London Calling

Chapter 5

I woke up to the sound of a grumbling stomach. My stomach. I glanced at the wall clock only to find that it was just 5:00 in the morning. Then I turned to my side and saw the beautiful London sky. It was still dark but the sun was just hiding under the bed of clouds, ready to shine soon. I smiled. It was another day again. Then my stomach made another weird sound. Must be because I only had a spoon of peanut butter for dinner the previous night. 

I lifted the white comforter off my body and headed to the door. I was just about to turn the knob open when I realized I wasn’t wearing a bra. Crap. I almost forgot there was a boy living in the same flat. I took my coat out. Yes, a trench coat because my robe was in the bathroom, which I had to share with him as well. Which sucks. And yes, the bathroom was just beside his bedroom.  

Of all bad things, the bathroom situation was the worst. I had always had my own bathroom and all of a sudden I had to share it with a boy. A boy for heaven’s sakes! I mentally prepared for this bathroom sharing issue but I only got over it because I knew my roomie was going to be a girl. But I had to suck it up. It would have been a bit better though if the bathroom were beside my room and not his. 1 week, Bobby. 1 week.

It was dark and quiet outside. He must still be sleeping. And as if I had been living in this place long enough, I went to the fridge. I opened it and saw nothing but 6 cans of beers and water. Of course.

“What did you expect, Bobby? Of course there’s no food. And it’s not like you can eat his food,” I mumbled. I also tend to talk to myself quite a bit.

I walked over to the door and put on my boots. If only I wasn’t wearing a hello kitty nightdress, my outfit would have been decent. Trench coat and boots at 5 in the morning. Okay, that was normal. I think. I mean, I’m in London. Right?

I went outside the building without a clue where to buy breakfast. I should have asked the receptionist. But just one sniff of the morning air and I already knew where to go. It smelled like coffee and cinnamon. I almost felt stupid following the smell but my hunger was more important than trying not to look like a pyscho.

I walked on the brick grounds and I had to blink twice just to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. I wasn’t. It was so beautiful. There weren’t a lot of people in the streets yet but I saw a couple of people jogging and some newspaper boy biking. I walked one block away from my flat buildin and there I saw a bakery. Finally. Food.

The door was open and it looked exactly just like the ones I saw in the movies. Wooden everything. Yellow lights. Espresso machine. An oven. Fine selection of bread.

“Good morning, Miss!” The lady greeted me cheerfully and I did the same to her.

Everything looked so yummy I had a hard time choosing which delicacy I should buy. Sweet or savory? Ham or hazelnut? In the end, I got a Fruit and Custard Danish and a cup of café latte. This wasn’t exactly what I’d call a legit English breakfast. Based on my research, English breakfast consisted of eggs, sausage, and some kind of more protein or carbs. What I had now is bread and coffee but it was just perfect. My true English breakfast will have to wait. With a huge smile on my face, I went back to the flat building. I went down using the stairs but I knew I wasn’t prepared for cardio at this time of the day. So I toughened up and rode the elevator. I had to do get used to it or I would have deal with the stairs for the rest of my life here in London.

I gushed a sigh of relief the moment the elevator door popped open. It was awfully quiet along the hallway. Everybody must still be asleep. I tapped my key card on the door and went inside the flat. I walked over to the counter-top table and switched on the yellow light on top of it. I had always liked soft yellow lighting. It made everything extra calming.