Taming of the Tom

Chapter 2

The next guests arrive slowly, and Ara finally takes her place opposite me when all the seats are filled. I’m sat near the head of the table, adjacent to Lucille and Tom. Brendan is placed further down the table in an attempt to include everyone.

The starters are brought out, and Ara raises a toast. “To my sister and new brother, a month until the wedding!”

A chorus of cheers and laughs cascades the room, and I feel warm, recognising the different pitches of people I know and love.

The conversation moves into politics, art, love, sex, religion. Every topic is met with the correct emotion: seriousness, wonder, reminiscence, laughter, soul. I join in as I always do, voicing my opinion freely. I love arguing with others on what the government could do to succeed, sharing thoughts on the meaning of that art show, discussing what science is involved in sex, and what I believe will happen to us after we die.

I usually hold off on the topic of love… unless I’m talking about love between family and friends.

After the dessert, coffee is brought out and Ara puts some music into the stereo system, though the conversation still remains. The table splits into various conversations again, and it seems that neither Tom nor me have been included very heavily in any. He takes this chance, and upon realising that he’s thinking of speaking to me, I smirk, taking a sip of my mint tea.

“How do you know them, then?” The accent is still poignant, definitely Eton.

“Lucille and I are life-long friends. We went to school together.” I smile, and turn to look at him. “How about you?”

“Brendan is my life-long friend. We also went to school together.”

“Hm. Coincidence.” He curls his lip like he knows better. “And it confirms my suspicions.”

“Your suspicions about what?”

“Your going to Eton.” He raises his eyebrow.

“Yes.” I straighten my dress. “So, what do you do?”

“I’m a lecturer.”

“Oh really. Where?”

I laugh. “The University of Westminster.”

“You’re a bit younger than I thought you might be.”

“How do you mean?”

“Brendan told me what you did. I wanted to confirm.”

“Ah. Why do you say I’m a little young? Very complimentary and all, but why can’t a 27 year old have a PhD?”

“Well, I don’t know. Sorry. You must’ve worked very hard.”

“What else can one do? So what do you get up to in your time?”

He laughs. “I act.”

“Oh really.” I copy his tone from before. “Would I’ve seen you in anything?”

“Maybe.” Conservative. I like this.

I don’t push it anything further. That’s just what he wants from me.

“I was in War Horse, Thor, a few Shakespeares on tour.”

“Oh, nice.” I decide to step up the asking game. “Favourite play?”

“Much Ado About Nothing.”

“Yes, that would be in my top… six.” We laugh.

“And yours?”

“Oh… of course I love them all… but the Taming of the Shrew.”

“And why’s that?” I watch him take a sip from his espresso.

“I can relate,” I joke, and we laugh. “Oh, well… I love it because it proves that anyone can change. This world can change if someone is willing enough to try.”

“Interesting. I guess Taming’s in my top six too.” I smile. “Do you want to change the world?”

“Always have, always will!”

“Me too.” I see the sparkle in his eyes again.

In the next couple of hours of our conversation, people attempt to become involved in it, failing spectacularly as Tom and I finish each other’s points, or debate why each other are wrong. Slowly, people move down the table away from us, but I don’t notice until I look up at the clock face.

“It’s twelve. I’d better go,” I explain.

He nods. “Let me walk you down, get you a cab.”

“Thank you.”

Ooh.. getting slightly more romantic now. Obviously I had to include Tom being the biggest gentleman on Earth. Because he is. 

Anyway, there's more to come in this 'dinner party' section. Be patient, my lovely Hiddlestoners ;) Please review and comment, or contact me on twitter (@cumberblue), because any form of feedback helps a lot! THANK YOU!!