The rest of Wednesday had gone by in a blur of new classes, faces, and professors.  Going to school in London was a huge deal for me.  Having grown up in Texas, I was excited to get to see some of the world, as well as get away from old baggage.  That baggage, specifically, being Kyle, who'd been my boyfriend for three years.  He wasn't a bad guy at all - in fact, he was a really good guy.  I knew that if we went to the local college, I'd fall even further into the comfort zone, marry him, and never get out of the state.  Not that Texas was bad either, but somehow I wanted more.  Something was missing.  What, exactly, I had no idea because I'm certainly no thrillseeker, yet a bit of adventure never hurt anyone, right?

Shoving another bite of leftover kung pao chicken into my mouth, I grimaced looking over my syllabi from today's courses.  "We have to read 10 chapters of Moby Dick by Monday and journal about it.  I think I'd rather gouge out my eye!  I didn't hear him mention any of this stuff," I groaned, flinging down my pencil.

Kate laughed despite a mouthful of lo mien, "Sure he did.  You were just preoccupied with Coffee Stealer Guy," she joked, squirting more Sriracha sauce on her noodles.

"Homeless Harry, now Coffee Stealer Guy?  Pick a nickname and stick with it.  I've already got enough other shit to remember!"  I got up, stalked the 3 steps from my desk to hers (this flat was miniscule) and grabbed the Sriracha sauce, despite Kate's protests.  "You know what happens when you have too much of this, and I'd like to get a good night's sleep tonight and not have to listen to your toilet flushing every 10 minutes."

Despite her dietary sensitivities, I was thrilled that Kate was with me on this London adventure.  With a little bit of arm-twisting, I had managed to get Kate to apply with me to some foreign universities, as well as for a crapload of scholarships.  We also applied to some schools in other states, like New York, California, etc.  When we both received acceptance to London, we ran squealing to the passport office.

"We won't need a nickname for him soon enough," Kate scoffed, "once you start dating him, you'll just refer to him as Harry.  Or honey.  Or baby.  Or my sweet little sugar bear," she continued in a sappy voice that made me nauseous.

"What the fuck?  Umm.  NO.  Not happening.  I'm not interested, he has a girlfriend, and besides, once I get some sort of caretaker gig to support my scholarship funds, I'm not gonna have time for prancing and romancing," I replied.  It was true, if I wanted to continue to enjoy meals that included more than just ramen noodles, I had to find my ass a job, and soon.

"You seemed pretty into him earlier..."

"I'm not gonna lie, he is fucking hot.  Smoking hot.  Damn." I paused, feeling a bit lightheaded at the memory.

"See," Kate prodded, "In your mind, you're already saddled up and taking that pony for a ride, girl!  Yee-ha!  Better wear your boots to the party on Friday!" 

She barely got that last sentence out as I ran over and tried to smother her with a pillow, which she snatched away easily and threw across the room.  "And I haven't decided about the party yet," I said, trying to look serious.

"Oh yes you have," Kate grinned like the Cheshire Cat, and I knew that bitch was right.