Chapter thirty-nine

El had stayed with me the next day, helping me readjust to London life, but now it was Monday, and I had classes. I woke up at half past seven, and immediately wanted to curl back up in bed. My alarm continued to beep at me obnoxiously until it was interrupted by the sound of an incoming text.

Good luck today! Cool kids stay in school :P I love you!

I smiled to myself, hearing Harry’s voice echo in the words. Finding the motivation within myself, I got out from under the covers and stretched. My hair felt like a mess, and there definitely wasn’t enough time to remedy that situation, but I felt like it wouldn’t even matter. I was there to learn, socializing wasn’t necessary. However, I wasn’t entirely against the idea of catching up with a few friends that I hadn’t seen in a while. Or maybe that was just me trying to put up a brave front.
The truth was, I hadn’t been to school since December, really, and it was now March. The thought of cramped campus buildings, monotonous lectures and juvenile house parties loomed before me, a stark contrast to the time I’d spent on tour. Regardless, I went through the motions and began to get ready.


Outing by authorsdescriptions featuring a pink hooded coat

March in London was far different from that of the southern states, and I felt almost silly for dawning a jacket after weeks of shorts and sun lotion.

I realized that I was now officially running late, and therefore I decided to pick up a coffee on the way. I unlocked my car, threw my bag in the passenger seat next to me, and began speeding towards the city. Once there, I parked, walked down to the tube where I quickly popped into the Starbucks. Unfortunately, there was a line up of six people, but it seemed to be moving quickly, and so I decided to have patience and wait. Eventually, there were only two people in front of me and I anxiously checked my phone for the time.

“In a rush?” I heard someone say in a thick American accent. I looked up and, surprisingly, it was
a guy, who looked to be around my age.

“Yeah, I’m running a bit late for my classes,” I said and he chuckled, although I couldn’t determine what was funny about what I’d said.

“You don’t remember me, do you?” He asked suddenly.

I looked at him, astonished and baffled.

“Excuse me?”

“We met like two weeks ago, in America,” he continued. “In the pizza place? Your friend was super drunk, you were with five guys, wearing an amazing little black dress…” He drifted off.
Not going to lie; this guy creeped me out. I vaguely remembered him, but it was disturbing how well he remembered me.

“Oh, right, the pizza guy,” I said, placating him more than actually wishing to pursue the conversation.

“You definitely don’t have an average face,” he smiled.

“I beg your pardon?” I said, perplexed and awkward once more.

“That’s what you said. I recognized you and you said it was because you had an average face.” He explained once more.

“Oh,” was all I responded.

It was then his turn to order, and I thought that that would be the end of our little interaction.

“And Sarah?” He asked.

I looked up, shocked.

“How do you know my name?” I asked.

He completely ignored me.

“What do you want to order?” He asked.

“No, no, I’ll place my– ”

“Just order or I’ll order for you,” he smiled flirtatiously. I was beyond confused.

“Um, okay, just a tall green tea latte then. Thanks.”

“Don’t mention it,” he said, handing a couple notes to the barista. We then moved over to the side counter to wait for our drinks.

“No coffee?” He asked me. He really was persistent and just couldn’t take a hint.

“Yeah, changed my mind at the last minute I guess.”

“Yeah, I took you to be a coffee person.”

I frowned.

“That’s an odd thing to say to someone.”

“Not really, I just assumed, considering that you have to adapt to different time zones all the time.”

“And why would you think that?” I asked again, becoming more and more uncomfortable in his presence.

“Well we did meet in America, and now you’re here.” He smiled down at me as if it were obvious. I took that moment to analyse his face. His hair was dark, his skin tanned, and his features, while pleasant enough, were very angular and his moss-green eyes seemingly sunken in their sockets. I couldn’t deny that he was good looking, but there was something about him that caused uneasiness to grow in the pit of my stomach.

“Considering that I’m British, isn’t it stranger that you’re here?” I rebutted.

He laughed, reaching to take our drinks from the counter. He handed me mine, and I shivered uncomfortably when his fingers grazed mine.

“Fair enough,” he submitted.

Once I had my drink in hand and we were out the door, I thanked him and expected for us to part ways. I turned in the direction of the tube but was keenly aware of his presence beside me.

“Where are you headed?” He asked.

I rolled my eyes so that he couldn’t see my growing frustration.

“University of London,” I sighed.

“Well, another coincidence.” He beamed.

I looked up at him, wondering what he could possibly mean.

“I’m headed there as well,” he said.

“Oh come on,” I unintentionally said out loud.

He gave a hard, awkward laugh.

“Sorry?”

“It’s just that I wasn’t expecting company today, sorry about that.” I apologized, insincerely I might add.

“It’s fine, don’t mention it,” he said, incorrigible, “What’s your program any way?”

“Fourth year English,” I responded simply.

“Well then! We’ll probably have classes together!” He said excitedly as we both hopped on the tube. Typical for the time of morning, there were no seats and so we stood, awkwardly swaying into one another from time to time.

“Brilliant,” I said, oozing with sarcasm. “Isn’t it unusual for you to transfer to University of London?”
I asked suddenly. He looked at me, obviously wondering what I meant. “It’s just that, don’t most international students transfer to Cambridge or Oxford, or something typically more renowned?”

“Not this international student.” He said proudly, although I had no idea why.

At that moment, my phone began to ring.

“Hello?” I answered after the second ring.

“Hi babe, how’s your day going?”

I automatically relaxed at the sound of Harry’s voice.

“Better now that I’ve heard from you.” I sighed.

He laughed, the sound intoxicating.

“I texted you this morning too, don’t forget,” he said and I could hear the smile in his voice.

“I know, unfortunately I woke up too late to reply and have been in a hurry ever since.”

“What a way to start the semester,” he said.

I rolled my eyes.

“You don’t even know the half of it,” I laughed without humour.

“Then tell me about it.”

I glanced at the American beside me, and he smiled dumbly in response. It just occurred to me that I still didn’t know his name, despite how much he prattled on.

“I can’t now, but I definitely will later,” I said, and even I recognized the irritation in my voice. “How
is everyone there?”

“Well, Niall’s here with me, the rest are sleeping somewhere, and Lou is just braiding Lux’s hair,” he told me and I was so jealous of them all that it astounded me. “Say ‘hi’ to Sarah everyone.” He called to them.

“Hi beautiful,” Niall said before laughing. I loved that boy’s infectious laugh.

“Aunty Sarah!” I heard Lux squeal and I laughed in response.

“Hey babe!” Lou shouted.

“Go study, ya nerd,” I heard Niall say.

“I’m on the tube you dumb fuck,” I teased him and I heard him laugh again.

“Your reception is horrible, babe,” Harry said, coming back on the line.

“Am I breaking up?” I asked.

“Unfortunately,” he said, sounding disappointed. “I’ll try and call you tonight, maybe even skype or
FaceTime…” He trailed off suggestively.

“Oh, I like the sound of that,” I laughed.

“I love you,” he said.

“I love you, too,” I said. I heard him laugh once more and then the call ended and I was left with my irritating companion once again.

“Boyfriend?” He asked.

“How do you know it wasn’t my mother?” I asked him, being difficult; hoping that he’d grow tired of me and leave.

“I’m pretty sure your mother wouldn’t be hanging out with your friends and then suggestively ask to skype with you later,” he said, smiling as if he knew how bothered I was.

“It’s impolite to eavesdrop.” I told him firmly.

“Sorry, but we’re on the Subway, give me a break.”

I shuddered irrationally in frustration as he referred to the tube as a “Subway”. I just prayed that I’d ditch him once we got to campus.

Apparently, this was not meant to be. We got off the tube, walked to campus and, just my luck, we were in the same lecture hall. I took my seat, retrieved my laptop from my bag, and tried to ignore him; it didn’t work. In fact, it wasn’t just this nameless American irritating me; it was everyone.

“Sarah!” Noelle, a real posh wanna-be came up to me, blubbering and giggling like we were best friends; we weren’t. “How was your time abroad? I saw you were with your boyfriend, Harry. How ever did you two meet?”

Invasive bitch, I thought. She’d obviously received all of this information from magazines she’d read as I hadn’t told anyone outside of my family about the tour.

“We grew up together, dated for years, rekindled and here we are,” I said swiftly just as ten other girls, none of whom I knew, approached me all chorusing my name and asking intrusive questions about Harry.

“Tell me, how’s he in bed?” One particular whore asked me.

“You’ll never know,” I said, plastering a fake smile on my face that made all the other girls laugh as if it weren’t aimed at all of them too.

“Oh, who’s your cute friend, a souvenir?” Some blonde girl with bad skin giggled like a moronic schoolgirl.

“Brian,” he answered. All the girls now swooned over him, fresh meat to a pack of dirty, starving vultures.

By now, the Professor was set up and ready to begin; the only hold up was that his class was more inquisitive about my personal life than his theories. Eventually, his calm attempts to gain their attention failed and he found another tactic. He walked to the side of the room, switched off the lights causing girls to squeal in a manner that was both irritating and insulting to women around the world, before bursting into fits of giggles; frankly I didn’t know which was worse.

“I know that you all find Sarah Wilson so horribly amusing, perhaps she’d like to teach today?”
What a dick. Wasn’t my day already bad enough? Was I the only person here that didn’t want to hear myself? Prick. Never pick on your good students. Never.

I stood up pointedly.

“No, she most certainly wouldn’t,” I said before continuing in a scathing manner, “But she has patiently waited for fifteen minutes while her professor has failed to instruct the class.”

He glowered at me for a moment.

“Take your seat, Ms. Wilson,” he said, defeated. I smiled haughtily and sat down.
“I’m Professor McAlister, who has so graciously taken over this course so that you may stick to your graduation schedule at the end of this semester.” He droned on about how compassionate and self-sacrificing he was, and all I could think was what an arrogant, bitter, old cock he was.
He had horn-rimmed glasses, and he didn’t wear them in the cool hipster way, but rather the “I stole these from your Nan” kind of way. He was tall, well over six feet, but his paunchy belly resulted in a definite slouch that resembled a hunchback. His face was familiar, even though I’d never had him before, and I simply for the life of me couldn’t place where I knew him. For the remainder of the lecture, I tried to place his face to no avail.

Eventually we were dismissed and I couldn’t help but think what a waste of time this day had been. Afterwards, girls swarmed me, wanting to grab lunch, or coffee or a movie, all offers I declined. Amazing how the second you start dating someone famous, the people around you become unrecognizable. I could see why Harry hated it. Notoriety really was a burden.

--

“So, where are we going?” Brian asked me, still trailing behind me as I got on the tube.

“We aren’t going anywhere, I am going home.” I said bluntly.

“Mind if I come?” He persisted. There really is no other trait less attractive than clinginess.

“Actually I do, and I think my boyfriend would too,” I said, giving him a look which warned him not to speak again.

“Isn’t he out of the country?”

I audibly gasped, which quickly turned into laughter.

“If you think that makes absolutely any difference, then you need a trip to the psychiatric ward. There is no way in heaven or hell that I would bring a random stranger home with me. Especially not a stranger who knows way too much about me to even really be a stranger!”

“Sorry,” he laughed as if we were joking, having a grand old time, which most certainly wasn’t the case. “And it’s not my fault that you’re famous.”

“I’m not famous,” I retorted. Brian gave me a look and I rolled my eyes. Thankfully at that moment, the tube doors opened and it was my stop.

I exited without looking back at him.

“See you tomorrow,” he called over the crowds. “Green tea latte will be waiting for you!”

I shook my head as the doors closed, locking him behind them mercifully. So far, my return to “normal” life had been a disaster. Everybody at Uni now wanted to be my best friend, clearly under the illusion that they would get to meet One Direction and no doubt steal my boyfriend from me; I had uncovered an international stalker that apparently I would now be seeing everyday until April; and to top it all off, my Professor had it out for me. Brilliant.

Notes

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