Alfie POV
Fuck! Why are London streets constantly busy? I think as I rush by a group of tourist. They were French I noticed as I kept going, almost sprinting now. The city was buzzing more than usually. The Olympics were around the corner. Even though I don’t care about sports all that much, it’s nice to see so many parts of the world all gathered together for one mutual thing. But not tonight though, tonight I was late. Dammit I mutter looking down at my phone. I’m almost an hour late meeting Marcus at Nandos. I put my phone back in my pocket and picked up the pace. Marcus probably already sat down and ordered by now, maybe even stated eating. I can see him all tan and healthy looking sitting in the booth, smirking, looking at the clock. Whatever I thought, I’ll make something up for me being late. Far ahead I could make out the glowing red sign. I was almost there but it didn’t go as quickly as I wanted with all these people around. I stated to wade through the crowd trying desperately to keep my feet intact. That’s when I saw her. The first thing that popped into my head was that she was absolutely tiny. It wouldn’t surprise me if she stepped out of a children’s book about woodland animals or something. Also her eyes were piercing and I found myself staring. A silent wow slipped out my mouth. She had her hair all collected in a bun on top of her head and her dress flowed in the wind around her legs. She was beautiful. There was something about her and even though I’ve never seen her before in my life I just wanted to go up and talk to her. I saw her making her way towards me, her bag slapping against her hip as she walked. She was talking on the phone and as she passed me, completely unaware of me staring at her. I could hear bits of her conversation. – Chummy why are London streets always so busy? she said and moved the phone from one ear to the other. – I can’t help but to feel trapped. My head turned as she kept walking along the street. Her hair bun bouncing up and down after each step she took. I stood there looking after her until I no longer could make her out from the crowd. To be honest I didn’t even noticed that I’ve stopped until a middle-aged man, also on the phone, crashes into me. “Sorry” I turned to apologize but he was already on his way. There I was standing the middle of the payment just trying to collect my thoughts as they were racing through my mind. That girl, there really was something about her. But she had this unhappy look on her face. I shook my head. That’s when I remembered. Shit Marcus! I totally forgot about him for a moment there. I start running towards the restaurant trying to shake of the thoughts of this girl. I finally make my way in to the restaurant and there sitting in a booth over by the corner was Marcus smiling looking down at his phone. He’d already started to eat, I knew it! And he was really tan. That kind of tan you never could get in the UK. Since he hadn’t noticed me yet I shouted – Hey how is that tan even real? as I made my way to his table. He turned his head to look at me. –Oi there you are you lazy butt” I chuckle as I slide onto the seat opposite him. –Shut up, my train... Marcus interrupts –Was late yeah yeah whatever. I can’t help but to laugh. He looks at me amused. –Mate we both know you fell asleep. I nod laughing. He really fucking knows me to well. I smack him jokingly on the side of head. It’s good to see him again. –Yum I say as I take a bit of his chicken kebab. –I need food since like yesterday and I see you stared without me. I say with a pretend annoyance in my voice. –You’re an hour late Alf, suit yourself Marcus says mockingly crossing his arms grinning. A waitress comes and takes my order and we continue to bicker about little things. I tell him about how boring my summer’s been and about how weird it’s been all alone. When my food arrives I ask him again. Seriously though mate, is that tan ever for real? He takes a sip of his coke and when he swallowed he says –That’s America for you baby! This leads us on to how his summer holiday with Niomi was. As Marcus tells me all about Florida and how he had the best trip my mind slowly trail of. It’s not that I don’t care, I do. It all sounds very exciting and the things they did sound so cool. It sounds like they had a lot of fun. But the thing is, I just can’t stop thinking about that girl in the street. It feels cheesy just thinking about it that way. But what even got into me back there? I still cannot escape the fact that I wish I knew her. I can’t. I wonder what her name is? I feel so embarrassed thinking like this, im not like this usually. Why am I stressing out over a girl I say in the streets of London? I shake my head slightly , getting a part of my fringe in my eyes. Get it together Alfie I tell myself. What’s up with you today? That’s when I realized Marcus has now stopped talking and are looking at me with concern. –Are you alright mate? You look really pale. I look up at him sweeping my fringe out of my eyes and grins. –Well that’s because I’ve spent my summer in bed, sleeping. I chortle trying to change the subject. –Well that’s explains why I you blend in with the wall behind you. But seriously, something’s up. He looks at me weirdly and I stuff my mouth full of chicken in a failed attempt to buy me some more time. –Dude c’mon just tell me! He’s looking right at me, his eyes curious. I sigh, put down my fork and say –It’s just weird. It’s just something really odd, okey. But I saw this girl on my way here and now I can’t get her out my head. It spills out of my mouth. I didn’t even talk to her but I just can’t seem to be able to stop thinking about her. I might have sunstroke.
