A Day Out and About

Scott was out enjoying his day out, he had been at his publisher's office all morning to go over some final details on his latest book. He had dinner plans with his little sister later that night at the Manor and was trying to find a good gift for her. Just to remind her that he was indeed still her brother and loved her very much....even if she had run off and gotten married before him.

He smiled as he walked with his hands tucked into his jean pockets at the thought of a discussion him and Belle had had the other night. They were out riding, Andy had not been home yet from work, and enjoying the sun setting as they did so.

"So Scott, are ye ever goin' ta find a wee lassie and settle down? Or must I do everythin' before ye all the time?" Belle had said in a teasing manner.

Scott had laughed, "Oh Aye, I like watchin' ye do it first...then I know what na ta do."

She had stuck her tongue out at him but smiled. "Andrian and I are quite happy, so if ye want to be messin' things up go ahead and don't do what I do."

Scott had decided to change the subject and did this by racing her back home. The truth was Scott was afraid to settle down because he was afraid he would mess things up. He shook his head now and went into a Café to order some lunch and a big tall glass of Iced Tea.

Things were going incredibly well for Phaedra lately. She expected she was going to get hit by the Knight Bus as luck usually wasn’t on her side. She’d found the English to be incredibly welcoming but some of their habits were rather odd. She’d chosen not to comment on many of them but the tea obsession she just couldn’t leave alone; it was too weird. But then again they could have said the same about the Greeks and Ouzo as they drank far, far too much of it.

Phaedra had decided to take a trip into London to look for some things to furnish her home with. She’d bought it on a whim, deeming it too good to pass up. It was near the Leaky Cauldron and was surprisingly very nice. It was a tall redbrick building with a slate roof and old Victorian railing separating it from the other houses in the area. The bricks had darkened with age and weather exposure and the window panes needed a lick of paint but to her it was beautiful and worth every pound she paid. But she’d underestimated how much furniture it actually needed. The carpets had been old but had been charmed to keep for however long they’d been down there for and the wallpaper/paint much the same but the house had been empty except from a large, white piano in the sitting room that had been covered with a sheet.

She’d gotten a few paintings from some dealers and a few other bits and pieces for the kitchen and other rooms but most of the larger furniture had been put on order and they’d promised a delivery within the next few days. Phaedra couldn’t wait, she’d gotten the bed linen, curtains etcetera but it would soon feel like a real home when it had furniture in it. She likened it all to a dolls house and it was her turn to do things her way. It made her feel like a child again.

Of course, she hadn’t missed out on the opportunity to explore London’s bookshops. She’d bought a few large hardbacks and the weight of them in the flimsy paper bag was beginning to take a toll on her arms. She spotted a small, intimate café across the road and quickly looked both ways before jogging across the road and on to the pavement opposite. She stopped outside the shop and took a quick look at the menu that had been stuck to the window with two blobs of blue tack. It all looked really good but she only had so much money left and she really didn’t want to go to the bank just so she could have lunch.

Phaedra glanced in her purse; twenty pound had to be enough for lunch. She opened the door of the café and stepped inside. She picked a seat by the window and put her bags underneath the table. She sat down and took a menu from the holder so she could properly peruse it. She slipped her jacket off and hung it on the back of her chair as she read, her eyes expertly darting from word to word. She looked up, wondering idly when the waiter or waitress would come over.

Scott looked up from his usual table to see a very pretty blond walk in. She had sat down and was reading the menu and from the look on her face he knew she was waiting to be served, the only thing was Maggie was the only one here today besides her son David who was cooking.

Scott grabbed his tea and walked over to her and smiled down at her. "Er, you will never get food that way. Tell me what it is you want and I will go tell Maggie, if you like." He said kindly.

Her silver orbs returned to the page in the menu and darted across it; taking in all of the information in one swoop. She wasn’t exactly sure what she wanted but she was glad to have the weight off of her poor arms. It would definitely be a challenge lugging it all home but she’d try and catch a cab if she had enough money left for one. Either that or she’d get a bus; one or the other. She decided after a few moments what she wanted. It was some sort of pasta dish with tuna and sweetcorn. It sounded nice enough. Water seemed the best thing to go with also. She closed the menu and put it back. She reached down and took one of her new books from her bag. She put it on the table and pealed the price label off, managing to preserve the covering.

Phaedra looked up at the sound of a voice and saw a man standing over her. She bit her lip and nodded, knowing that he was right. She wasn’t living on her island anymore. It wasn’t Greece; this was England. Although; she wasn’t quite sure what she thought of the country – it was all quite strange to her. She pushed a lock of hair behind her ear and looked at the man. “Maggie?” she cursed herself mentally, she still stumbled over her English. She didn’t particularly want to advertise her foreign status but the accent and the awkwardly spoken language on her part gave it all away. She should have just had ‘Greek’ or ‘Foreigner’ written on her forehead in black marker pen. “The...owner?” she asked. “I apologize; I have yet to fully understand how the restaurant system works here. I admit it is quite a bit different from what I am used to.”

Scott laughed, "No problem. I am just a favorite customer and I Maggie is running the place by herself at the moment. Any other day you could sit here and have your order taken." He saw the pile of book and smiled, "Ah a reader, those are my favorite people." He offered his hand. "I am Scott Fey by the way, so let me know what you want and I will go get it."

Phaedra smiled a little, her silver eyes lighting up a little. The man genuinely seemed to want to help her and for that she was glad. She didn’t want to make a complete fool out of herself. She looked down at the book and her cheeks reddened. It was a real change to her pearly white skin and she put her hand to her cheek, desperate to try and at least hide the flush of colour in the cheek he could see. The light coming in from the window diverted most of it on the other cheek but it was a big colour difference compared to her skin. “I, uh, yeah.” Her cheeks flooded with colour again. “Books are my favourite thing in the world.” She hesitantly took his hand and shook it slowly. She was still used to the Greek way of greeting someone which was with a lot of hugs and kisses even if it was with someone you didn’t know. She was glad the English were a little more tactile. “Phaedra. Phaedra Mariatos.” She said with a small, shy smile. She released his hand and blushed again. She was really starting to get sick of that, now. “Oh, um. Could I have one of the wraps and a bottle of water, please?”

Scott saw the blush, but thought it was becoming on her. Now he knew why Andrian liked when Belle blushed. It gave them a certain glow. "Very nice to meet you Phaedra, and one wrap and a water coming up."

He turned and left and found Maggie and let her know she had a customer that would like a wrap and water. Maggie thanked him since she had had no idea the woman was there and flushed. "Tell the poor child I am sorry." Maggie said.

"I will." Scott then went back to the girl with her water while the wrap was made. "Here you go, Maggie is making the wrap now and sends her apologies."

Phaedra exhaled when he disappeared to go and speak with the owner and put her order in. She’d never felt so flustered around anyone and it really unsettled her. She took the grips out of her hair long enough to sort it out a little and put them back in. She closed her eyes for a few moments before opening her book. She needed to distract her mind before she became ruled by strange, foreign emotions. Plus, she needed to lick her wounds a little. She hated being embarrassed; it frustrated and confused the girl. Her eyes flicked across the pages in the book and she quickly got to grips with the tale. She quickly put it away though, deciding to read it later. She took out a worn, hard back and thumbed through it to one of the dog-eared pages. She read from there. It was the page with her favourite passages on it. She looked up when she heard his voice again and smiled sweetly. “Thank you.” She looked at the seat opposite her and gestured to it. “Would you like to sit?” She wasn’t sure why ‘Maggie’ was apologizing. Perhaps she’d ask in a few moments. Until then she’d just speculate.

Scott smiled and took a seat. "Thank you very much. So what brings you to England? Pleasure or Business?" He asked, hoping that she would share with him where she was from. He thought she might be from Greece, but he was uncertain. He had done some research there awhile back and had loved the beauty and culture of the place.

Phaedra closed her book and returned the smile. She had hoped that her foreign status hadn’t been as obvious as it clearly had been but she hardly blended in. She bit her lip and reached for her bottle of water. She twisted the lid, breaking the seal and put it back on the table. “Oh, probably both.” She said after a while. “I have come here for freedom. I am originally from Greece though, from the Ionian Islands, Zakynthos specifically though. Things seem to be going awfully well though. I expect to get hit by the Knight Bus soon seeing as luck has never been on my side.” She took her drink again and opened it up. She drank some of the water and screwed the cap back on before deciding to ask a question of her own. “What do you do, work wise?”