Perfect

Chapter Twenty: I am not a walking dictionary

You're only given a little sparkle of madness. You mustn't loose it."

- Robin Williams

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Chapter Twenty: I am not a walking dictionary

I wasn't ready to go home.

Our last night in England was spent out on the balcony, sitting around a small burning brasier and listening to music. Jayden pointed out star constellations and told me the names of all the planets before rattling off more facts about the night sky then I thought it was possible to remember. We ate a barbecue of ribs and sausages with potatoe salade and normal salade and roast potatoe chips. Then we had a desert of chocolate pudding with hot chocolate sauce and whipped cream with chopped strawberry and banana. By the time we'd finished and the dishes had been cleared away, the full moon had risen, bathing the still dark garden in a ghostly light. I don't remember how I got to bed. I was too tired and happy to really care.

I slept for most of the plane ride, curled up under a blanket with my head on Jayden's shoulder. We watched a movie called Something Borrowed which I actually enjoyed and spent the last five minutes before landing quizzing each other on the movie to see who payed more attention. On the car ride home, we were both tired, leaning against the window and staring out into the street. I could hear Jayden's music beating through his head phones from the other side of the car.

When I finally let myself into the apartment, laughter and the sound of clinking glasses met me as soon as I opened the door. I dropped my keys and my sunglasses onto the hall table and dragged my suitcase down the hall, coming to rest in the living room doorway. Zoe, Taylor and Jordan were curled up on the sofa with wine glasses, all watching Gilmore Girls. Well, Taylor and Jordan were watching it, Zoe was curled up in a tiny ball on Jordan's chest, sleeping quietly. Taylor let out a quiet squeak when she saw me and hopped up from the sofa to hug me. I leaned over Zoe to give Jordan a hug before leaving my suitcase by the door. Then I went hunting for my puppy.

"Where's my pretty boy?" I called, walking into the kitchen. "Where's my Toby Boy?" He came racing down the stairs so fast he almost crashed into the wall at the bottom before rightening himself and leaping around me, barking in his high, yappy voice. I picked him up and buried my face in his fur, laughing as he licked every inch of my face he could reach. I let out a shriek, trying to move my head away from his wet tongue, but he wouldn't stop. When I finally put him down and walked into the kitchen, he chased after me, dancing around my ankles in small, over excited circles.

The next two days were spent getting over jetlag and going through emails, long phone conversations over the phone with Jayden and dodging questions about my week away by Taylor and Zoe. By the time I finally returned to Collage, I was still finding it difficult to get myself into the proper ruteen. When Mrs James saw me when I walked into the art room, she came storming over to me, a frown etched into her brow. I was almost tempered to go back out the door again, but she caught hold of my elbow before I could make my mistake.

"Hi Mrs James?" I tried, but she completly ignored me.

"This is ridiculous Spencer." She said, sternly. "Do you want to pass this class or not?" I gaped at her.

"Of course I do!" I said.

"Then get over to your seat right now and stay there or I will fail you." My mouth fell open.