Perfect To Me
London Calls Me A Stranger
I woke up to my alarm clock blasting itself in my all too quiet bedroom and when I glanced at the evil machine I noticed I had overslept by an hour and if I didn’t get my butt in gear I would be late for work today. It’s a good thing I’m the type of person that plans their outfits the night before, so I was able to dress properly today and not look a fool. I threw my clothes on and added a beanie on top of my brown waves that stopped mid back, I loved my natural hair it had the beach wave’s vibe to it. I grabbed my bag and threw in everything I would need today. Before leaving my perfect sized apartment I kissed my dog goodbye and made sure I had my keys, I always forget them! I ran out the door and after locking it I quickly decided to take the stairs since I lived on the third floor, taking them two at a time I reached the lobby in no time where the doorman was holding the door open for me, as he saw I was in a rush.
“Overslept I see Miss. Abby?” Stan, the doorman, said to me as I ran past him.
“You know it!” I threw over my shoulder as I ran out on to the street. Finally I took the time to stop and catch my breath; I glanced down at my watch and saw I actually had time to get a quick coffee and something to munch on. Walking the busy streets of London to get to the nearest Starbucks I kept bumping into people. I put a protective hand over my purse, hoping I didn’t get mugged or anything of the sorts. I finally spotted the Starbucks and took off running. Once I got inside I saw the line wasn’t too long and quickly hopped in it. I took my iPhone out and placed the headphones in my ear and listened to Ed Sheeran as I waited in line to order my coffee. I couldn’t help but dance a little to his music, I didn’t care that I was in public I’m free spirited and I love me some Ed. After a few minutes it was my turn to order my coffee.
“Venti French Vanilla Cappuccino and a blueberry muffin please,” I said to the barista, who looked like she didn’t want to be working this morning. She quickly told me my total and I handed her a 20 and told her to keep the change. The way her face lit up at the big tip I gave her made me feel better, knowing I probably just made her day. I stepped to the pickup counter where after waiting a few minutes I was handed my muffin and my drink. I walked outside into the chilly mid- May London day and just took it all in. I’ve been living in London for 2 years and I absolutely adored it. I knew this is where I belonged. With a smile gracing my face I quickly headed towards my office building. The streets were crowded today, I don’t see why not, it’s a beautiful day out! Just as I was walking a man bumped into me and made me drop my muffin and all the contents of my purse spill out onto the sidewalk. Many people walked by uttering curse words at me as I blocked the sidewalk.
“Thanks asshole! You made me drop my muffin!” I yelled in the man’s direction. I bent down to start scraping my items into my purse when I felt someone else bend down to help me. I looked up and saw a rather young man picking up my wallet and cell phone, he picked his head up and I was struck by his beautiful green eyes.
“Here you are,” he said in his raspy British accent. Those made me melt. I love the accents here, so much better than my American one. I took the items from him with a smile that said thank you, which he returned. He had dimples. I love guys with dimples, and not only did he have dimples but they reached his eyes! Momma loves that! After he helped me picking everything else up he stood up and held his hand out to help me up, which you better believe I took.
“Thank you so much, at least someone is nice,” I mumbled adjusting my bag on my shoulder. I sadly looked down at my muffin that was probably covered in germs now.
“I take it you were looking forward to your muffin?” He said, a smile appearing on his
“You have no idea. They have the best muffins ever. I cared more about my muffin than I did my purse,” I said, looking up and meeting his eyes. He was about an inch or two taller than me, and he was definitely young, he looked familiar but I couldn’t quite place where I’d seen him before.
“That’s a little sad. Are you visiting from America? You have an American accent,” The boy pointed out.
“No. I live here, have for two years now!” I claimed happily.
“Really? Why’s that?”
“I’ve always been a little obsessed with the UK since I was young,” I said shrugging my shoulders.
“I’ve always been obsessed with America!” He exclaimed, laughing a little. Okay, he’s cute.
“Trust me, you’ll hate it,” I said to him and just as the words left my mouth another person bumped into me and made me drop my coffee, making it soak my germ covered muffin. “YOU ARE SHITTING ME!” I yelled and the poor boy jumped back a little, in fear.
“That’s London for you!” He said.
“Tell me about it,” I grumbled, leaning down and picking up the gross objects so I could throw them away.
“Would you like me to buy you some new ones? I don’t mind,” he said, hope filling his eyes.
“That’d be really awesome but I have to get to work. I’m already running late. But I appreciate it!” I said to him, so he didn’t feel rejected.
“How about a rain check?” He asked, shoving his hands in his pockets.
“I don’t even know you though.”
“Oh my! I’m so sorry! My name is Harry, it’s a pleasure to meet you!” He quickly said while sticking his hand out, which I shook.
“And I’m Abby! Now I know you!” I said to him while reaching in my purse for a pen. “Tell you what, I’ll take you up on that offer, because I was really looking forward to that muffin. Here’s my number give me a ring or shoot me a text!” I said to him while I scribbled my number down on his palm and then quickly took off for work. I ran for two more blocks when I finally reached my office building, I quickly got inside where the secretary greeted me happily.
“Late I see Miss. Grimes?” She playfully said.
“Damn pedestrians. How are you Sylvia?” I asked the middle aged secretary.
“Just peachy my dear, you’ve got a few missed phone calls waitin’ for ya!” She announced as I walked back to my office. Once I reached my cozy office I plopped down onto my computer chair and spun in it a few times. I still couldn’t figure out where I’d seen that boy before.
As if on cue my phone vibrated signaling I had received a text:
From: Unknown
Just making sure you didn’t give me a phony number! This is Harry, love!
I silently read the text, matching it with his accent to make it all the more real and smiling at his use of the word love. I typed back a quick response,
I don’t give out fake numbers when it comes to food! I smiled when I sent the text, laughing at how funny I am.
I set my phone down and opened up my email and saw I had an email from my grandmother.
From: Granny
To: Abby
-Hello my dear Jet,
I miss you very much. Just emailing you to let you know I spoke to your parents today, they miss you hun. Please talk to them, I know things are rocky but they need their baby girl as much as I need you. Give me a call when you are free, your gramps and I wanna hear our lovely granddaughter’s voice. We miss you too much.
Sending my love across the pond,
Granny.
I got a little teary eyed at my grandmother’s emails, like I always do. The true thing I miss about old Ohio is my grandparents who took me under their wings when I was 17, 3 shorts years ago. I picked my phone up and dialed the familiar number where I was greeted with a happy granny.
“Hey Granny,” I said into the phone.
“Oh sweet child! I was wondering when you would call!” She exclaimed into the phone and I could almost hear her smiling.
“I just got your email, I was late to work….again.”
“Abby Emilia, you need an alarm clock you can hear! Or I need to send you one of those fancy ones that makes you chase it to turn it off! Although you would probably go right back to bed, claiming to be exhausted from the chase!” She laughed into the phone, gosh I missed her laugh, it’s so heartwarming.
“I know Gran. I’m trying! You know I set like twenty alarms! I just love my sleep.”
“I know sweetheart. So are you going to contact your parents?” There she goes, straight to the point. That’s what I loved about her, she was always so honest, no sugar coating anything.
“Gran, they have my email address. They can contact me themselves and they can stop communicating through you. They just know my weakness.”
“Sweetie you need to call them.”
“Why? So they can gripe some more on why they are disappointed in me? It was my choice in the first place not theirs,” I angrily said into the phone.
“Now don’t shoot the messenger dear! I know it upsets you, but I just promised I would tell you they said they miss you and want you to call them. I know you won’t. So how’s London today?” She asked, changing the topic.
“Beautiful, like always,” I mumbled into the phone with a smile on my face.
“Even when it rains it is still beautiful to you! I’m just glad to see you happy, even if it means being so far from little old me.”
“I miss you to Gran, you and Gramps.”
“You’ll always be our little Jet, dear,” my Gran sincerely said into the phone. Jet, the nickname they gave me when I was a little girl. They call me Jet because I can’t stay still and I move about randomly, part of it having to do with my ADHD. It really went into effect as I got older, but that’s a different story for a different day.
“Good. You two will always be my Gran and Gramps. Look Gran, I have to get to work, but tell Gramps I love him and I’ll talk to him soon,” I sadly said into the phone.
“I will, I love you too. And don’t sound so sad, you know your Gramps and I hate that.”
“I know. I love you,” I said into the phone and after saying our good bye’s I hung up. I loved England, London especially, but it’d be so much better if they were here.
I was replying to a few more business related emails when my phone buzzed again:
From: Harry
So about our plans? How about I treat you to dinner tonight? Make up for your shitty morning and you and I can become friends?
He is very straight-forward, I like it. I smiled at the message and typed up a response:
Sounds delicious. I love food. What do you say about meeting up somewhere? Don’t want to give you my address for work or my home, you might be a pedophile.
I sent the message, and he quickly responded saying we would meet at Nando’s at 7pm. I loved me some Nando’s! The way to win me over is through my stomach after all!
“Overslept I see Miss. Abby?” Stan, the doorman, said to me as I ran past him.
“You know it!” I threw over my shoulder as I ran out on to the street. Finally I took the time to stop and catch my breath; I glanced down at my watch and saw I actually had time to get a quick coffee and something to munch on. Walking the busy streets of London to get to the nearest Starbucks I kept bumping into people. I put a protective hand over my purse, hoping I didn’t get mugged or anything of the sorts. I finally spotted the Starbucks and took off running. Once I got inside I saw the line wasn’t too long and quickly hopped in it. I took my iPhone out and placed the headphones in my ear and listened to Ed Sheeran as I waited in line to order my coffee. I couldn’t help but dance a little to his music, I didn’t care that I was in public I’m free spirited and I love me some Ed. After a few minutes it was my turn to order my coffee.
“Venti French Vanilla Cappuccino and a blueberry muffin please,” I said to the barista, who looked like she didn’t want to be working this morning. She quickly told me my total and I handed her a 20 and told her to keep the change. The way her face lit up at the big tip I gave her made me feel better, knowing I probably just made her day. I stepped to the pickup counter where after waiting a few minutes I was handed my muffin and my drink. I walked outside into the chilly mid- May London day and just took it all in. I’ve been living in London for 2 years and I absolutely adored it. I knew this is where I belonged. With a smile gracing my face I quickly headed towards my office building. The streets were crowded today, I don’t see why not, it’s a beautiful day out! Just as I was walking a man bumped into me and made me drop my muffin and all the contents of my purse spill out onto the sidewalk. Many people walked by uttering curse words at me as I blocked the sidewalk.
“Thanks asshole! You made me drop my muffin!” I yelled in the man’s direction. I bent down to start scraping my items into my purse when I felt someone else bend down to help me. I looked up and saw a rather young man picking up my wallet and cell phone, he picked his head up and I was struck by his beautiful green eyes.
“Here you are,” he said in his raspy British accent. Those made me melt. I love the accents here, so much better than my American one. I took the items from him with a smile that said thank you, which he returned. He had dimples. I love guys with dimples, and not only did he have dimples but they reached his eyes! Momma loves that! After he helped me picking everything else up he stood up and held his hand out to help me up, which you better believe I took.
“Thank you so much, at least someone is nice,” I mumbled adjusting my bag on my shoulder. I sadly looked down at my muffin that was probably covered in germs now.
“I take it you were looking forward to your muffin?” He said, a smile appearing on his
“You have no idea. They have the best muffins ever. I cared more about my muffin than I did my purse,” I said, looking up and meeting his eyes. He was about an inch or two taller than me, and he was definitely young, he looked familiar but I couldn’t quite place where I’d seen him before.
“That’s a little sad. Are you visiting from America? You have an American accent,” The boy pointed out.
“No. I live here, have for two years now!” I claimed happily.
“Really? Why’s that?”
“I’ve always been a little obsessed with the UK since I was young,” I said shrugging my shoulders.
“I’ve always been obsessed with America!” He exclaimed, laughing a little. Okay, he’s cute.
“Trust me, you’ll hate it,” I said to him and just as the words left my mouth another person bumped into me and made me drop my coffee, making it soak my germ covered muffin. “YOU ARE SHITTING ME!” I yelled and the poor boy jumped back a little, in fear.
“That’s London for you!” He said.
“Tell me about it,” I grumbled, leaning down and picking up the gross objects so I could throw them away.
“Would you like me to buy you some new ones? I don’t mind,” he said, hope filling his eyes.
“That’d be really awesome but I have to get to work. I’m already running late. But I appreciate it!” I said to him, so he didn’t feel rejected.
“How about a rain check?” He asked, shoving his hands in his pockets.
“I don’t even know you though.”
“Oh my! I’m so sorry! My name is Harry, it’s a pleasure to meet you!” He quickly said while sticking his hand out, which I shook.
“And I’m Abby! Now I know you!” I said to him while reaching in my purse for a pen. “Tell you what, I’ll take you up on that offer, because I was really looking forward to that muffin. Here’s my number give me a ring or shoot me a text!” I said to him while I scribbled my number down on his palm and then quickly took off for work. I ran for two more blocks when I finally reached my office building, I quickly got inside where the secretary greeted me happily.
“Late I see Miss. Grimes?” She playfully said.
“Damn pedestrians. How are you Sylvia?” I asked the middle aged secretary.
“Just peachy my dear, you’ve got a few missed phone calls waitin’ for ya!” She announced as I walked back to my office. Once I reached my cozy office I plopped down onto my computer chair and spun in it a few times. I still couldn’t figure out where I’d seen that boy before.
As if on cue my phone vibrated signaling I had received a text:
From: Unknown
Just making sure you didn’t give me a phony number! This is Harry, love!
I silently read the text, matching it with his accent to make it all the more real and smiling at his use of the word love. I typed back a quick response,
I don’t give out fake numbers when it comes to food! I smiled when I sent the text, laughing at how funny I am.
I set my phone down and opened up my email and saw I had an email from my grandmother.
From: Granny
To: Abby
-Hello my dear Jet,
I miss you very much. Just emailing you to let you know I spoke to your parents today, they miss you hun. Please talk to them, I know things are rocky but they need their baby girl as much as I need you. Give me a call when you are free, your gramps and I wanna hear our lovely granddaughter’s voice. We miss you too much.
Sending my love across the pond,
Granny.
I got a little teary eyed at my grandmother’s emails, like I always do. The true thing I miss about old Ohio is my grandparents who took me under their wings when I was 17, 3 shorts years ago. I picked my phone up and dialed the familiar number where I was greeted with a happy granny.
“Hey Granny,” I said into the phone.
“Oh sweet child! I was wondering when you would call!” She exclaimed into the phone and I could almost hear her smiling.
“I just got your email, I was late to work….again.”
“Abby Emilia, you need an alarm clock you can hear! Or I need to send you one of those fancy ones that makes you chase it to turn it off! Although you would probably go right back to bed, claiming to be exhausted from the chase!” She laughed into the phone, gosh I missed her laugh, it’s so heartwarming.
“I know Gran. I’m trying! You know I set like twenty alarms! I just love my sleep.”
“I know sweetheart. So are you going to contact your parents?” There she goes, straight to the point. That’s what I loved about her, she was always so honest, no sugar coating anything.
“Gran, they have my email address. They can contact me themselves and they can stop communicating through you. They just know my weakness.”
“Sweetie you need to call them.”
“Why? So they can gripe some more on why they are disappointed in me? It was my choice in the first place not theirs,” I angrily said into the phone.
“Now don’t shoot the messenger dear! I know it upsets you, but I just promised I would tell you they said they miss you and want you to call them. I know you won’t. So how’s London today?” She asked, changing the topic.
“Beautiful, like always,” I mumbled into the phone with a smile on my face.
“Even when it rains it is still beautiful to you! I’m just glad to see you happy, even if it means being so far from little old me.”
“I miss you to Gran, you and Gramps.”
“You’ll always be our little Jet, dear,” my Gran sincerely said into the phone. Jet, the nickname they gave me when I was a little girl. They call me Jet because I can’t stay still and I move about randomly, part of it having to do with my ADHD. It really went into effect as I got older, but that’s a different story for a different day.
“Good. You two will always be my Gran and Gramps. Look Gran, I have to get to work, but tell Gramps I love him and I’ll talk to him soon,” I sadly said into the phone.
“I will, I love you too. And don’t sound so sad, you know your Gramps and I hate that.”
“I know. I love you,” I said into the phone and after saying our good bye’s I hung up. I loved England, London especially, but it’d be so much better if they were here.
I was replying to a few more business related emails when my phone buzzed again:
From: Harry
So about our plans? How about I treat you to dinner tonight? Make up for your shitty morning and you and I can become friends?
He is very straight-forward, I like it. I smiled at the message and typed up a response:
Sounds delicious. I love food. What do you say about meeting up somewhere? Don’t want to give you my address for work or my home, you might be a pedophile.
I sent the message, and he quickly responded saying we would meet at Nando’s at 7pm. I loved me some Nando’s! The way to win me over is through my stomach after all!
Notes
Hello!Hope you enjoy my new fanfic, give me some feedback!
This is also posted on Mibba, under confidentcoward, if you want more!
I will slowly post the chapters on here.
teressa conroy said the quote
3/2/15