The Art of Living

[4] Brunch for Three

After Ellie had escaped from Brian's flat, her life had gona back to the normal routine. Monday morning, getting up early, class, lunch, class, work, going home, dinner, studying a little, relaxing, bed. That was her program not just for Monday but also for every other day of the week. Except for Wednesday because Wednesday was her day off. On that day she slept in and went out for brunch with her best friends.

One of them was her colleague at work. She was a pretty blonde, but so much more than just pretty. She was a true sweetheart and definitely one of Ellie's two best friends. Ellie could tell her absolutely anything and she could be sure to have an understanding ear and always someone who gave her honest advice. That was Mary.

Her other best friend was someone she had met during her bachelor's degree at King's College and someone she had been in touch with ever since. They had even lived together for a year before she moved in with her boyfriend. Since then Ellie lived alone, something she didn't really mind, she liked having her own space. Lynn, that was her name, was a special girl, like Ellie in a way. She wasn't a sweetheart like Mary, she tended to offend people who didn't know her. But that was part of what Ellie liked so much about her. She didn't bother trying to make things sound better than they really were. Her boyfriend was a similar kind of person, so they went together very well.

She was the one who had introduced Mary and Lynn to each other, by accident really. Mary had visited her during the time she was still sharing a flat with Lynn. And Lynn being Lynn had interrupted a rather private girl conversation and shamelessly offered her opinion. Mary hadn't asked and she was quite taken aback by Lynn's choice of words, but after the first shock had worn off the two of them had gotten along surprisingly well. And that was how those weekly brunches had come to life.

They had found a small, very cosy café they usually went to, so on Wednesday morning - late morning - Ellie got ready in her favourite skirt and second favourite blouse. Her favourite blouse had been officially ruined by the beer stain. Which was a shame and just another reason why she tried not to think about her last one night stand. Ellie sighed and grabbed her handbag before she walked outside and got on the bus to the café.

It was June so it was sunny and Ellie got out her sunglasses out and enjoyed the warmth of the sun through the windows of the bus. On the ride to the café she contemplated whether to tell Mary and Lynn about her weekend adventure or not. If she knew her friends well like she thought she did it would be talked about anyway because it was no secret that she liked to sleep in a guy's flat on weekend nights. And her friends were the kind of people who liked to hear about those things.

The busride wasn't too long so soon she got off the bus and walked the few metres until the café. Through the window she could see Mary and Lynn already sitting at a table. She smiled and went inside, greeting her two friends with a wave and a funny grimace.

"El! There you are, we were wondering where you were. You're late, you know, fifteen minutes. What happened? Were you with a guy last night?"

Ellie sighed and shook her head, hugging them both quickly. "No, I wasn't, you know I don't do that under the week."

"So you did someone during the weekend?"

There it was. It didn't take as long as she expected. But there was no use in lying because they would see right through her anyway. "Yeah, yeah, I did.." Ellie nodded a little and sat down.

"So? So? How was he? Who was he?" Lynn immediately sat up and grinned at Ellie.

Mary made it less obvious but she was also very interested.

Ellie shook her head a little and poured herself a cup of tea from the pot the others had ordered. "He was just some weirdo.. I went into a strange bar, but oh my god, honestly I am never going back there. He was the least awful choice to be honest. He wasn't ugly, he was actually kind of good looking, I guess, but he was so .. strange. It was like he never really done that before, y'know? Not the sex, he was quite good at that I guess, but picking up girls is something that he was really awful at. He ruined my favourite blouse because he spilled beer onto it and then he kept telling me about his thesis and... it was strange. He was awfully clingy too, he made me stay and made breakfast and gave me his number and everything."