A London underground train swayed side to side as it zoomed through the underground system. A lone girl was sitting on one of the seats, staring at her phone. She was surrounded by a bunch of various bags that made you wonder how she managed to carry them all. Eventually, the sound speaker went off and a robotic female voice was heard, calling out a stop.

“Oh, that’s my stop!”

Putting my phone away in my bag, I stood up swiftly and gathered up my bags. Luckily I decided not to travel during peak hours, so there weren’t exactly a lot of people around. Hopping off of the underground train, I made my way to the surface. I had to check so many signposts along the way to make sure I was going the right way. This would be my first proper time in London, and after everything that happened back home? Urgh, I just needed to get away. Since, back at home, nothing seemed to be working for me. I got fired from so many jobs for stupid reasons, failed college, and a lot of friends just ghosted me. I mean what else could go wrong? But when I finally got to the surface, of course something went wrong. As I stood there looking at London’s skyline, one of my bags broke and everything fell out.

“Ah! Sausages!” I cursed out loud, as I bent down to start shovelling the stuff that escaped back in. It was then when I noticed something rolling away, wasn’t that my ball? “Oh no!” As I began to move to try and catch it, I paused as the ball rolled towards a pair of smart, black shoes. As I looked up to try and see this person, I realised that I just couldn’t make out their face. “Oh sorry, that’s mine….” I watched as this person bent down, picked up the ball and took a few steps towards me, holding the ball out to me.

“Here.”

A masculine voice spoke and, as I went to take the ball from their hand, I could not help getting a mighty whiff of what smells like strawberries.

“Oh, erm. Thank you very much.” Taking the ball from this mysterious person, I could clearly see them now. But I probably had to go and find my jaw, since it nearly smashed against the floor. Why? Because the man that was standing in front of me, whilst I was just on the dirty ground, was one extremely handsome man. My cheeks started to get flushed as he looked down at me and, to hide my blushing cheeks, I looked down as I shuffled the rest of the stuff back into the bag.

“Your bag is broken?” His voice spoke above my head.

“Huh?” I looked back up at him. God he was pretty. “Ah, yeah… But it’s ok. It was old and broken to begin with, but I can work with it.”

“Ah, I see. Have a nice day…. Lexi.”

“Yes, you too.” I smiled a little smile as the man turned to walk off. But wait, how did he know my name? Did I somehow block some of our conversation? As I looked down at my bags, I realised that one of the bags had my nickname plastered in big bold lettering. Oh right, duh…. There’s no way a man like that would know my name. 

“Now, where is this place?” I mumbled out loud as I stood up, and pulled out my phone. My phone had the directions, and it said to go that way, for which I did after picking up my many bags again and started walking.

True enough, my name was Alexis, but I had gone by Alex or Lexi a lot. Mostly Lexi though. I did once go by the name of Alexa, but that didn’t feel like me. It felt like someone else instead, so I’ll let that one take that name.

As I walked through the streets of London, I finally found myself outside a block of flats. As I looked all the way up, I could just about guess that there were maybe like twenty floors? But these flats were a bit like a studio’s flat. Nothing big or fancy, it just had enough to get by. Dad insisted on getting me a place before I even came here. I, of course, kept declining him, but he just kept badgering me. After a while, I just gave in. Considering everything that happened? I thought ‘why not then’? So dad hooked me up with this little place, paying for a few months rent in advance too.

“Well, to new adventures. I think….”

With that, I nodded to myself, and made my way inside. I don’t know why dad got me one so far up, but I was half knackered when I finally climbed the stairs. Apparently this building was too boring to not have a lift, or it did and I just missed it. Knowing my luck? The latter. But, as I finally climbed the stairs to my floor, I nearly collapsed at the door and fumbled through my bags to find the key and half collapsed inside when the door opened. Throwing my bags to the floor immediately, I took in my new home. The room I was standing in currently must be the living room, since there was already a TV stand, with a TV on it and there was also a sofa. To the left of me, there was a staircase leading up to somewhere, but behind the staircase was a small alcove that must be the kitchen. As I moved round to the bottom of the staircase, I looked up to see what looked like a bed and a wardrobe. There were no walls, but there was a little balcony so one could see out to the whole flat from up there. But wait, where was the bathroom? As I looked around again, I spotted that there were three doors, not including the door that I just came through. As I headed towards the first door, which was near the front door, I swung it open and quickly realised that it was just a store cupboard, since there was already a broom in there. I then closed that one, took a step sideways and opened up the next door, which was just to the left of the one that I opened. This one was just another cupboard, but it had shelves where the other one didn’t. Pulling a face, I turned around and looked right at the third door. This one was near the bottom of the stairs, and, as I walked over and opened it, I breathed a sigh of relief, since I finally found the bathroom. It wasn’t that big, but it would do. But, I had to admit, I was a bit surprised that it was a bath with a shower attached to it though, I kinda expected just a toilet and a shower. But a bathtub? Bonus points! Closing the bathroom, I headed into the kitchen. Checking a few of the cupboards and the fridge itself, I couldn’t help but notice that there was already food in place. As I closed the fridge doors, I then realised there was already furniture here. Dad really came through, huh…

Sighing to myself, I headed over to the sofa and lay down. New life, right? Start anew. But the thing is that I came to London with the hopes of getting somewhere, I told dad I HAD a plan. But, in reality, I had no plan. Rent was already paid up front for a few months, so I had time but, urgh… Taking out my phone from my pocket, I stared at the contact list. 

“Urgh….” I muttered out loud as I started deleting them all, apart from the ones that said Dad and Mum. However, my finger stopped at one that said ‘David’ with a little heart emoji. “Extra delete for that one.” 

As I finished cleaning out my phone, I let it slip through my fingers as I just lay on the sofa. I thought about getting a new number, but it was just the parents. They were so crap with technology, and it would just be so much of a hassle that I didn’t have the patience or time to sort it out with them.

“Well, Lexi? You can’t exactly lounge around all day.”

Mumbling to myself, I dragged myself off the sofa, walked over to the bags and opened the nearest one. However, right on top of my clothes was the ball. As I plucked it out of my bag, I rolled it around in my hand. This ball was just a sentimental old thing, for it belonged to Rufus. The silly and stupid Yorkshire Terrier I grew up with, sadly he passed a few years back, but I had to keep his favourite ball. The ball was way too big for him to carry around, but he liked pushing it about, which was why it had no bite marks in it. As I rolled the ball in my hand, my mind couldn’t help thinking back to that man. For some reason, that man looked way too handsome to just be an ordinary guy. But are men like that common in London? If that’s right, then I really made the right choice. But probably not, I’m never that lucky. Sighing to myself, I stood up and went to place the ball in front of the TV. Rufus’ favourite spot was in front of a TV, so that was good for him. The rest of the items in my bags? Was literally only the bare essentials. Dad said that he would drop the rest of them later. So it didn’t take long to unpack the rest of it. 

“Hmmm….” 

I mumbled out loud, leaning over the back of the sofa. I grabbed my phone and checked the time.

“Just gone four, huh?” 

Sliding even further down the sofa, I just melded into it. What else could I do? I was new in London, and knew no one here. But there was one thing for certain.

I was hungry.

Unlocking my phone, I started scrolling looking for food delivery. Technically, I shouldn’t buy any takeout since I had no income at the moment, but I had some money scurried away, and I totally deserved it. I actually unpacked my bags, and that means a treat. After some scrolling, since I was so surprised about the amount of food stuff in London, I finally decided on a pizza. While waiting for it to be delivered, I grabbed the remote and turned the TV on. There was some boring program on, but it was just something to watch for the time being, I didn't want to get too distracted and miss the delivery. 

The delivery didn’t take long and, soon after, I was scoffing down pieces of pizza in front of the TV which had a much more interesting show on. I had to pull a table closer to me so that I didn’t get it all over the sofa, but if someone saw me now? They would point out that I was being so unladylike. But no one could see me, so why should I be bothered?

For the rest of the night, I just lounged on the sofa watching show after show, whilst flicking through each channel. Normal TV was so darn boring half of the time these days, but background noise is background noise. It wasn’t long until I realised that it had become night. Turning the TV off, I slid myself off the sofa and headed up the stairs towards the bedroom. The bedroom was just a simple room, but it did surprise me earlier that it was a double bed. But something caught my eye that didn’t when I was in here to unpack. As I walked towards the curtains, I pulled them back. 

“Oh, wow….” I gasped

For there, behind the curtains, was a tiny balcony. How did I not notice this before? Opening up the door, and stepping out, my jaw dropped. No way! Are you telling me that I had this fantastic view of London and I didn’t know about it? I mean why wouldn’t I? I had one of the top most flats, and I could see quite far over the city landscape. However, heights really weren't my strong suit, so I refused to look down, but instead I looked up. That's when I saw her, she wasn’t at her fullest, but she shone really brilliantly tonight. Unlike the sun, you can stare at the moon anytime she is out, and bask in the beauty. Smiling to myself, I went back inside. It was the middle of March, so it was still a little cold, and the last thing I wanted to do was catch a cold. Closing the door, I moved to change into my nightdress, and finally relaxed in the bed. I stored them in my side drawer earlier, but as I pulled out a book. There, as clear as day, was one of my guilty pleasures. 

Romance Novels.

It wasn’t like I was actually getting any romance, so I might as well just read about others having fantastic romances. This book in particular? I can’t deny that it was rather erotic. 

As I laid there reading the erotic adventures of a girl and her drop dead gorgeous dark haired man, there was a bit of a thump coming from downstairs. Looking up from my book, I thought to myself: did I just hear that? As I put the book down, I climbed out the bed and peered over the little bannister, so I could see into the living room. The only light that was on was the bedside table lamp, so I could barely see anything down there. But something did catch my eye. Something small had rolled from under the sofa. Was that a mouse? Oh God, I hope not. I don’t mind mice, per say, but they chew through everything. But, unfortunately, I wasn't going to get ANY sleep if I didn't check. I tiptoed down the stairs, felt around for the switch, and flipped it on. As the room lit up, I saw that nothing seemed out of place but, as I scanned the room, my eyes grazed where the TV was, and yep. Something was out of place. Rufus’ ball was missing.

“Huh?” 

As I walked over towards the stand, I checked around the TV and its stand, but there was no sign of the ball. Wait, was the thing I saw rolling the ball?  I turned to the sofa, checked under it but saw nothing. However, as I picked my head up and stood up, I caught a glimpse of something by the front door. As I headed over there, I saw that there, as clear as day, was the ball.

“Now how did you get over here?”

Bending down to pick it up, I rolled the ball in my hand.

“Rufus? It’s night, I’m not playing tonight. You know when it’s night, it’s sleep time, not playtime.”

Sighing, I walked back over to the TV stand and placed the boy back on the stand.

“Now, go to sleep.” I told the ball, as I returned to bed. However, instead of reading a bit more, I just went to sleep.

When morning came, I freshened up, got dressed and sat on the sofa eating cereal. Today I decided to search for something. What was that something? I would like to know too, as I had no plan. Why didn’t I have a plan? A plan would’ve been so nice. As I finished up and stuck the bowel in the sink, I put on my walking shoes, grabbed my bag and headed out. Whilst outside, I couldn’t help cursing myself again. I could’ve had a plan or something at least. But, for now? I may as well go to perhaps check the local shops, and ask around if any of them needed extra help. 

Sadly I left at 10 am, and now it was 3pm. There was endless amounts of walking, but literally no luck with finding some sort of work. Sighing heavily, I just slumped down into the bench and watched people go by. God, I have such bad luck, why does everything seem to go wrong? I bet the people I’m watching have all the luck. Wait…. As I sat up a little, I couldn’t help but spot something in the crowd of people. It was a person at least, but they stood out massively, since everyone around them was just plain and this one person? Was like a shining light. Was that right? It can’t be. Rubbing my eyes, because I must be tired, I looked again, and I could notice them even more. There was a person, dressed in red, staring right at me. As I blinked, they were gone. Huh? Ok…. Ok, Lexi…. You are now just losing it…. I put it down to me being more tired than I thought, and just immediately made my way back home.

Back at home, I ate the leftover pizza, and did the same routine as the previous night. However, there was something much better on, one of the channels was showing ‘Beautiful Woman’ and it was such a guilty pleasure. Was it my favourite movie? Maybe? Or maybe because sexy movies are also a guilty pleasure, just the same as reading them is.