Monday October 12th 2015
Monday
By half eight the next morning, Oscar has already asked me to lunch.
I’m sitting cross-legged on my bed with one eye done and the other completely bare, trying to decide whether attempting winged eyeliner on the first day of lectures is ambitious or stupid, and I feel another little stab of guilt when I realise I’d already agreed to eat with everyone else.
There. Best of both worlds. I’m seeing Oscar and forging a life for myself. We get coffee, he mostly checks up on me, then he insists on walking me to my first lecture so I don’t get lost.
The morning passes in a blur and it comes with an awful realisation that choosing English because I like reading was roughly the academic equivalent of liking dogs and deciding to become a vet.
The reading list is as long as my arm, and it’s a relief to rush to lunch. I meet Abi and Brooke first, before we sit with Ewan and Josh.
OSCAR (13:00): How is your day going?
RUBY (13:30): Yeah, all good. I’m just at lunch. How is yours? X
He doesn’t reply and I roll my eyes, knowing he needs the message from me but doesn’t give much back. I slide my phone into my pocket and concentrate on what Josh is saying about Bernardo. When lunch is over I impulsively offer to walk Josh to his lecture, which makes me late for mine.
JOSH (14:30): Thanks for walking me to my lecture. Don’t know what I would have done without you to shield me from that beast. X
I snort, causing everyone in the lecture hall to turn towards me. My cheeks flaming red, I quickly shove my phone into my pocket and bow my head down, reminding myself to text him later.
RUBY (16:00): I can’t believe you hid in a bush from a BIRD. I am SO judging you right now. X
JOSH (18:30): Don’t be cheeky. I was in the bush because YOU dragged me there! X
RUBY (18:30): I have no recollection of that happening. You’re making things up ;). Hope training is fun! Xx
JOSH (18:31): Cheers :). I’ll text when I’m out xx
He’ll text when he’s out.
He wants to speak to me.
So he will text me when he’s out.
I squeal into my pillow and kick my legs.