the art of film

₃ edmonton

   i grab my wallet, jacket and keys and lock the door. living on the third floor has it's perks -i'm on the top floor. the downside: i'm on the top floor. i walk down the stairs make eye contact with tenant of room on the second floor. 

   he dons a black hoodie and dark jeans and gives me confident smile. i half-smile back and he speeds up and joins my side.

   "so you're new." 

   it's different to be hearing british accents in person, rather than only on tv. his dark brown hair looks purposefully messy and he looks to cool to be talking to xavier donahue, with the black square rimmed glasses. except, realization kicks in and i remember that i'm not with the people from my high school. 

    and i'm in a new country. 

   with new people. 

   "correct," i say, and he raises his eyebrow. 

   "and you're american." 

   "i'm actually canadian," i say, evenly.

   apparently, shoes are the first thing a person subconsciously notices about someone. i'm wearing two year old red converse. 

   "oh, actually?" 

   i laugh, "kidding, i'm american." 

   he pulls open the door with a chuckle, "knew it." 

   he locks the door behind him and we stand at the steps. he seems nice enough and i hold out my hand, "xavier." 

   "edmonton." 

   i can't hold back the laugh, "like the canadian city?" 

   "call me eddie," he tells me.

   "how about 'ed' or something?" i suggest. 

   "ed sounds like the name of a bald guy or something."

   "ed doesn't sound that bad-" 

   "'eddie' or else i'll kill you," he jokes, but says this grimly, "don't know what my parents were thinking when they named me."   

   "no, no," i say, holding up my hands in surrender, "it's a prestigious name? makes you sound like a big ceo or something." 

   "shuttup," he mutters, "but turns out i'm working towards business as my major so hey, who knows, yeah?" 

   i spin the key between my fingers and ask him if he's going to manchester university.

   "starting my first year, in two weeks," he tells me, grimacing.

   "hey, same." 

   we walk down the street together until he turns left and i turn right towards the small bookstore nearby to buy my textbooks. i learn that we have english literature together, and that it's a good idea to buy a pass for the tube. 

   the cinematography textbook's on sale at thirty percent off and i pick up an application because they're hiring. 'a charming young man like you should apply,' the elderly woman working the cash tells me, and i tell her that i most definitely will. 

-authors note-

novel recommendation: extraordinary means by robyn schneider  (it very possibly may have brought me to tears)

also: i had a back to the future marathon and great scott (!)