London Calling

Chapter 9

I got a little freaked out when Chloe said she was taking me to the Palace. I thought we were a bit underdressed if we were to eat somewhere like a palace. But then again, I thought wrong.

 “So, this is your first time in an English pub?” Daniel asked me, looking over the rim of his gigantic beer glass.

“Yeah.” I smiled with a sigh.

Turned out the Palace was a pub a few blocks away from LAA. People who usually come there were LAA students, if not, students from other colleges or universities. It was basically a pub for the youngsters, as what Chloe described it.

Chloe, Daniel, and I were sitting at a circular table, facing one another. The lights were a bit dim but it was bright enough for us to see each others’ faces.

It was a bit loud with all the people chattering and some music blasting but it was cool. I liked it here. It was good Chloe said they eat here frequently. Maybe I’d do too.

First, I thought I wasn’t going to be able to order a meal in this place because the atmosphere streaked with the smell of beer but I underestimated the Palace. There were Cheese and Bacon Burger with Chips, Old English Pork and Sausage Mash, Pasta Pepperoni, and 8-oz rib-eye Steak, and so much more! My mouth watered just by looking at the menu, I wanted to try them all. But in the end, I got Britain’s national dish, the Fish and Chips. I know, it wasn’t as extravagant as the other choices but hey! It was their national dish

“She’s a bit weird, isn’t she?” Chloe joked.

I gasped, “No I’m not,” I rolled my eyes at her and grinned.

“You sure you don’t want beer?” Chloe asked me.

I shook my head. “No, Alcohol and I aren’t really friends.”

“Well you guys better get acquainted soon,” Chloe winked at me.

“Yeah, well, we’ll see about that,” I laughed.

“So how’s living with Elliot?” Daniel asked me. I felt my heart skip a beat when I heard Elliot’s name. Although I was completely clueless why he had an effect on me like that. Why does he have to look like that anyway? Darn hormones, of all people you could develop a little crush on, why did you have to pick that one person who I don’t think is capable of saying anything considered nice.

Wait. No. Erase. I didn’t have a crush on him. He was just…cute, that’s all.

I cleared my throat. “You were pretty accurate about him having mood swings.”

Chloe laughed out loud. “It’s intense right?”

“Is he always like that?” I asked.

Daniel rested her elbows on the table. “He’s always aloof and serious but once you get to know him, you’ll realize he’s a softie too.”

Elliot? A softie? Maybe in an alter-universe.

“But aren’t you supposed to stay with him for only a week?” Chloe asked.

“I thought Mr. Simons was a man of his words,” I rolled my eyes and took a sip of coffee. Is it weird that I’m having coffee at a pub? 

“Maybe you should just settle down and stay,” she said.

“I-iii don’t know about that,” I shook my head and smiled.

“Why?” Chloe asks a bit too much. I was hoping Daniel would start talking about something else but it seemed like he was also enjoying our topic.