Graffiti

Chapter Five:

The next morning, I looked down and saw that I was swarmed in blankets with a smile upon my face. I remembered that I could do anything I wanted to because I was here all alone. The world really was my oyster. I got out of bed, showered, brushed my teeth, straightened my hair and got dressed. 

As I was meant to be meeting Alex today - I still hadn't decided whether or not I'd actually meet him - I decided to wear my usual attire of black jeans, a simple grey shirt and black converse. It was nine a.m. now, which meant I had two hours to kill if I really was going to meet Alex. I couldn't spend all my time here with him, I was here to explore Jersey and learn about the different cultures and whatnot, not spend all my time with a temperamental guy. 

I sighed in frustration, I had no idea what to do. No doubt that if I didn't turn up, he'd find a way to get into my room... Which was a scary thought and a risk I was not willing to take. Looks like I'm meeting him, I thought to myself with a mixture of joy and annoyance. 

Two hours, four cups of coffee and one lame TV show later, and I was waiting outside, in the same spot as Alex told me to wait yesterday. And, guess what, there was no sign of him. I'd had enough of people letting me down, so I tried not to let my thoughts go awry, because he could've had a family emergency or he could have slept in like every other normal teenager.

Twenty minutes later and I was still waiting. I hitched my plain black shoulder back over my shoulder, moved my bushy fringe out of my eyes and walked away. I still, luckily, had time to visit the local Cathedral, a nine minute walk from my hotel. I pushed Alex out of my head - I'd only just met him anyway, why was I so upset? I passed families and couples, friends and children, all sent a pang through my heart. 

The sun shone down on my back, the cars rushed by, a deafening roar in my ear. I could see the very top of the Cathedral as I neared it. Shops were just opening, even though it was Saturday and the smell of coffee hit my nose. Good job I'd brought money with me, otherwise I'd probably end up grabbing someone's coffee and running away. 

I turned the corner and there, right in front of me was a jaw dropping monument. The cathedral was absolutely beautiful. Whoever designed this place, put some serious effort into it; and it paid off. Big time.  Big, grey columns held up the entire structure, you could tell the building was old from the way the grey marble was dirty and chipped. Patterned glass complimented the whole thing, and whilst I wasn't a religious person, the artwork took my breath away. 

The only problem was that, whilst I really wanted to head inside, it was really expensive and the queue was too long for my impatient mind. If I hadn't have spent so much on a hotel then I would've just gone it, regardless of the queue, but I did, so I couldn't. Mournfully, I took out my crappy phone, snapped a few pictures of the cathedral and turned back towards the hotel. 

Great, now I was in a crappy mood. Damn, I really wanted to go into that cathedral. I debated whether I wanted to go back to my hotel and catch up on years of lost sleep, or whether I should go and grab a coffee from one of the quaint cafés on the side walk.

I hoped they were cheap, I mean who the Hell could afford coffee for, like, seven pounds? Honestly, I was pretty sure I was just babbling to myself so I could distract my mind from wandering to the thought of Alex. I was disappointed  and I hadn't been disappointed by anyone in such a long time that it physically hurt. 

As childish as it sounded, I wanted to burst out crying.  This is why you shouldn't distance yourself from people, I told myself.  I was true though, if I got used to people inevitably letting me down, it wouldn't hurt as much. At least, I hoped it wouldn't. 

Trying to forget about the whole thing, I found myself walking towards a small cafe. It looked cheap but not too shabby. I walked through the glass door, a little bell went off as the door closed and the people in the cafe looked at me like I was the only piece of meat in a  cage full of lions. I shuddered.  There were old people, middle aged people but no one my age, unless you counted the waiter who was practically eye raping me. 

I gulped and walked forwards, I could smell coffee. The floor was a smooth dark wood that creaked as I walked towards the crème coloured counter. There were stools that were occupied by the counter, I moved away from them and towards the waiter as I got ready to order a mocha. 

Behind the counter, there were three machines that I could only guess made coffee, tea and hot chocolate. I didn't see a toaster or anything like that, which was strange. Maybe they were in the back. The waiter, whose name tag read 'John'had slick black hair pulled up in a pony tail. He wore a white shirt that had numerous stains on. One even looked like blood.  

"What can I get 'ya?" He asked in a southern drawl. 

"Just a mocha. Please," I asked. 

He nodded his head and turned away, presumably towards the coffee machine. "Take a seat," he said, "I'll bring it over." I turned and sat at a two seater table near a window. The was a thin white lace table cloth on the mahogany table and the chairs were hard, but bearable.   

It was just as John was bring over my mocha when the bell dinged. At first I ignored it and paid John the three-fifty for the drink, but I realised that the cafe had become silent. Too silent.  I looked up, which was a really bad mistake. 

It's funny how when you leave home and plan to never return that you expect to never see anyone from your old life, ever again.  Boy, how wrong was I? I was done with the people at home, I had little family that paid little attention to me. Friends that were too busy to care, and one seriously pissed off boyfriend. Pissed off because I left without saying goodbye.

One really pissed off boyfriend who stood above me, in Jersey.