Eli 5
Eli
I was starting to feel boxed in.
Ironic, considering London had always been my playground, buzzing with life and always moving and changing.
The noise, the chaos, and the sense that something new always waited around the corner used to fuel me.
But lately, the same streets that gave me inspiration were closing in on me.
My flat felt empty, and the city's energy faded into static.
I needed room to breathe, but I couldn't really find that here anymore.
I stood at the window and stared down at the busy street. People and cars moved in every direction. Always in a rush, always going somewhere, always chasing something. I used to thrive on that. Now I felt stuck.
I pulled out my phone and scrolled through my contacts. My thumb hovered over Rowan's name, but I hesitated when I thought about the last time I saw him. It had been a few weeks, and it was the middle of the summer holiday now, so I knew he'd be free to talk. But his last visit left me unsettled.
An idea hit me before I could really process it. Rowan usually made the trip to London, but maybe that was part of the problem. I could go to him this time.
I didn't plan to stay long, of course. That town would always be too quiet for me. But right now, the idea of slowing down for just a little while sounded like exactly what I needed. The more I thought about it, the more it made sense.
Before I could talk myself out of it, I tossed a few things into a duffel, grabbed my keys, and headed out. I probably should've called him to warn him I was coming, but it felt more right to surprise him.
* * *
I leaned my head against the train window, watching the concrete sprawl of the city give way to the quieter, greener countryside. London was already behind me, and with it, the restlessness I'd been carrying for weeks.
As the train rumbled along, I thought about the last time I went back.
I visited now and then, mostly to see Rowan, but the place hadn't felt like home in a long time.
Still, seeing the familiar landscape brought a wave of nostalgia.
I grew up there, and Rowan moved from London in Year 9.
We spent a lot of our free time sneaking into places we weren't supposed to be and finding trouble wherever we could.
Well... I found trouble. Rowan mostly got dragged along for the ride. He wasn't much of a risk taker and always worried about getting caught. But he never said no, no matter how ridiculous my plans were.
I smiled to myself as I remembered one of those adventures.
We'd sneaked out after dark to meet some friends by the train tracks.
Rowan was jittery the whole time, constantly looking over his shoulder and convinced we'd be spotted.
I just laughed and told him to relax, that everything would be fine. For the most part, it was.
That was Rowan, though. Steady, dependable, always balancing out my impulsive streak. Even now, after all these years, I found myself leaning on that steadiness. Maybe that was why I was going back now. Something in my life wasn't working, and I needed the kind of stability only Rowan could bring.
The train pulled into the station, and the warm air hit my face as I stepped off and made my way into town.
The streets were calmer here, the air fresher, and the place itself seemed to move at a slower pace.
A few people wandered in and out of the shops that lined the high street, but there was no real rush.
A stark contrast to the world I'd just left.
Figuring I'd grab a coffee before heading to surprise Rowan, I made my way to one of the local cafés. It was the kind of place that never seemed to change. The sign above the door was faded, and the paint on the windows was a little chipped, but it had the same cosy feel it always had.
I didn't expect to find Rowan here, but as I stepped inside, I spotted him at a corner table with his back to the window.
He sat hunched over a notebook, his glasses slipping down his nose, completely absorbed in whatever he was working on.
Typical Rowan. Lost in his own world, even in the middle of a semi-crowded space.
I approached his table with a smile tugging at my lips. "Morning, Professor."
His head snapped up, his eyes wide as he took me in. "Eli. What are you doing here?"
"Thought I'd surprise you." I grinned and slid into the seat across from him. "I needed a break from the city. Figured it was time for a visit."
He still looked a little stunned, but he managed a small grin. "You could've given me a heads-up."
I smirked. "Where's the fun in that?"
Before he could answer, someone else approached the table. I glanced up to see a smartly dressed guy carrying a couple of takeaway bags. He set them on the table, then glanced between us with a curious look. To Rowan, he said, "Friend of yours?"
Rowan looked a little flustered but managed to spit out, "Uh, yeah. This is... Elias."
Elias? Rowan never called me by my full name. It wasn't technically a big deal, but the way it rolled off his tongue felt too formal. Then again, I did catch him by surprise.
The guy raised an eyebrow as his lips curled into a smile. "Oh, so this is Elias." He extended a hand toward me, shaking mine with a firm and confident grip. "Marcus Carter. Nice to finally meet you. Rowan's mentioned you."
"Has he?" I sent Rowan a quick look, but he just gave a tight, slightly awkward shrug.
Marcus slid in next to Rowan with an easy, practised motion. Up close, I could see how put-together he was. Pressed shirt, hair styled just enough to look effortless. His watch probably cost more than my rent – I’d shot enough people with designer accessories to recognise the type.
He leaned back comfortably and draped an arm around the back of Rowan's seat. "He talks about you a lot, actually. All good things, of course."
I forced a grin and tried to ignore the knot in my stomach. "Good to know I'm not being trashed behind my back," I joked.
I wanted to ask more questions, but I couldn't figure out how to do it without sounding weird. Rowan glanced between us and fidgeted a little in his seat. Marcus didn't seem bothered, though. He just kept giving me that easy smile, and I suddenly got the feeling I'd interrupted something.
That's what I get for showing up out of nowhere.
I cleared my throat and grabbed my bag as I stood. "Actually, I should probably sort out where I'm crashing before it gets too late. I'll let you guys get back to your day."
Rowan frowned slightly. "You're not staying with me?"
"Nah, I'll grab a room somewhere. Don't want to intrude."
"You're not. You can stay at mine like you always do."
Any other day, I'd have taken the offer. But I couldn't bring myself to do that now. "It's fine, Ro. I'll hit you up later."
He seemed ready to protest, but then he just nodded. "Alright. Let me know where you end up."
"Will do." I tossed my bag over my shoulder and gave Marcus a quick nod before slipping back outside.
I wandered down the street, letting my feet carry me along the familiar paths.
The town hadn't changed much, and in some ways, that was comforting.
The old shops were still there with their familiar window displays.
The smell of fresh bread from the bakery drifted through the air to mix with the faint scent of coffee from the café.
But as I walked, my mind kept drifting to Rowan and Marcus sitting there together. I knew Rowan had his own life here and routines that I wasn't a part of. But I hadn't heard of Marcus before. Rowan usually mentioned the people he spent time with, at least in passing.
Actually, he probably did and I just missed it.
I shook my head to clear the thought away. Rowan didn't owe me updates on every person in his life. Hell, I had a whole world in London that he wasn't a part of, either, and plenty of connections he didn't know about. That's just how it went when you grew up and moved on.
Before long, I found myself heading toward a small hotel nearby. It wasn't anything fancy. Just a cosy, comfortable place with rooms that overlooked the park. I'd stayed here several times on past visits, and it was always a quiet, familiar retreat. Exactly what I needed right now.
I pushed open the door, and a hint of polished wood and cheap coffee greeted me. The receptionist looked up and smiled when she saw me. Recognition sparked in her eyes.
"Welcome back, Mr. Knight. It's been a while. How long are you staying this time?"
I pulled out my wallet as I approached the counter. "A week, I think, if you've got the space."
She nodded and started to type on the computer. "Got the usual room available if you'd like it."
"That'd be great. Thanks."
As she sorted out the paperwork, I glanced around the lobby to take in the familiar framed photos on the walls and the quiet hum of the overhead lights. Once I had my room key, I headed upstairs. I'd wait for a bit to text Rowan.
I felt oddly comforted by the familiar creak of the floorboards under my feet as I made my way down the hall. The room was as I remembered it. Modest but clean, with a view of the park just beyond the window. I set my bag down on the bed and sat for a moment to take it all in.
The quiet was nice. Not much noise from the street below, no city hum constantly buzzing in the background. Just the soft rustle of the wind in the trees and the occasional bird call. For the first time in a while, I felt myself start to relax.
I unzipped my bag and pulled out a few things, setting them on the dresser to make the space feel less temporary.
Once I'd unpacked enough to feel settled, I flipped on the telly and let it play quietly.
The local news was running some feel-good story about a charity bake sale, but I couldn't focus on it.
Eventually, I gave up and wandered back downstairs. The hotel had a small lounge area near the lobby with a couple of worn armchairs and a shelf of dog-eared paperbacks. I grabbed a random book and sat near the window, thumbing through the pages without really taking in the words.
I didn't notice how much time had passed until the sunlight started to dip. When I pulled out my phone to check the time, I saw more than three hours had gone by. It shouldn't be weird to text Rowan now.
I typed out a quick message: Found a room. Let's grab breakfast tomorrow.
It didn't take long for him to reply: Sounds good. 9 at the usual place?
I sent back: Perfect. See you then.
I leaned back in the chair and closed my eyes. London felt miles away, and I had to admit that being here was a relief. I'd needed this change of pace more than I realised.