phil (a/n !!!!)

It's an unusually warm day in February when I have to travel an hour away from London to visit family. It's not like I'm complaining, as I had expected my journey there to be cold and miserable like always.

The shrill sound of my alarm clock jolts me awake and I spring out of bed, preparing to leave. Within five or so minutes, my favourite blue shirt with a picture of a video game character on it as well as a sweater and my skinny jeans are on my body and I am downstairs receiving a plate of freshly made pancakes from my flatmate and best friend, Lotus. 

"Big day, lad?" she asks as she passes me the syrup. I nod. 

"Going all the way to Oxford for my grandmother's birthday. What're you up to today?"

"Probably going to have Alaska over for some cheeky Mario Kart."

I smile. Alaska is the girlfriend of Lotus and has been for the past year and a half. I like her fine, she's a lot like me and is great to have around, but nobody likes her as much as Lotus. The look she gives her whenever she's around is enough to make anyone melt.

"Be safe, yeah?"

"You're nasty, Lester," she feigns disgust, but the red tint plastered across her face tells me I was right.

When my pancakes are finished, I put on shoes and fetch my keys and phone before yelling a farewell to Lotus and walking to the train station. The ride is an hour long, as projected. I sit in the uncomfortable silence that is present in the crowded car and tap away at my phone, breathing in dozens of separate aromas mingled together yet somewhat distinguishable to my experienced nose. Some part of my brain wonders who here smells like a breath of fresh air whilst the morning dew still lay upon the vibrant green grass, and who smells like too much pepper on your Sunday morning eggs.

-

We finally arrive at the station closest to my grandmother's house. Stepping out of the car and into the surprisingly quiet station vaporizes any leftover mysterious scents in my nostrils immediately, and it is a bittersweet change. Although I can no longer indulge myself in the fun activity that is picking out people's likenesses, at least I don't have to worry about who would and wouldn't stop to help if I were to do something awkward and clumsy like I always do. 

I start for the house. This neighborhood is all too familiar, as when my parents decided they had had enough of me when I was fifteen, they sent me to Oxford to live with my grandparents for six months. I learned every nook and cranny of this place within weeks. Even now, thirteen years later, I still remember everything. I smile.

I am greeted at the door by my grandmother, grinning ear to ear. "Philip, how lovely it is to see you again!" she says, pulling me into a big hug in the middle of her doorframe. I chuckle and hug her back. "Love you too, grandma."

She pulls away but keeps a grip on my shoulders, looking me over. "You've gotten a haircut."

"Yeah, grandma, it's been a year since I saw you last! Can a man cut his hair in peace?" I laugh.

The crinkles by her eyes flaunt themselves when she chuckles once again. "I've missed you terribly. Come on in, I'll put the kettle on for you." She gestures for me to sit on her outdated red and yellow striped sofa as she waddles to the kitchen.

"Harry!" she calls to no direction in particular, "Phil is here, come and say hello!" 

Moments later, the tall and greying man who is my grandfather comes bounding down the stairs. "Why, hello there Phil!" he calls from the stairwell. I smile and hold up a hand in greeting. "Hey, granddad."

My grandparents are relatively young to be grandparents of someone my age. My grandmother had my mum when she was just seventeen, and so she's now seventy four and the grandmother of a twenty eight year old. Because of this, both of my grandparents have a lot of energy and youth, which is very convenient for a guy like myself - always cheery and energetic.

I get my scent from both my grandparents. My grandma smells of fruit, mainly oranges and strawberries, because she is sweet and kindhearted. My grandpa smells of a mixture of many different types of flowers because he is cheerful and optimistic. While it's rare to have two scents from the parents combine to create a new, unique aroma for the child, my mum got it, and then I got it from my mum.

The kettle shrieks and my grandmother flinches before going to take it off. "Sixty years I've been making tea and it still startles me." she tuts.

"It's adorable, Gladys," my granddad bubbles. My heart feels warm and fuzzy every time he proclaims his love for her. Sometimes I used to walk in on them dancing to old songs in the sitting room when I was supposed to be asleep.

"Philly, your tea is at the table," my grandma calls. I walk over to sit at the old wooden table with the green chequered tablecloth upon it. The chair creaks under my weight, but it doesn't alarm me, as it's done that since I was nineteen. The tea is still hot, but I gulp down a sizable amount of it because nobody can ever wait to drink my grandmother's tea.

"So," my grandfather starts once he makes his way to the table, "it's been a year since we've seen you. What all has changed?"

"Oh, not much, granddad, although I did find a new place to stay." I say, drinking more of my tea.

"Where do you live now?"

"I rent a flat in downtown London. With my best friend, Lotus."

"A lady, huh? Is she pretty?"

"Harold!" my grandmother scolds. I choke on my tea.

"No, granddad, she's very pretty but I don't see her that way."

"Very well. Just remember, Phil, you're twenty eight now. I think it's time for you to start thinking about settling down with some lady. Not much time left before you're an old man like me." He chuckles at his own joke. I feign a laugh.

Lady, I scoff to myself.

"Where are you working, Phil?" my grandmother asks, sitting at the table with her own tea.

"I work at a store in London that sells games. Pretty okay pay there. I can afford my rent, at least."

"See, now, that's why you haven't got a girlfriend. Women want a man who's established, who's got a good job that pays a lot." my grandfather declares.

I cock my head and furrow my brow. "What're you saying?"

"Phil, you've got to get a good job."

"But I don't need a good job right now. I'm perfectly content how I am."

"What about a family?"

"I don't have a family yet, it's just me."

"But you need to get one started."

"I think I should go take a walk," I grumble, standing up and shuffling toward the door. As I leave, I hear my grandma begin to scold him for pressuring me like that. I rarely get uncomfortable like that, but when people remind me of my lack of establishment, I can't really help but get irritated. I know I need to settle down, but I'm waiting for the right opportunity.

Never did I think that my opportunity would be coming so soon.

bet u can guess what's happening next ;0

(pretty long chapter by my standards wow go me)