows lifted in surprise. 

     "Is that what's upset you?"

     "No, no," Everett clarified, "I'm just thinking that, if you are, it's best you learn how I am now than be caught off guard by it later."

      "Well, I'll certainly be around as much as possible," Dottie responded, looking over at Percy with a fond smile. He smiled back, a grossly romantic look that Theodore swore he had never seen on Percy's face. "If you all will have me."