Thanks so much to BGMISFUN for the editing assistance with this story.
This is the first in a series; there will be more to come!
*
So, there she was. All alone in Heathrow Airport, having just come to London on what was now looking like a really foolish spontaneous decision.
Well, now what?
She wondered. She thought of all of the people back home who had told her this trip was a really bad idea. She could hear her mother's voice ringing in her ears...
"What exactly are you going to do when you get there?"
"I have no idea, Mom. That's kinda the point."
"Well, this seems like a really childish way to spend the money you received. I'm more than a little surprised at your immaturity in this."
Well, Mom, that's also the point,
she thought as she looked around the airport. All her life, she had been the good girl. You know the type. All around goodie two shoes. She was always the dependable one, the one you could call in a pinch and she would drop what she was doing to do what someone else should be doing. She organized all of the family functions, played mediator when necessary, and smoothed everything over. She was on student council in high school, sang in the choir, and helped organize pep rallies. She had never married, which she knew pained her parents. Her mother never seemed to tire of reminding her of it, at any rate.
She had dated of course, but the guys always seemed so ... pleasant. It didn't sound like a bad thing at first, but there was always this small seed of adventure in her. Something prevented her from "settling down," as it were. She did all the things she did because there was a very strong sense of obligation, but she couldn't quite bring herself to commit to a life with someone and put down roots. Still, it probably would have happened eventually, if only she hadn't been ...
no.
She wasn't going to dwell on it. What had happened had happened, and it had given her the means to come on this trip.
She shook her head, trying to clear it. The entire purpose of this trip was to get away. She had just wanted to get away from the memories, from the responsibilities, from the person she was back at home. She wanted to be able to do things she had never done before, without looking over her shoulder to make sure there was no one standing there judging her behavior. If she had learned one thing growing up in the church community, it was that everything she did or said would inevitably make its way back to her folks. She just wanted to cuss every once in a while, you know? Well, maybe a little more than that, to be honest. And that was what this trip was all about.
So, there she was. Alone, in a different country, acting in a way that was totally contrary to everything she had ever done. And she had no idea what to do next. Shit.
"Hey. Are you lost? Can I help?"
She turned around to see a pair of bright green eyes, staring quizzically at her face. Those eyes were framed by a pair of dark glasses on a slightly tanned face, and dirty blond hair that just brushed the top of the frames. She was taken aback for a moment, and then regained her senses.
"No thanks. I'm fine," came automatically out of her mouth.
He looked at her for a moment longer, and then said, "Okay, you just looked a little confused. Cheers, then."
She struggled internally for a moment. She was definitely not fine. She had no idea where to go, no idea what part of London she should head to, and no idea where she was going to sleep that night. She may as well start relying on the kindness of strangers.
"Wait! Wait a minute, please," she called out at his retreating back.
He turned, smiling. A sort of smirk that made her think he knew she was going to call him back. It was also possible she was tired after a long flight and reading too much into this.
"I'm really not fine. I just flew in on a bit of a spur of the moment thing, and I have no plans or reservations, and I know almost nothing about the city. Can you recommend a nice clean hotel that's not too expensive?" she asked him, growing more and more irritated with the smirk he was wearing.
There was something behind the smug expression though, something that caught her interest. His eyes were kind. The type that you could really lose yourself in, ones that laughed all the time. Also, his body wasn't bad either if she were honest with herself.
He was still smirking at her. "Well," he said, "I could, but if you're here on a bit of an adventure, I may have something better." His eyes were looking her up and down, but she didn't let that faze her.
"Is it the backseat of your car? Because fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me."
He looked at her for a moment and started to laugh. She smiled too, even though she was still more than a little nervous about what she had done in coming here. Humor had always been a bit of a defense mechanism for her.
"I have a flat with a mate not far from here. It's not much, but it's clean and much cheaper than a hotel. I get a good feeling from you. You're welcome to stay with us, if you like."
She gaped at him. "Are you serious? You're serious. Do you do this often? Hang around the airport trolling for lost looking women you can invite back to your flat? Does it ever work?"
"That's a lot of judgment coming from someone who just hopped a flight to London without making any plans. Is that your usual way of doing things?"
She felt a little self-conscious. "No, actually. I'm usually a very well organized, ducks-in-a-row kind of person. But coming here is supposed to be the beginning of me not always doing what I've done in the past."
"Well, all the more reason to come to my place. I promise, you won't regret it."
