SETTLE DOWN, matty healy

Chapter 29: A Change of Heart

Song Selection: We Don't Know by The Strumbellas

The alarm clock soon started suddenly in the dorm room, startling me. My bunkmate for the rest of the summer here, Ophelia, laughed at me this way while she was already dressed. "It's been at least two weeks already? You've got to get used to the time-zone at some point," She mentioned.

I rolled my eyes over this and stretched myself awake in bed. "Even back home, I'm still getting used to the time-zone. I don't expect much to change here," I said, causing for Ophelia to laugh at the simple joke. It wasn't long until I joined her and the other two girls rooming with us at the main hall to grab whatever was fastest to eat before heading to the first compositions of writing class of the day.

The expectations here, of course, served to be of college-level from everyone attending the summer program, causing for most students to feel overwhelmed at the weight being put on what was meant to be a fun summer. Me, I was sneaking out with the dormmates past curfew to have the summer I wanted, regardless of coursework.

"Class!" Ms. Sparrow called out to the young students in a weak attempt to try and grab our attention. Barely anyone listened, but she went along with what she was going to share anyways. "As a reminder, the program's annual trip to the Globe Theatre is tonight and I expect you all to be there. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for some people and I'm sure the future playwrights in the room would very much enjoy the experience. So please, it'll be a fun time; show up."

I laughed under my breath and turned over towards Ophelia beside me. "Y'know, I never really wanted to see the production of Romeo and Juliet. You'd think they'd have planned this for the final night of King Lear."

"Kid, we took the train the first week here for the final night?"

"Well I know that, but the program directors don't."

She shook her head, raising a brow to me. "I don't doubt my dear lover of Shakespeare here would enjoy the production tonight any less. You can't deny it." I laughed along with her over this, shoving her playfully over her being right.

"Shakespeare is a tad bit overrated y'know. Edgar Allen Poe on the other hand-" The two of us turned to the boy behind us making the comment with a small smirk. "Dear Will seems to be a bit of a cliché."

Ophelia rolled her eyes at this as I laughed under my breath. "Then don't go to the production. Some people can appreciate the clichés despite the way society has made them entirely overrated."

He smiled, nudging his head out to me specifically. "I read your poetry the other day. Y'know, for the peer read commenting." Remembering this from a few days ago vaguely, I recalled the comments left on the piece. "It was good writing."

"You called it melodramatic in the margins." I raised a brow to him as he cleared his throat awkwardly, the professor attempting to gather the attention of a class lacking any sense of fear to her authority. The class ended soon enough after a lecture of history on English literature in the 1600s.

Ophelia and I made our way out quickly, hoping to catch the next train into Manchester while we had the chance and maybe take another train down to Liverpool for a Beatles- "Hey!" I turned back to see the boy from inside and scoffed at his hurried attempts.

"Someone has caught themself in a one-sided love affair."

"C'mon Ophelia, no Elvis references now. You said you'd make your Beatles jokes and I was supporting your love for Ringo Starr, but I don't know how many other references I can take from you," I joked with her, continuing to walk along beside being called out to.

He stopped in front of us suddenly, having us take a side-step from him. Pushing back his hair to maintain his charisma, he maintained a charming smile nonetheless. "I'm Charlie by the way."

I nodded. "Okay, nice to talk to you Charles. If you'll excuse us, my friend and I have plans." Taking my hand into Ophelia's before she could stop me from continuing our plans for the day, she pouted over to me. "Don't say it-"

"Y'know he's been eyeing you since the start of the program right?"

"Then he can keep eyeing me, this isn't what I came here for."

"At least throw the poor puppy a bone, look at him." We turned back to him slumped in deep thought now as she grinned widely over to me, making me groan in annoyance. "He's from around here. He'll know more places to stop by than I do."

Not helping to agree with her point, I sighed deeply and looked back over to Charlie. "Hey Charles!" The boy looked up to me wide-eyed as I sighed under my breath. "You know your way around Liverpool?"

Making his way over to us he laughed at the small comment. "If you want a free tour to small Beatles locations, I'm your guy."

"Well c'mon then, we're in a hurry here."

***

Rushing down to the subway station once again, collectibles and photos inside of each of our hands, seeing the closing of the doors suddenly caused for us to stir in worry. "We're gonna barely make it!" Charlie called out.

"Not with that attitude, kick up the speed Charles!" I told him, leading the way to the subway already filled with passengers. Slamming into the walls suddenly as the doors shut behind the three of us, we painted for breath for a moment before suddenly laughing out of pure hysteria. "And you thought running from Abbey Road wouldn't get us here on time."

Ophelia grinned over to me. "Y'know we've got to carry this to the Globe Theatre then genius?"

Raising his hands in defense, Charlie turned over his backpack that barely contained anything inside. "No need to fear, just put everything inside. I'll carry it in." The two of us nodded, shoving the memorabilia in whatever space we had in the backpack. Looking out to the glimpses of darkness from the station as we continued to pass through, the other two continued to recount the adventures through Liverpool that was had today. Taking out the small journal and pen that was the only objects I could fit into the mini yellow submarine deco-designed backpack, I flipped through the filled pages for a moment.

December 10th,

It's snowing in Manchester now with only days until the Christmas festivities. The shop down the pond had the perfect gift for Emma to add to the rest of the package I'm sending for her today. The cliché tourists visiting the city is exactly the kind of idea she expects me to be doing whenever I'm back home I think. Bless her heart that she thinks I've actually gone to the Globe Theatre. The woman still has my heart regardless- Until the next day.

~M.H.

"Emma? We're at the stop?" Ophelia nudged me in concern as I shut the journal suddenly and nodded to have the two of them exchange a quick glance before turning to me. "You've always got at least two journals with you. Pure dedication if you asked me.

I laughed at this and nodded to tuck it away once again and follow them out to the stage. Charlie eyed me for a moment with a small frown as Ophelia soon led the way, looking around wide-eyed at the city lights. "Clearly something has you frowning." I turned to him surprised over this. "If you need to talk about it?"

I shook my head and smiled to him graciously. "I'll be alright, thanks-" He raises a brow to me. "Charles."

"It's Charlie there, Emma."

"I prefer Charles. Now! To the Globe!"

A/N okay but why am I sad I broke up my own ship lmao. update should be soon, love you guys.

~J.S. 💋