Finding My Happy Place

Two

Three weeks later

"Finley, I swear to god," Chloe screeched, "Give me my phone. I need to stay in contact with Graham so I know when his flight gets in."

Finley gave her a mischievous glance, "I don't know, Chloe. You may have to say a special word, where are those fine American manners?"

"You know damn well that they don't exist, you twat," She spat. Lately they loved to enrage each other, and had been doing none stop for two weeks.

"Ali, help? I think I may have gone too far this time," he cried playfully.

"You're on your own," I shrugged, glancing at Chloe, "But I'm thinking it would be smart to give her phone back."

Finley looked pained as he tossed it to Chloe, who caught it joyfully.

"Thanks," she chirped before heading to our room to finish talking to Graham.

School would start soon, and it was seemingly more nerve racking here than at home. We were, after all, in a new place, and going into our senior year with people who had all known each other since birth. Although Finley claimed he barely knew his senior class, he seemed to always have tons of people at parties.

"Ah, the lads are going to have fun with that one when class starts," he chuckled, glancing at me then, "Course they would with you too, but you're seemingly unavailable."

"Hey now, I'm still single. I haven't committed to anyone and I don't plan to," I joked.

"You sure about that?" he raised an eyebrow, feigning hurt.

"Listen, Finley, you know I like you and all--"

"You don't have to explain to me, Alice," he said softly. He knew about Colten, though he didn't like him. He claimed he didn't like that Colten had willingly left me, but that he was sorry he was gone.

"I know, I just feel like I should sometimes." I shrugged, though he knew about Colten, he didn't know anything beyond that. My struggle when Colten left was left in the dark, and so was how Colten died. He didn't need to know about that just yet, I had only known him for three weeks, and I wasn't about to pour my life story out like I had done before. The only person who knew everything now was Chloe, and that's how it was going to stay. For now at least.

"Well you don't have to," He smiled, "But you do have to make me lunch."

I smirked, "Make your own damn lunch, Fin."

"I'm hurt, you American girls are quite mean to me." He teased, and I chuckled at his words. On our first week in London, Finley had toured us around London. Our second week, he hosted welcoming parties so we could meet his friends. And now we were in week three. So far, we'd just hung around the apartment and watched movies. 

"It's in our blood," I threw out, making him bend over with laughter. I laid down on the couch, breathing in deeply to calm myself down.

"I suppose so," he managed to get out, sprawling out on the loveseat. "Wanna put in another movie? Otherwise some of my friends are hosting a party over by the river."

"Ask Chloe, it's her call today," I insisted.

He nodded, "I'll ask her later, when she's done talking to lover boy."

I glanced at Finley, I used to joke about that name with Colten, and it was so strange hearing it again from someone else. He opened his eyes and met my eyes.

"What? Why are  you looking at me like that?" He questioned. 

"No reason," I shook my head, for once smiling about a memory of Colten and I.