Chapter 6

I woke up the next morning feeling quite disoriented. I have no idea where I am and I knew that I wasn’t home either. The bed was way too comfortable. I opened my eyes to find the familiar white walls of Jessie’s spare bedroom and the events of last night suddenly flooded my thoughts. I don’t know if it was due to my tired state or what but all I know is I nearly made a huge mistake and I was not okay with that. I nearly kissed Jess last night and the last thing I needed was to ruin this friendship we had. For all I know, I’ve already made it awkward between us.

We were so physically close last night, but do I have those sort of feelings for her? There’s no denying that she’s absolutely drop dead gorgeous. Anyone could see that but I know by now that Jess is probably the sweetest person I’ve ever met. I know for a fact that I do care about her deeply and well, it’s possible that I feel more than that for her. Either way, I’m not willing to ruin what we have now for the sake of some feelings I may or may not have, especially when she doesn’t feel the same way.

I shook the thoughts out of my head and decided that I should probably get motivated for the day ahead. I know that I’m supposed to be going out to lunch with Jess and her friends but I’m not sure how much I was looking forward to that. Of course I love spending time with Jess and I’m sure her friends are great but I still can’t help but feel a bit apprehensive. Old habits die hard I suppose but I know it’s something I need to work through. If there’s anything I’ve learned in the last couple weeks it’s that shutting people out is definitely no way to live life.

As I sat up the first thing I noticed was that foggy feeling in my head of being just sick. You know that feeling you get when you just want to lie in bed for a month? It was that. My apparent cold seems to have hit me with a vengeance and it wasn’t backing down any time soon. Here’s to hoping it gets better from here because there’s no way I’m missing any work.

I got up slowly, hoping that the dizzy feeling would subside and it did somewhat as I started walking around. I walked over to the dresser in the corner of the room and noticed Jess had laid some clothes out for me to wear today, thoughtful as always. She left me a pair of black leggings along with an oversized grey sweater which seemed to be the popular look around here. I can’t say I dislike it but it’s different from what I normally wear.

I got dressed rather quickly and looked in the mirror of the en suite as I decided if it was worth the struggle to do something with my hair. It actually didn’t look too bad today considering the rest of me looked like shit. I noticed my complexion was looking a bit pale and I couldn’t figure out if it was because I was sick or if sunless London was finally having its way with me. I ran my fingers through my hair a few more times before I walked out and decided to go find Jess.

As soon as I opened the bedroom door I could immediately hear Jess’s voice floating up from what seemed to be the living room. I made my way slowly toward the stairs as I listened to her sing. I’d never heard her actually sing out loud before and I was shocked at how beautiful her voice actually was. Well, not really shocked but it was better than I had imagined it would be.

I listened to the words she was singing as I descended the stairs quietly but I didn’t recognize the song. It must be a song that she’s written herself or maybe I was just out of the loop with the whole music scene, which isn’t completely untrue.

As I rounded the corner and walked into the living room I saw Jess sitting on the floor beside her coffee table. She had a notebook in front of her which I noticed she was writing in as she sang. I tried to be as quiet as possible so I wouldn’t disturb her but of course my annoying as hell cough made it pretty obvious I was in the room. Much to my disappointment, Jess stopped singing as soon as I made a sound and looked up at me.

“Hey, babe,” she smiled, closing the book in front of her and laying it under the table. “Sleep all right?”

“Yeah, thanks,” I said as I sat down on the couch. Jess got up from the floor and took a seat beside of me. “You’ve got a beautiful voice you know.”

I glanced over at her as I said this and noticed a slight blush creeping up her face at my words.

“Thank you,” she said shyly. “Erm, Holly and Clair wanted to meet in the next thirty minutes. Are you all right with leaving now?”

“Sure,” I said as I stood up, stretching slightly. “Where are we meeting at?”

I followed Jess to the front door after she grabbed her purse. She had to wait until my latest coughing fit was over before she answered me.

“Just a small café we go to sometimes. It’s nice and quiet there,” she said as she slipped her shoes on.

I glanced at my phone as we walked out and noticed it was already going on eleven o’clock. Well shit I’ve slept half the day away. Jess opened the passenger door for me and I thanked her as I got in.

During our drive there, Jess was abnormally quiet. Well, any type of quiet for her was odd. Usually she talked my head off the whole time when we were together but she’s hardly said anything today. I’m normally the type of person who enjoys comfortable silence but I enjoyed listening to Jess talk. I could probably listen to her talk all day long actually.

“Jess, are you all right?” I finally asked her. She responded with a slight laugh and I turned to look at her, confused.

“You’re the one that’s been practically coughing up a lung for the last few days and you ask me if I’m all right?” she said incredulously.

“You’re just quiet today is all.”

“Oh, sorry. I guess I’m still a bit tired,” she said. Hmm.

About thirty minutes later Jess parked in front of this cute café we were supposed to be meeting her friends, Holly and Clair. Jess told me that they’ve all been best friends since they were little but other than that I knew nothing about them. Jess turned the car off and turned to me, offering me one of her flawless smiles.

“You ready?” she asked, her excitement finally showing through.

“Yep!” I said cheerfully as I opened my door and stepped outside.

Jess walked over to me and grabbed my hand without hesitation. She laced her fingers through mine as we walked toward the front door of the café. I held onto her hand tightly as we walked in. Now that we were actually here I was feeling a little nervous. Jess’s friends are so important to her, I want to make the best impression that I can.

Jess only had to look around for a second before she spotted them at one of the tables way in the back. It wasn’t too hard considering there were only two other people here besides all of us. I heard Jess squeal slightly as she pulled me toward their tables quickly.

“So is this the famous Elena you’ve been talking nonstop about?”

“Holly! And yes this is Elena,” Jess said, looking slightly red in the face at Holly’s comment. “You guys be nice to her.”

Holly smiled innocently as Jess before turning to me and pulling me into a friendly hug.

“It’s nice to finally meet you. I’ve heard so much about you,” she said.

“All good, I hope,” I said with a laugh. I didn’t expect Jess to have mentioned me much to her friends but now that I know she has I felt quite flattered to be honest.

“Definitely all good,” Holly winked. “And you’re just as gorgeous as Jess said you are.”

“Right, well let’s order our food. I’m starving,” Jess interrupted, glaring slightly at Holly. She took my hand and pulled me into the booth next to her while Holly sat across from me and Clair next to her.

“So, Elena how long have you lived in London?” Clair asked curiously as she looked up from her menu.

“About four months now, I think. Not very long anyway,” I answered.

“Oh really? How are you liking it here?” she asked with a smile.

“It’s very cold,” I laughed. “But I’m getting used to it now.”

Just then, a waitress walked over to take our orders. I didn’t have very much money on me so I ended up just ordering a cup of coffee.

“Aren’t you hungry?” Holly asked as I gave my order.

“No, I’m fine,” I lied. I was starved out of my mind right now to be honest. I could feel Jess’s gaze almost burning a hole into the side of my face and her eyes narrowed slightly as I caught her gaze. I raised my eyebrows slightly but she only sighed and turned back to the waitress.

“I’ll have the chicken sandwich and so will she,” Jess said, gesturing to me. “Put her coffee on my bill as well.”

“Jess…” I started to protest but she ignored me and started talking to Holly about some dance thing. I know that Jess is just looking out for me but I hate the thought of her spending money on me, especially when I have no way of repaying her. I was grateful, don’t get me wrong, but I’ve just always hated the idea of things being handed to me.

“So, Elena,” Holly’s voice broke me out of my thoughts. “Since we’re obviously going to be seeing more of each other why don’t you tell us about yourself?”

“Oh um, okay. What do you want to know?” I asked.

“Well, what do you like to do in your free time?” she asked simply.

Fairly easy question, I suppose. At least we weren’t getting personal. Well not yet anyway. I can only imagine what kind of questions Holly and Clair might have in their heads.

“I don’t get a lot of free time these days where I work so much but I do like to draw,” I said, recalling the sketchbook I brought with me from home that I have yet to look at. I think I still had it sitting in a drawer.

“Oh, you’ll have to show us sometime,” Holly smiled. “Jess was really into art before she started working so much.”

Jess did mention at one time that she liked anything to do with art so I should have expected as much.

“You’re working as a waitress right now, right?” Clair asked.

“Yeah just until I can find something here with my degree. I had to take what I could find where my move was so sudden,” I explained.

“What were you doing before?” Holly asked.

“It was a marketing type thing for a company I worked for. My degree is in business so it’s pretty versatile. I haven’t been able to find anything here yet but I’m still looking all the time,” I said.

Our conversation was interrupted by the arrival of our food which, although I wasn’t happy about Jess paying for me, I was happy to eat either way. I kind of thought all conversation would die down once we started eating but I should have known better seeing as Jess’s friends were just as talkative as her.

“So,” Holly started, dragging out the word. “Have you found anyone of interest since you’ve been in London?”

“What do you mean?” I asked, tilting my head to the side.

“You know. Any love interests?” Holly said more specifically.

“Oh, uh. No, I doubt I’ll go down that road any time soon,” I answered.

“Why not?” Jess suddenly piped up next to me. She’d been quiet up until now which, again, was odd for her.

“I don’t know, really. It’s just not something I’m looking for right now. I guess if the right person came along,” I shrugged.

About a half hour and a million and one questions later we were all done with our lunch. Jess was quietly listening the entire time and even Holly and Clair questioned her odd behavior. Just as she had before, she put it off as being tired which may have been true. She just got back from travelling yesterday after all.

As for me, I didn’t think it was possible but my cold was getting worse and worse. The coughing came more frequently and I was started to just feel like shit all around. All I know is that it had better be gone by tomorrow because there’s no way I’m missing work.

“Elena, are you all right?” Holly asked as we started to gather our things. “You’re starting to look a bit pale.”

Jess and Clair looked over at me as well, now examining my face with concern.

“She’s right, you do look a bit ill,” Clair said quietly.

“Do you want me to take you to the doctor?” Jess asked as she picked up her keys.

“No, I’m fine, Jess. I think I just need to go home and get some sleep,” I said, dismissing the issue.

“That’s what you said yesterday,” I heard Jess mutter as she took my hand again and led me out to her car. We both said goodbye to Clair and Holly after promising that we would all get together again. I was actually looking forward to seeing them again. They were great and I really enjoyed our lunch together, even if Jess was a bit off today.

I directed Jess to my apartment as she drove and I noticed her expression was getting more and more perplexed as we got closer. When we finally did get there, Jess turned to me and looked at me with her eyebrows furrowed.

“This is where you live?” she said incredulously.

“Yeah. Why is something wrong?” I asked, confused.

“Elena you’re a really long way from everything… And you’ve been walking from here to work every day? No wonder you’re sick as hell,” she said.

“Really, it’s fine,” I said.

“No, it’s not fine,” she said sternly. “What’s your work day like tomorrow?”

“Erm, I’ve got a twelve hour shift tomorrow so nine to nine,” I said.

“Right, well I have to work in the morning but I’m picking you up from work tomorrow night,” she said. “Don’t even try to argue with me either. I know you’re feeling sicker than what you let on.”

I frowned slightly, trying to think of a way out. Buying me lunch was one thing but picking me up from work when I was perfectly capable of walking, well I don’t know. She was right though. All the walking in the cold has gotten me sick and I feel so drained now that it might do me some good to get a ride from Jess.

“Okay.”

“What?” Jess said, disbelief showing through her tone.

“I said, okay. I’ll see you tomorrow night okay?” I said, as I opened the car door. “And thanks for lunch today.”

“You’re welcome. Call me if you need anything,” she called after me.

I waved at her as she drove off and slowly walked up to my apartment. I was really starting to feel ill now and all I really wanted was my bed. I didn’t even bother changing out of the clothes I wore today as I crawled under the blankets.

A/N  Wooo finally updated. I'm so sorry for the long periods in between chapters but some things happened that I just couldn't help this week. Anyways, I'm gonna start the next part tomorrow and possibly have it up tomorrow night as well. Maybe. I'm trying my best to get back on track with regular updates so thank you guys for sticking with me :)

Let me know what you think :D And if you have any questions just leave a comment or message me.