Prompt #4: Accidentally fell asleep on each other on the train

Missy cursed under her breath as she entered the last car of the train. Everywhere was full and she regretted not taking the probably emptier train that took 9 hours to get from London to Glasgow. Now she was facing 5 hours crammed into a tiny space next to a stranger that probably smelled and talked to himself with her suitcase crushing her feet the entire time. She was so tired, all she really wanted to do was sit down and close her eyes.

The she finally spotted it – an empty seat next to a silver fox whose head was leaned against the window with his eyes closed. He seemed as desperate for sleep as she was, he would surely not bother her.

"Excuse me," she said and put on a bright smile. The silver fox took a moment to realize he was the one being spoken to. "Sorry, but, is this seat taken? Everywhere else seems full."

"Oh, yes, sure. I mean no, it's not taken. Let me just," he got up to move his suitcase from the legroom so Missy could sit down.

"Thank you," she said and positioned her own luggage on the corridor, "Looks like a long trip for you, too. I have to visit my family in Glasgow and I had half a mind to leave the train and go back home when I saw the amount of people."

"Yeah, it does ruin the day a bit," he nodded, "I'm John, by the way. And I'm from Glasgow, too."

"I'm Missy and I am very glad to have left Glasgow behind. I live in London now."

John sighed. "London. I wish I could live here. I've only been here on a conference for the last week."

Missy shrugged. "Why don't you just move here?"

"Becaaaause," he dragged the word a little too much, "I'm going back to get married. Maybe."

"Well, if you have to add a maybe then you probably shouldn't," she snorted.

John turned around and shot her a dark look. "None of your business."

"You're right," Missy raised her hands, "None of my business. But you do know I'm right."

He remained silent for a long while and Missy thought he had probably fallen back asleep.

"I was in London for a week and I didn't miss her," John said suddenly, "She called me and I didn't want to answer the phone because I just wasn't missing her like that."

"How long have you been together?" she inquired.

"About 6 years. I guess. I don't know. It was on and off for some time," he explained to her.

"Do you love her?"

"We have a house and a dog back in Glasgow. It's a very nice house."

"So you love the house and a dog," Missy concluded, "But not her. And you know you can have both in London, right?"

John chuckled. "Wanna come to the wedding and object? It'll get you out of your family reunion and me out of having to marry her."

"Hey," Missy reached out to nudge him, "don't you dare to pass this on to me. Besides, what reasons would I have to object?"

"Well, you could say that you're in love with me and tell a fabulous tale about how we met in London and had hot sex in the hotel room. That might make the bride change her mind," John shrugged.

"Or I could say I found out I was pregnant after very lousy sex in the hotel room in London," Missy suggested.

"No one would believe that kind of lie. Lousy sex? Nah, we need to find a better excuse."

Missy took a deep breath. "We don't have to do anything and as tempting as it sounds to not have to go to my family reunion and instead crash a wedding – this is your mess. You need to sort it out."

"I still think we would have had awesome pretend sex in London," John mused.

Missy laughed. "I just love the way you talk to strangers on a train. Would you have said the same thing to the old lady over there?"

She pointed to a woman in her 70s or 80s who never looked up from her knitting.

"Absolutely. Look at her. She's gorgeous. And those talented fingers."

"You're absolutely mental!" Missy said and smiled at him and they both giggled for a moment.

OOO

When the train arrived in Glasgow hours later, Missy had fallen asleep on his shoulder and John nudged her gently.

"Home, sweet home," he whispered.

Missy stretched her arms and legs and realized she didn't feel rested at all.

"Wow, your shoulder really is a lousy pillow," she commented and started to get up.

"Your head isn't much better. Sorry, fell asleep on you, too."

Missy shrugged her shoulders. "Have you at least made your mind up?"

John stared at her for a moment. "Not really, no."

They both stepped of the train and realized that they were heading into two different directions now and the time had come to say goodbye.

"Well, if you do make up your mind and decide not to marry her, I'm heading back to London Tuesday morning at 9. You can come with me and we can continue the debate on whether or whether not we'd have awesome pretend sex."

John smiled back at her. "Alright. We'll see. It would totally be awesome pretend sex though!" he called after her as she walked away, dragging her suitcase behind her.

OOO

When Missy arrived at the train station a few minutes before 9 on Tuesday morning, she saw John waiting for her with a bouquet of flowers in his hand.