Always Here

“God, when did Johnny Depp get so grimy?” I said to no one in particular as I flipped through an old issue of Us Weekly. I was sitting in a deliciously comfortable leather massage chair while watching my toenails being painted a deep red. It was a toasty 92 outside so Madison and I found a safe haven in the closest nail spa.

“He peaked too early, I think,” said Madison from her neighboring pedicure chair. “All the hot 90’s babes did; just look at Leo Dicaprio.”

“Hey, Leo’s still got it! If he shaved his beard I’d hit that any day.” I giggled and brought my eyes back down to the obnoxious (and ultimately enjoyable) ‘Celebrities, they’re just like us!’ portion of the magazine.

After a few more minutes of literally watching paint dry, we slipped our flip-flops back on and ventured back out into the heat.

“Ugh, when is Harry going to be home? I know family is important of whatever but he’s been gone for three weeks. It’s so lonely in Norbert.” Harry, my best friend, has gone to visit his family in England for summer break. We share a loft that we’ve nicknamed Norbert. The name Norbert doesn’t actually mean anything to either of us, we both kind of just settled on calling it that due to the general air of the place. Something about it just screams, “Call me a cute, ungeneric nickname! Like Norbert! Woo!”

“I still think it’s weird that you call your apartment that.” Madison said, laughing. Madison and I were really good friends. Not as close as Harry and I, but the next best thing.

I giggled and linked arms with her, “Some people just don’t understand the deeper meaning. You know—the underlying tone.”

“Ha! Okay Miss English-Major. What is the deeper meaning to naming your house after that one dragon in Harry Potter?” she asked as we absent-mindedly wandered into one of our go-to vintage stores on Santa Monica Boulevard.

“Ahem, don’t you mean Norbertta? Seriously people are always assuming that having non-stereotypical female physical characteristics means that you’re automatically male. Did no one ever question why Hagrid didn’t know the sex of his own beloved dragon?” I said to her while flipping through the hundreds of old jean jackets and fashionable smelly football jerseys.

“Oh God, Belle, don’t turn this into another feminist rant.” She laughed.

I smiled and picked up a cute multi patterned knit-sweater, automatically slipping it on over my sundress. I have a guilty pleasure for ugly knits—even in the dead of California summer; anywhere I go shopping I end up buying another hideous one. It’s more of an obsession, really.

I pulled this one off, admiring its charmingly scratchy material, and headed over to the cashier.

A blonde guy sat behind the counter reading a copy of what looked like Catcher in the Rye. He was handsome, in a surfer type way--blonde hair, tan skin, not uncommon in southern California. He looked up and smiled, showcasing his perfect straight teeth that a couple years of braces most likely helped to achieve.

“Hey, all set?” He said. His tone was long and drawn out, almost Southern.

“Yep,” I said with a smile, handing over the sweater.

“Wow, not what I usually see being bought in the middle of August. Moving to Iceland or something?”

I chuckled, “No just one of those things, you know. I can never have enough cozy sweaters.”

He laughed, “Interesting. Your total is 8.50.”

I dove into my wallet, pulled out a ten and handed it to him.

“Hey, you know if your ever around there you should come by The Echo over on Sunset, I bartend there on weekends. It’s a great place.” He said smiling at me. I guess I hadn’t picked up on his apparently flirtatious tone earlier. Normally I would’ve been creeped out by his overt welcoming, but this didn’t seem to bother me, probably because he’s blonde. I’ve always been a sucker for blondes.

“The next time I’m in the clubbing mood, maybe I’ll stop by.” I said with a smile and picked up my sweater and left.

Madison was sitting on a bench outside, doing something on her phone. “Hey, I’m sorry I’ve gotten get home now babe, Christy just texted me and said my cat is vomiting everywhere and no one wants to clean it up. Brunch Wednesday?” Madison lives with three roommates who all are fairly uptight and very disapproving of her cat obsession.

I smiled, “Oh no worries, tell Christy to take her thong out of her butt and chill out. Have fun with the barf!” We hugged and she rushed off to her car. I was only slightly disappointed with the fact that I had no one to recount my adventure with cute vintage store guy. Oh well.

I started the walk home, suddenly very tired and hot. I was about a block from Norbert when I got a text.

From Harry:
Hey hey hey!! At the airport will be arriving in the City of angles in approximately 11 hours. Miss ya Bellie!

I laughed at his misspelling of angels and immediately typed a response.

To Harry:
Lol miss u too Thumper!! I will be at LAX five hours early with a Kiss cover band and ridiculous amounts of baked goods. How was fam and the good old United king?

I arrived home and grabbed my keys from my purse and pushed open the door to Norbert. I instantly fell onto the couch, within seconds my phone had buzzed again.

From Harry:
Oh fuck yeah! Actually tho please bring baked goods, you know how I feel about airplane food. Fam was lovely as always, Gemma has a new beau so we’ll see how that goes. How is LA without me!? Did you burn the house down yet

To Harry:
Yeah, house burned down a couple weeks ago actually. LA is hot as hell, I’m literally dying, remind me to tell the landlord to fix our AC. I spent 40 dollars of well-earned money today on a mani-pedi JUST so I could spend some unsuspicious air-conditioned time inside.

From Harry:
Agh damn it. Okay I gotta go Bells, the plane is taking off. See ya in a few hours!

I tossed my phone on the couch and went to the kitchen to make dinner, content with the fact that Harry would soon be returning to our L.A. loft.

Notes

First Chap!! Please comment, vote and subscribe. Let me know if u like !! xx