Serendipitous Fate

Chapter 2: Arriving in London

I get off the plane and head to baggage claim. I decide to zone out and put my iPod in. Selecting the song Happliy. I know it’s a little pathetic being in college while being a secret directioner, but I just love them! While I hum along to the chorus I arrive at the baggage claim searching for my enormous black and bulky suitcase. I find it at last and go in and reach for it. I bump into a very handsome, tan boy reaching for his luggage as well. My earphones pop out and I just smile and laugh a little. He reaches for my bag and hands it to me. “Here you go. Must be a long trip.” He smiles at me and grabs his bag, quite swiftly I might add. Man I could never be that graceful. I just smile again and say, “Oh I’m actually studying abroad in London.” He reaches his hand out for me to shake and says, “Hi I’m Thomas.” I shake his hand and note his slight accent; sounds thick, must not be from central England. “Maya nice to meet you, and thanks for grabbing my bag.” He just looks down at his shoes and then up at me again saying, “Well welcome to London! Let me hail you a cab, can’t leave you with a bad impression of locals!”

As we start to walk out we notice a bunch of screaming girls around the edge of the arrivals gate and paparazzi with cameras. I remark, “They must be waiting for someone. Who could possibly be that important that there are cameramen and a bunch of screaming girls? Is it the Beckhams?” Thomas chuckles as he says with a smile. “Close, but it’s actually One Direction back from their European leg of their tour. They usually fly into this airport and make this much din.” “Wow” is all I can say as I think of all that chaos you have to meet when getting off a plane just wanting to go home and relax. Even celebrities must want that.

We exit the airport as Thomas hails a cab for me. “Here you go, let me get the door,” He opens the taxi for me and motions with his left hand for me to get in as he hands the taxi driver me luggage. “Such a gentlemen, I’m sure not all locals are like you.” Thomas laughs at that revealing his dazzling smile, “Well when I went abroad to America last fall I did not get a warm welcome when I stayed. So I thought I would make sure that doesn’t happen to another traveler. Plus I love showing the beautiful sites of London. Do you need a tour guide for this afternoon?” He slides in and expects me to give the taxi driver the address of where I am staying at, when I realize that’s what he is expecting I quickly say, “Sorry it’s- 115 New Cavendish St., London. Please.” As Thomas starts to babble something about this being a new renovation to Heathrow, I start to wonder why he is being so nice to me. But then I realize he can’t be a creep he’s dressed nice and is in college. I turn to ask him, “Thomas, why are you being so nice to me and helping me with sightseeing and stuff?” It was kind of an abrupt question after all; I just interrupted his tip on hailing a taxi on the streets of London. He just looks at me and says with this sincere look, making me realize just how much more innocent and small I am compared to him. “May, mind if I call you that?” I just nod my head. Even though I have always hated it when people shortened my name. He continues, “ I don’t know if you have already noticed or not,” gesturing to his nice apparel and shoes. “I’m gay, you shouldn’t be worried of me taking advantage of you. Plus I told you; I love giving tours of London. Is it still okay if I give you a tour? In fact I’ll make sure you get to your uni safe and then I’ll walk to a coffee shop where we can meet in about five hours so you can get everything settled and meet everybody?” I just nodded my head while trying to hide the fact that I was blushing bright pink out of embarrassment. I hadn’t really connected any of that. I look at him with a look of gratitude in my eyes, “Thanks Thomas. That sounds perfect. Thanks for helping me, and being my first friend in London. He hands me his phone to put my number in it so he can text me directions when I get ready to leave. We arrive at Westminster University. “Wow sweet digs sister.” He gives me a smile and tells me to get out so he can pay for the cab. “No! I cannot let you do that! You’ve already been so nice to me!” He just shakes his head and says, “I know you probably don’t have much of the right currency do you?” Oh crap I knew I forgot something! I just look dumbfounded and give him my best. “Thanks Thomas I’ll see you around 8?” He looks at me and says, “See ya then mate!” I just laugh, that sounds so cool with an English accent! I wave back as he walks the other direction. I take a deep breath and turn around ready to enter the new university I’ll be staying at, and studying- can’t forget that!