Jim and Oli

The Castle

This was about the most amazing place I'd ever been to. I had been walking with Jim for a few hours, just talking like we do when I come back from uni at the end of each term when we suddenly stumbled across this incredible ruin. It looks like it was once a medieval castle, maybe a monastery.

"My God Oli, this is mad. What is this place?" We both looked around, totally awestruck with this jewel of a find.

"I had no clue places like this even existed around here," I said, running my hands across the ancient stone. The history which radiated off this place was absolutely magical like something ripped straight out of a novel. "Are there any signs or plaques?"

Jim scoured the walls and floor for any clues as to what place this was, whilst I took out my phone to see if the internet held any clues. Damn! "No service Jim! Maybe a dead spot or the walls might be messing with the signal. I'm going to step out and see if the service is better outside." Jim gave me a thumbs up and I stepped out from within the open-top ruins.

Nope, the signal is no better outside. Typical of rural England, as soon as you need them the data gods decide to take a holiday. May as well head back inside and help Jim look for more clues.

However, when I re-enter the ruins Jim was laying on his coat and just staring up at the soft summer sky. "Didn't find anything then?"

"Nope, not a thing. This place is beautiful though." Jim smiled as I laid my coat out next to him and copied his position.

"I can't disagree with you there my friend, I can't disagree with you one bit."

We lay quietly for a while, just staring as the occasional wispy cloud sailed slowly past. "Oli?"

"Jim?"

"I've missed you." I turned away from the sky to look at my best friend, who was still transfixed on the bright blue expanse.

"I missed you too mate, so much." He then turned to look me right in the eye, the love pouring out of him as we simply stared at each other for what felt like hours.

It was only when the warmth of a summer's afternoon turned into the brisk chill of a summer's evening that we came back into the real world. The warmth of each other's company no longer being sufficient to keep my poorly circulating body from shivering, we decided to put our jackets back on and begin the walk home, or at least to the bus stop.

The good thing about Jim deciding to take a year off between college and university is that he's had a lot of time on his hands. This has meant that he and his mum have been able to convert their old barn into the most amazing place for Jim to live. A high ceiling throughout the barn creates the perfect feeling of roominess and allows for plenty of cooling on a warm summer's day. A balcony bedroom overlooking the main living area of the barn is perhaps the coolest thing I've ever seen in my entire life. Beneath the bedroom is a small dining area with a small kitchen off to the side and a bathroom through the next door. The main living area is mainly populated with a large L-shaped sofa which faces a huge projector screen which is connected to both his Wii and PS4.

This particular night was a Wii Sports Resort kind of a night, as I satisfyingly smashed him at swordplay, dogfighting and cycling; he did manage to clinch a win at archery and bowling but that's neither here nor there.

For dinner, we had a pizza which Liz, Jim's mum, had very kindly brought us. Over dinner, we discussed the future. "So, Oli mate, when are you going back to uni?"

"Term officially starts on 21st September but I start paying rent on 1st September so I'll probably head off somewhere between those two dates. What about you? Off to Bournemouth this year aren't you?"

"Well," begins Jim, an element of anticipation in his voice, "I think I've decided to forgo university altogether."

"Oh really? Why's that?"

"I spoke to some folks on my course and they said it wasn't really all that worth it. Just a lot of filler and time-wasting and not a lot of new stuff compared to what we already learned at college. So, I figured what's the point in spending all that money to learn stuff I already know."

"Yeah, sure, that makes total sense."

"Because for you, like, with classics there's always so much more to learn, especially at Oxford; but for me, I've hit a bit of a brick wall when it comes to film academia because that's not what I want to do and that what uni offers me. I may as well just start, it's just fear that's holding me back. Mum says she'll support me whatever I choose to do so I'm really in the best position I can be in."

"You know what, that's amazing. You've taken the initiative and you're doing what you love, and I love you for that. And for what it's worth, I absolutely think you're doing the right thing. You're in a position where you can follow your dreams, so I say go for it."

"Thanks, man, I knew you'd understand. I haven't decided if I'm gonna move out though. There's not a lot of stuff to film out here, so maybe I'll move to a town or something but I haven't--" I cut him off with a hand in the air. I've had the most amazing idea.

"James."

"Oliver."

"I've had the most amazing idea."

"Yes?"

"Come to Oxford with me!!" Jim's face light's up like a Christmas tree.

"Oh, God! Are you serious?!"

"Of course I'm serious, it's just me in that flat and I'd literally die for company. I have no friends in Oxford and you're far better at all that than I am."

"This is going to be the best year ever!!"

This will be amazing, me and my best friend living together in Oxford having the best time of our lives. University Year One: The Phantom Menace. University Year Two: Electric Boogawooooooooooooo!!!