Things Have Changed

“Honestly, how many bras and undies can one person have?” Ryan sighed as we walked out of La Perlas’ London boutique.

I gasped “These” I said lifting up the several bags in my hand “Are not just bras and undies. These are works of art!”

Ryan rolled his eyes “The Mona Lisa, The Last Supper, The Campbell’s Soup Can! They are works of art!”

“Pfft, who wants artist when you can have designers. And besides, how the hell is The Cambell's Soup Can a work of art?!”

London was sweltering through one of its hottest days on record; the temperature toping 49 degrees Celsius. The tar from the roads had begun to melt, causing everyone’s flip flops to stick to the road.

“I hate summer” I sighed while Ryan laughed, watching another person run bare foot from the road, their flip flops stuck to the tar as a car sped towards them.

“Don’t you remember Vegas? The summer there is brutal.”

I smiled “How could I forget.”

The sun was setting on London, the orange haze reflecting on the Thames as the sun set behind Big Ben. That was one of the reasons I loved this city so much, around every corner was a perfect picture just waiting to be taken. I was no photographer, that was Lilly’s job, I wrote the words to her pictures. I sighed loudly, the articles were due on Tuesday, it was Sunday night and I still hadn’t started.

I sighed as I felt Ryan’s presence next to me, returning with our dinner for the night.
“Ray’s Fishing House” he started “The Best in All Of London.”

“At the Lowest Prices” I finished for him “Gee” I laughed “For a famous rock star you’re a real tight ass. First you get your hair cut at 99c cuts and now you’re buying fish from the cheapest fish and chip store in London. What else will you get a discount on?!”

“Only the best for my Liz” he grinned biting into a crunchy deep fried chip “Want one?”

I looked wearily at the chips dripping with oil, drained in salt, over fifty calories in one chip. I shuddered but still took one.

We sat in silence on the riverbank, nothing but the crunching of the chips between our teeth disturbing the perfect silence between us.

“Today reminded me of the old days” Ryan smiled, wrapping his arm around my shoulders “Just me and you, being idiots together. I’ve missed that.”

I smiled, leaning over and pecking him on the cheek. He smiled, blushing, the ground all of a sudden becoming extremely interesting.

“We’re coming back in, in I think just over a month” he said once the red tinge had faded from his cheeks. “I-I-I was w-wondering if, if you wanted to maybe, come on tour with me, I-I mean with us, the band. I really-really-“ I cut him off there.

“Ryan” I sighed “You know I can’t do that.

“You can take time off work I’m pretty su-”

“Ryan,” I stopped him “It’s not work.”

“Brendon” he sighed

“Yep”

“It’s just that I feel that I finally found you a-and I don’t want to lose you again” he said quietly.

I smiled leaning my head on shoulder “You are not going to lose me” I said forcefully “I’m not going to let you.”

He laughed “Promise to me we’ll catch up when I’m here next.”

I smiled, looking up into his hazel puppy dog eyes “I promise.”