Coffee and Love

Living Like Royalty

“How was the first day of the internship?” Sam asked as we sat on the floor of our living room (lounge as it was advertised) and ate pizza straight from the box. She was still in her dark purple scrubs, light brown hair in a messy bun and shoes neatly placed by the door. She’d come in from her work at the clinic down the street and practically collapsed next to me with the pizza.

“Uh…I was late to meet my supervisor. Which she didn’t find amusing until I told her why. Then she introduced me to what I’d be doing. None of my coworkers said a word to me…mostly because I refused to make eye contact and sat in the corner and ate lunch alone.” I shook my head and took another bite of pizza. “Who said interning in another country was going to be fun?”

“You did.” Sam laughed. “This was all your idea. You applied to BBC. You convinced me and the others to apply for London internships also. You are the reason we are here in this little flat.”

“Which might explain why it’s still not unpacked.” Gia teased as she joined us on the floor. “We need furniture.”

“It comes tomorrow.” I promised “They called me today at work and apologized for the delay. They’re refunding us part of our money. At least our other stuff arrived.”

“Oh yes, it’s so useful to have bedding but no bed, Nikki.” Gia rolled her eyes “And no table. And no way to cook food.”

“Admit it, we still would’ve ordered pizza.” I reminded them “We’re much too lazy and jetlagged to cook.” I finished my pizza and got up off the floor, wiping imaginary dust off of my leggings. “Have you talked to Lauren and Jess? Did they settle into their place fine?”

“Yes, it’s adorable. I stopped by on my way here.” Gia, who was currently taking art classes at some fancy studio, informed us. “They have it looking wonderful. They wanna see our place, but I told them about Nikki’s scheduling fiasco.”

“I thought I told the company the right date, shut up.” I washed my hands in the sink, leaning forward on the counter to look at my friends.

“Why were you late for meeting your supervisor?” Sam asked.

I was grateful for her change in topic so Gia could stop teasing me about our lack of furniture. “Oh, you’re going to love this. I was walking down the hall, miserably lost like usual, when suddenly I felt like hot lava had been thrown on me.  I looked up to see-“

“Dan and Phil.” Sam interrupted, her eyes going wide.

“Yeah, how did you know? This totally ruins the surprise of me telling you I met them!” I scoffed.

“Phil tweeted about it this morning. ‘Met the new BBC Radio One intern today and threw coffee on her #awkward’. I didn’t think anything of it; I assumed there’s tons of interns working for them. But it was you! How dare you not tell me!” Sam shouted “you met them! You actually met them! Are they wonderful? Tell me they’re wonderful.”

“I wouldn’t really know if they’re ‘wonderful’. Phil threw coffee on me and then Dan ran off to get tissues. Phil and I talked a little bit awkwardly and then bumped heads and I ran away. My supervisor found it funny.” I shrugged “Dan seemed really nice and Phil was just…awkward. He gave me his…oh, I’m still wearing it.” I tugged at the blue fabric around me. “Well, shit.”

“I was going to ask where you got that.” Gia said “it’s very obviously a guy’s. Guess you’ll have to see him again and give it back.” She wiggled her eyebrows at me “And then you’ll fall madly in love.”

“Uh. No, he’s famous and older than me and British and I’m a lost American girl. Besides, I’m focusing on this internship” I rolled my eyes “I’m tired, I’ll see you guys tomorrow.”

“Not me, I’ve got the opening shift at the clinic. Puppies and Kittens need feeding early.” Sam sighed dramatically. “But maybe when you get back…if I’m not passed out.”

“I’ll be out all day hiking with Aaron, we’re gonna paint on site.” Gia grinned excitedly.