January, she always hated January. The weather was always miserable and the gentle sprinkle of rain wasn't heavy enough for it to be worth using an umbrella but light enough to slightly cloud her vision. She looked up at the darkened sky and it was instantly swallowed into her bright grey eyes. Clouds drifted through London lazily and the weather seemed to have an odd effect on the ancient city. People seemed more distant and uncaring than usual, business men wore the exact same frown upon their face and pedestrians continued their journey with an unmistakable hint of boredom.
Yes, this is what London was like normally but recently it was more profound and noticeable. The city had become dull. The girl looked around at her fellow commuters once more, it wasn't right, this city was many things, but dull was not one of them. Maybe the city has changed for the better, there's been no excitement for a few months now she thought wearily, or maybe she has lost her faith in it. Sadly she knew it was the latter, ever since that day she has grown to dislike society more and more. Good thing she wasn't part of it.
She passed various streets and ignored the grand buildings rich with history that surrounded her, normally she was admire these small details in her whereabouts, but today she had more important things on her mind. She was so focused on her thoughts that she nearly walked straight passed her destination, it was only because she walked straight into a paramedic that she looked up and saw herself standing next to St. Bartholomew's hospital.
"Sorry mate" she murmured.
The paramedic said something in response but she didn't quite catch it, her eyes were fixed on the roof of the hospital, the ledge she was staring at had captured her imagination and she couldn't tear her gaze away from it.
"I said you dropped your book."
She span round and was facing a young boy around her age, he had dark brown hair that fell messily round his ears and must have been obscuring his sight, he was taller than her and had a soft voice, he was Irish but the accent was only slight. Reality she thought as she snapped back into the real world. Her eyes darted away from his easy-going face, and looked down at his hands he was clutching a red leather book bound by black ribbon.
"Ah! Thanks, I was have been screwed if I lost that!" She exclaimed.
"No problem" he replied handing over the book.
"I saw you drop it when you rammed into that guy, he didn't seem too friendly did he?"
The girl raised her eyebrow slightly and looked back up at him.
"Not that I was staring at you or anything I - I was just -"
"Ophelia" The girl stated above his mumbling. The boy looked relieved and beamed like an idiot on Christmas.
"Darren, Darren O'Neil" he replied the grin never leaving his face.
"Well Darren, it was a pleasure and thanks again, so if you'll excuse me -" She began to walk away and he grabbed her hand, her eyes grew wide and she had to remind herself of her surroundings.
"Hey wait! Would it be alright if I saw you again sometime?" He asked nervously. Ophelia gave a deep sigh and turned to face him.
"Give me your phone." She stated.
"What? Why- " he began, pulling his phone out his pocket. She grabbed the phone off him and tapped in her number. A look of understanding flew across his face.
"What did you think I was going to do? Mug you?" She laughed
"Like you could" he retorted. Her eyebrows raised even higher than before and she turned on her heels and marched off into the crowd.
"Call me Darren O' Neil" her black hair stroked her cheeks as she disappeared round a corner and into an alleyway and he was left to stare longingly after her.
Well wasn't that pleasant? She thought as she quickly erased the memory. He would not be calling her, she will have a different number by then, can never be too careful he could be anyone. She stared around the alleyway and the dead end before her, she looked behind her and saw a familiar face, Now to business.
