Thanks so much to BGMISFUN for the editing assistance with this story. All mistakes are my own!
This is a continuation; it will make more sense if you go back and read Heathrow: Chapter One. Jenna and Tom were introduced there.
Tom poked his head out from behind Jenna.
"Martin! You're awake!"
"As I've been half the night, actually. You are aware that the wall you kept using for leverage is the same one that we both share?"
Jenna looked down at this. She knew they had been raucous, but it really hadn't occurred to her what it would be like to have to listen it from the other side of the wall. It turns out she had been right the night before, she was embarrassed to meet Martin. Martin, however, didn't seem embarrassed. He seemed pissed off. She looked up and attempted a smile.
"Hi, you must be Martin."
"Yes, how clever you must be to have put that together. You must be another one of the random bimbos Tom picks up and I have to hear him shag all night long."
Jenna set her jaw. "Well, that is the name on my passport, but I usually go by Jenna. Easier to pronounce and all."
Tom stifled a laugh. "Yeah, by the way, Martin, Jenna's going to be staying with us for a bit."
Both Jenna and Martin turned to look at him.
"I thought that was just a line to get me here for the night?" said Jenna at the same time Martin said, "There's no way I'm staying here while you entertain another one of your flings."
"Look," said Tom, aiming his comments in Martin's direction. "Jenna has no place to stay while she's here, and we're going to be gentlemen and let her stay here. I realize we were a bit inconsiderate last night and I promise I'll keep it down from now on." Turning to address Jenna, Tom said, "It was a bit of a line last night, but I really had a lot of fun with you and would like the chance to show you the city, this being your first trip to London and all. Are you in?"
A smile broke on Jenna's face. "Yeah, I'm in. Thank you."
Martin just stood there and glowered at Jenna. "Why can't she stay in a damn hotel?"
"Because," Tom said with the air of explaining something to a child, "I just asked her to stay here. She'll sleep in my room, so she won't be taking up any extra space."
"I can help with groceries and stuff, too. I'm not looking for a free ride," Jenna added.
"No, that's what Tom's doing." Martin shot at Jenna, glaring at her with an amount of contempt Jenna had never had leveled her way before. She met his gaze. She wasn't really the kind to back down, and she sensed Martin wasn't used to being challenged head on.
"And he's doing it exceptionally well. I would think you should be happy to hear what's going down on his side of the wall. That way you don't have to waste precious hand energy looking up your own porn on the internet."
Martin's mouth fell open, but he quickly recovered. Tom cleared his throat, obviously wanting to get in the middle of this before it progressed any further.
"We were actually just going to head out for lunch. Care to join?"
"Hell no. I'll leave you to it." With that, Martin whirled on his heel and headed back into his room, slamming the door behind him.
"Well, that went well." said Tom as they got outside, still trying to stifle his laughter. "I knew you two would get along."
"That was funny to you? I have to say, I didn't particularly enjoy myself."
"It seemed as though you did a little. It's not often Martin gets taken down a peg like that. I must admit, I enjoyed it. Maybe he's finally met his match."
"I'm sure he's already met his match. At the zoo maybe?"
"He's really not that bad once you get to know him. Martin and I get along pretty well, but we don't have a lot in common. He's more of an indoor type; he doesn't have very many friends. I'm more of the 'go-out-to-parties-sow-my-wild oats' type. He's a really good guy; don't get me wrong. He's just a little dull for my tastes."
Jenna looked back at the flat. She didn't think a guy who called her a whore right off the bat wouldn't necessarily qualify as a 'really good guy.' He clearly thought she was just another easy girl Tom had brought home. If she really thought about it though, that bothered her a bit. She had never been what one would call "promiscuous"; three (well, four now) guys over the course of her life time certainly didn't qualify her as easy. Still, her behavior of late was a little on the wild side, and if Martin thought she was a whore, then so be it. He could go to hell for all she cared.
Tom took Jenna to a little pub not far from where he lived. Now that Jenna had sowed a few wild oats herself, she was starting to want to go out and see the sights. That was part of the reason she had chosen England in the first place. Jenna loved history. To walk where ancient kings and queens had walked was one of the top things on her bucket list. She mentioned it to Tom as they were eating.
"I guess they just aren't that big a deal to me anymore," Tom said as he munched on his fries (although he insisted they were called chips, and Jenna had been wrong her whole life).
"I know, but please humor me. I'll go and see everything alone if I have to, but it would be so much more fun with you acting as a tour guide. At least I won't get lost."
"You know, I do have a job. I've only been able to hang out because you happened to fly in on a Friday night."
Jenna stopped. Actually, it hadn't occurred to her that he would have a job. As soon as he said it though, she didn't know how she could have not realized it sooner. Of course he had a job.
"What do you do?"
"I'm a graphic designer for the Guardian newspaper."
"Wow, that sounds very impressive. So what exactly does that mean?"
"Basically I'm in charge of the layout, deciding what goes where, if anything needs additional graphics to make it pop, that sort of thing. What do you do? Actually, now that I think about it, why are you here and not at your job in Canada? How long are you here for?"
Jenna sighed. "That's a rather large can of worms, actually. I don't know how long I'm here for. I just kinda packed up and flew over on a whim. If you want me to get out of your place at any point, just let me know," she added hastily. "There's no reason you need to support me through my journey of self-discovery."