Episode 27: Londonopoly

Creative Writing is finally complete! Yippee! We had our last class today and I turned in my portfolio, which I finished last night. Then I got up at seven this morning so I could catch the bus to the university and print it all off. After which I caught another bus to the Cromwell Bus Station and walked to the train station in Kingston (right next door to the bus station pretty much) and caught a train to Richmond. And I was forty-five minutes early *facepalm* Well at least I go to read my book for a while.

Met up with everyone else at ten. Well almost everyone. Jamar mixed up what time we were supposed to be meeting so he didn't get on a train until 10. And Caroline was late too, which sucked because no one had her number so we couldn't call to see where she was. But at 10:27, we all boarded an Overground train (not exactly a train and not part of the Underground system. Sort of like a subway running on open air tracks.

The coolest thing was there were no partitions that blocked off the train sections; it was just one long train. Which made me say "Now this is the kind of train you could do Santa Fe from Rent in." Vanessa was like "You would say that Ashleigh," but it was in a good way. It sucks I'm just now developing a camaraderie with these people, right when it's time to go home. I'm going to miss some of these people a lot.

After the pub we headed to this bookshop near the British Museum. Where Yulia and Caroline broke off to do their own thing while the rest of us went into the bookstore. I wasn't really interested in the books that were in the bookshop, so no danger of me buying stuff again. Thank goodness. Then Anna took us to the Tube.

Well, we started towards the Tube, but then Lyanna, Vanessa, and I saw a comic book store so we broke away from the group and went inside. Zack came back and told us how to get to the Tube so we wouldn't get lost. I actually really like graphic novels. There's just something about a story with pictures that appeals to me. I actually bought a copy of A Little Princess (which I already owned) that had full color illustrations in it at a book sale because I think pictures in books are underrated.

Anyway, finally got back to the dorm and I thought I was going to go to Jamie's Italian for dinner. But I was just so tired from all the walking I've done the past few days. So I vegged in my room, starting the writing for my Theatre presentation and doing stuff on Facebook. Then I got asked by Jim is I was going out tonight.

Now, bear in mind that I was in my PJs at this point, hair freshly blown dry and ready to work on the presentation. But I remembered how much fun I had before and I don't have class until 2 tomorrow. So I was like "Maaaaaaybeeee." And then I posted and asked if I should go, since I kind of wanted to, and Abby helped convince me. Then Mom was like "Go and have fun" (which is a sign of the apocalypse) so I was like "Okay!"

Then of course, I was like, "What do I wear?!" Abby told me just wear jeans and cute top; it's just the pub." So I wore my blue jeans and my flowy purple tank top along with my new sandals and jewelry. Then Abby came over and did my make-up for me, which looked great! Although I am still not sold on the idea of mascara.

While she was doing my make-up, she told me to turn up the music. So I went to do so and my computer freaked out on me (I blame facebook) and I had to restart my entire system before the volume control worked again. Crazy screwy internet messing with my system. But anyway, I put on my jewelry and my shoes and we headed outside.

We went to Coronation Hall again and I actually did try a tiny sip of a drink that was nearly no alcohol. It was called Malibu with pineapple. It was really fruity and only had like a quarter shot of rum in it. But after that sip I didn't have any more. Montana did get me to try a sip of her cranberry vodka apple thing, but I did not like it at all. Other than that, I stuck with my Pepsi. Because who knows how drinking would screw up my system.

Now, I did have fun tonight, but I also feel a little foolish. But I want to keep a record of all my time in London, so here goes. Jim was very nice to me again, also very touchy. Not in a way that made me uncomfortable (which I would have put a stop to) but he was holding my hand and putting his arm around me.

Which I would have been okay with, but as we caught up with the rest of the group at the kebab place, Lyanna waved me over and said that Jim was a bit of a player at the dorm. That he'd been working his way through girls on the campus. So I felt a little foolish and taken in. I mean, I wouldn't have done anything, but it was good to know. Maybe I just gotta stop wearing make-up.

Thankfully I have good friends here who can stop me from getting hurt. They do approve of Antony though, and he might be coming to Oceana tomorrow night. I kind of hope he's able to make it. He seemed really nice when I met him on Thursday. But I'm going to still be careful because I thought Jim was nice too (And before all you mama bears charge him for me, he didn't hurt me or break my heart in any way. I just felt naive for how easily I believed him. I think I may be too innocent for the dating game, but I'll learn. Or I'll find someone who hates playing games as much as I do. That would work)

Speaking of games, I love my mom. She made me feel better about the whole Jim thing and we began planning a London version of Monopoly. You would start at Waterloo (I changed this from our original plane because this just works better) and The Tower of London would be Jail. All the money would be done in pounds (which are just so colorful anyway) and the game pieces would either be the royalty of England through the centuries, or statues around London. And the double decker bus and Bobby can be utilities. And different tube lines can be transportation. The landmarks like Hampton Court and the Eye and Windsor and Buckingham (which are the most expensive because the queen lives there). This game shall come to fruition once I get home. I have plans now.

Today's lesson: The dating "game" sucks. But having friends to compensate for your naivete is a wonderful feeling. Ciao.