in a while || cara delevingne

ch. 1 : america | london

I take a deep breathe and close my eyes.

It's been a while since I've visited London, but it doesn't seem like much has changed. Memories come flooding back to me like a river. My parents, my older sister splashing around in all the puddles, laughing as she gets our parents wet and my mother sends her a playful scowl. And as I start to laugh, t-

I'm suddenly splattered with water and I open my eyes as I see a taxi rush by through the large puddle at the edge of the street, jumping back just in time before the next one has a chance to hit me as well.

I sigh as I look down at my now soaked jacket "Well fuck." I mutter to myself.

"That's no way to greet me darling!"

A smile plays at my lips as I turn around and see my best friend of five years standing just a few paces away.

"Oh, Lydia, why would I greet you any other way?" I smile at her as she runs to me and, ignoring my soaked state, gives me a giant bear hug.

"My Alex!" she squeals excitingly, "I've missed you! You'll have to tell me all about the past year, I'm sorry I haven't kept in touch, really" she apologizes, "I've just been so busy with my new job and, oh, darling, you wouldn't believe-"

I listen to her ramble on as I drag her over to an empty taxi and get in. She slides in next to me and gives the driver her address, where I'll be staying with her it seems until I find a flat of my own.

"So, enough of me, how have you been?!" she stops her rambling and looks over at me with a look on her face that says she's actually quite interested as to what I've been up to.

"Michael and I broke up" I decide to get the drama over with before we reach the flat, "I thought it would be better than trying to keep a long distance relationship."

She looks at me with a hint of playfulness in her eyes as she shakes her head "Oh, dear, don't tell me you wouldn't have broken up with him anyways. He seemed a bit too clingy for you."

"You're probably right," I sigh, "but he was really interesting, when he wasn't just trying to get into my pants."

We both laugh as we arrive at the building and I begin to pull my wallet out of my purse as Lydia pushes my hands away and insists she pay the fee.

••••••

Lydia turns on the kettle and I snort.

She turns around and gives me a confused look, "What?" she asks as I begin to buckle over in laughter.

"You're-" I squeak out a few words between my laughing, "really- going to- be so" I laugh even harder for a few moments then collect myself before looking at her with an amused expression,

"You're really going to be so cliché as to offering me tea?" I laugh a bit more but don't let myself get out of control again, "Are you going to offer me crumpets too?"

Lydia scowls at me and turns back towards the stove as she begins rummaging through the cabinets.

Probably looking for tea, I think to myself.

I quietly get up off the sofa and tip-toe up behind her, bringing my hands up near her waist and tasering her sides.

She yelps loudly as I quickly retreat and jump over behind the couch, defending myself with a spoon I picked up off the counter.

"Alex", she quietly growls at me as she picks up a wooden spoon and begins to walk towards the couch. We begin circling around the couch, me trying to stay as far away as possible.