Chapter 31
“You’ve actually got to be kidding me.” Gabriel’s appalled voice echoes over the boulevard.
James’ eyes snap toward him, encouraging him to knock it off.
The satisfied smirk on his face tells James he knows exactly what he’s doing.
In an even louder volume, Gabriel adds, “All the fuss, and that’s it? This tiny statue?”
James digs his elbow into Gabriel’s ribs, desperately trying to hold in his own laughter.
His cheeks are pinking out of mortification as a few of the other people lingering close by turn to look at them and sneer.
Gabriel ducks out of reach, swatting at James.
He’s laughing wholeheartedly now, shoulders shaking with it.
“You should’ve seen your face. I’ve never seen you so shocked. ”
James tries to get his breathing under control, the giggles still passing his lips.
“You’re a menace. You know that, right?” It’s remarkable to see how much easier being in public, out in the open and perceivable, is with Gabriel by his side.
His natural charm makes it easier for people to look once in annoyance, but twice in interest, and never in bad faith.
James knows he’s only doing it to get a rise out of him.
From what he’s learned – especially over the course of the trip – is that Gabriel might be extroverted, he’s also very independent and quiet.
If James has to guess, it’s to help make James at ease.
It does, he has noted, even if the initial embarrassment is a hurdle he has to pass.
After the first inkling of panic it’s clear to see that people actually leave them alone after something like that happens, not wanting to be associated with the disruption.
So it’s a win-win situation for everyone involved.
“She’s beautiful, got to admit.” Gabriel, who’s taking his camera out of his bag and getting ready to snap a few pictures of the Little Mermaid and the rough sea behind her, shrugs.
Being out in the open like this, with nothing to shield them from the cutting wind, is a challenge, but it’s one of the things all the online blogs said to at least pass by, so James wanted to.
In a move that’s still new and unfamiliar, even in the rush it still brings, he reaches out to where Gabriel’s squatted down to capture the right light and offers him his hand.
“Come on, we’ve got more to see.” Gabriel looks up at him, eyes almost hidden underneath his beanie and black curls peeking out around the edge.
He slots his hand in James’ and lets himself be pulled up.
He’s already handing James his phone to type the next destination into the GPS before he’s fully righted. Hesitantly, James grabs hold of it.
Gabriel rolls his eyes. “I still can’t believe you’ve mostly done the navigating with printed paper maps and written down instructions.”
James huffs. It’s the second time he’s made a comment like that in the last few days. “I told you, I like the old school aspect it brings. And it’s not like I didn’t have the routes saved on my phone as well.” Now it’s James’ turn to shrug. “Just didn’t need to use it all that often, that’s all.”
*
Half an hour later they find themselves in front of the Old University Library. A place that James picked entirely with Gabriel in mind. It didn’t need a reservation, so after paying the small entrance fee they’re free to roam the library and enjoy the solitude it brings.
The high ceilings, with rows upon rows filled with books, framed by beautifully crafted bookcases and marble pillars, are as remarkable as any other building he’s experienced over the last two weeks.
The air smells clean and crisp, even with the older editions on the shelves.
James immediately feels at ease in the open space, the books all neatly placed on the shelves.
The symmetry of the hall, with the overhead lighting and the darker sky above them, give the room a distinctive and ancient look.
The pillars look solid, and when James grazes his fingers across them, they’re cool to the touch and even more impressive up close.
It looks like a library plucked out of the period romances he likes to watch. Leaning over the rail on the first floor he looks downward, jokingly thinking that all he’d need is a handsome jock to walk in and ask to be tutored.
When his eyes lock on Gabriel, standing beneath him, gazing up at him with soft eyes, the flush flooding his face is imminent and he’s a fool to stop it. They share a smile and Gabriel gestures that he’s coming up.
Gabriel’s camera is hanging around his neck, resting against his chest and completing the picture of artistic bad boy. Even if James now knows to look further than just the outside. He thoroughly enjoys the gleam in Gabriel’s eyes whenever he lowers the camera after getting a particular picture.
The hours fly by in a similar manner. This time James is content to follow Gabriel around the place, indulging in one of Gabriel’s topics of interest and even learning a thing or two.
It’s easy and not one moment does the thought of boredom cross his mind.
He might be beginning to understand why Gabriel enjoys tagging along, even if it’s to experience things outside of his own interests.
The longer they stay inside the library, the darker it gets as the weak sun starts to disappear from above the glass dome. It’s with great reluctance that he gets Gabriel to leave, and only the promise of a bite to eat does the trick in the end.
With the later time of day, it’s easier to find something to eat at the market than to go back to The Evergreen.
While Gabriel leads them toward the city center, James takes out his notebook and ticks off the statue and library, noting that the market is one of the last things on the list for Copenhagen.
It’s a relief that he might be able to tick off the full itinerary. And when him stepping onto the market is accompanied by Gabriel proclaiming he wants to try one of the hotdogs – p?lse –, he knows it’ll be easy to complete the list.
“Should I get it with or without sauce? Onions?”
James' nose wrinkles. “Who puts onions on a sausage?”
Gabriel shrugs, eventually deciding to go for the complete experience.
The food he receives, appetizing looks aside, can’t taste good.
Everything’s served separately in a little carton container.
It’s odd, as James sees the people lingering around break off pieces of bread and sausage to dip into the ketchup, mustard and finally the roasted onion.
James always figured a hotdog should be eaten with the bread, not separate from it.
James is proven wrong when Gabriel actually moans softly when he takes the first bite. James arches a brow. Gabriel levels him with a look. “What?”
“Nothing, nothing.”
“You want a bite?” Gabriel turns the sausage toward him, gesturing for James to take a bite.
And while it’s on his list, the thought of all those different flavors and textures mixing together makes him a little nauseous.
He shakes his head, thanking Gabriel, who shrugs and goes to dip the rest of his food into the toppings.
Even if he hasn’t tried one himself, he figures this warrants a tick on his list for Copenhagen.
He smiles at the thought of completing it.
Some large bites and the sausage is gone. It leaves Gabriel with smudges of sauce on his face, but James isn’t fast enough to point it out before he manages to wipe them off himself.
The rest of the afternoon they spend strolling along the market, stopping at stalls full of trinkets they don’t need but James can’t help but marvel at.
Gabriel spends too much money on two bags of divine looking artisan butter cookies, which they nibble on while they slowly sip on hot chocolate and watch the lights above their heads become more and more visible above the darkening streets.