6. Infamous for being Infamous
Lexi lets out a muffled noise of complaint as she shifts under her mountain of blankets, rolling over to try and escape the dull grey light of the autumn morning coming in through her window. Something's suddenly digging into the side of her face, and it's really really uncomfortable.
Her hand flails around, sliding over pillow after pillow until her fingers find her phone, forcing her eyes to open so that she can squint at the screen.
Someone's going to have a rather large phone bill by the end of the month, she notices immediately. The call is still going.
She presses it to her ear, trying and failing to stifle a yawn. "Tom?" She mumbles. "You there?"
There's an equally muffled noise from the other end of the line, before, "I am now," meets her ears, followed by, "Has this call been going all night?"
"Seems like it."
"Great." Tom doesn't sound as bothered as he probably should. He's probably more concerned about being dragged from his comfortable sleep.
"What time is it?" Lexi wonders quietly, dragging her free hand across her eyes to try and free the sleep from them, plucking at the soft strands of her rumpled jumper from the previous day.
"Uh...a little after seven, I think. Why?"
A little after seven? "Dammit," she groans, kicking off the cocoon of her duvet with her right foot as the left one slides out of bed and tries to find leverage on the ground. "I have a Biology lecture at eight o'clock this morning and I should have been up half an hour ago. Guess I'd better get moving if I want to make it."
"Guess so." Tom yawns in her ear (and if that isn't just the cutest thing she's ever heard, although she doesn't say that aloud). "I'll see you later, yeah?"
"Later," Lexi agrees, and hangs up before they can get into the whole debate again, using her arm to drag herself off of her bed. The house is silent as she stumbles across the landing towards the bathroom. Varg must have already left for the day, and taken Lyzera with him, thank goodness, so at least Lexi won't have to worry about running into them wearing only a towel when she's finished with the quickest shower of her existence so far.
She tucks her damp hair under a beanie hat when she's out of the bathroom, pulling on the first clothes she sees - a clean pair of jeans, and a faded t-shirt that's seen better days, throwing a long plaid shirt on over the top to cover up the atrocity - scooping up her Biology notes and dumping them into her rucksack. She passes by the kitchen as she races down the stairs, grabbing another handful of cherries to snack on during the walk to the tube station.
Her phone buzzes in her top pocket almost as soon as she's stepped outside.
You moving yet? [Sent 07.25]
I was. Not now, thanks to you :) [Sent 07.26]
What can I say? I use my skills :) [Sent 07.26]
Lexi grins at the screen before pocketing the device again, only to remove it a few minutes later when it buzzes again. It's not Tom this time, however. It's Jathro.
I'm sorry. I know I said I'd leave you and Mr Mysterious alone, but seriously, where are you? Fisher will roast you on a spike if you're late. [Sent 07.32]
On my way. [Sent 07.33]
She puts the phone away again and picks up speed, her walking boots crunching through the layer of burnt red and brown leaves that have fallen from the trees that surround the tube station. She has to run in order to catch the current train, almost missing it by less than two seconds.
Jathro is tapping his fingers impatiently on the desk when she eventually straggles through the door of the Biology lab. Mr Fisher doesn't look too impressed either.
"Miss Nekross," he greets her, folding his arms across his chest. "I'm so glad that you felt the need to crawl out of bed and join us."
"Sorry," Lexi mumbles, hurrying to her seat to make sure that no one spots the blush that's creeping up to her cheeks.
Jathro leans in closer in order to avoid being heard. "Late night, huh?"
"No, actually. Just a very peaceful sleep."
He rolls his eyes. "Sounds like someone's in love."
"Shut up." Lexi elbows him playfully, digging around in her bag for her notes when her phone vibrates again.
Did you make it? [Sent 8.05]
Not exactly. [Sent 8.05]
Oh. Sorry. [Sent 08.06]
Don't be. My fault for not setting my alarm. :) [Sent 08.06]
"Tom Clarke?" Jathro whispers as the two of them watch the little grey message bubble appear on the screen. "Why are you texting him?" Lexi sends him a confused look - and suddenly, he understands.
"Oh, my God!"
"Is there a problem over there, you two?" Mr Fisher glares in their direction, stopping mid-sentence in his monologue about blood transfusions.
"No, Sir," Lexi replies quickly, glaring at Jathro, who is now frantically scribbling on a piece of paper.
Tom Clarke. TOM CLARKE. You never said anything about the mystery tube guy being him!
I don't understand. Who is he?
WHO IS HE. Lexi, he goes to the same university as us!
Does he? I've never seen him before.
He's doing something in sports, I think. I'm not too sure, I wasn't really concentrating at the time - I was more focused on the fact that his friend blew up the chemistry labs. He's infamous, you know.
Infamous for what?
I don't know. Just infamous for being infamous, I guess. I can't believe you didn't recognise him! HOW DID YOU NOT RECOGNISE HIM.
I don't exactly keep up with gossip.
"Just like you don't keep up with your Biology lectures, Miss Nekross, Mr Kooth." Mr Fisher has yet again made his way right behind them without them noticing. "If I were you, Lexi, I'd stick to blood transfusions and give Mr Clarke a miss."
Jathro pulls a face behind his back once he's walked away.
"Flowerpot revolution!" He whispers under his breath.