How We Met by Katy Regan

Author:Katy Regan [Regan, Katy]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, azw3
Tags: Fiction, General
ISBN: 9780007237449
Google: TVhE2x5TRTgC
Amazon: 0007237448
Publisher: Harper
Published: 2012-12-13T00:00:00+00:00

FIFTEEN

Late July

London

Inside the Last Word café, situated in the vast, red-tiled piazza that leads to the British Library in London’s King’s Cross, Fraser sits on a window-facing stool, waiting for Anna.

Uncharacteristically, he got here forty minutes early and has already used this time to acclimatize to his surroundings – mooching round an exhibition about science fiction, which posed the questions, What does it mean to be human? Are we alone in the universe? Before moving – brain-fried – to another gallery, where he happened upon some completely awesome, original manuscripts of the Beatles’ lyrics.

Fraser has relished this time alone. He enjoys culture, although at twenty-nine is still unsure of what form this ‘culture’ should take, and has often suggested to Karen that they should go to an exhibition or to the National Film Theatre to see something that doesn’t star Sandra Bullock, only to be shouted down with, ‘But it’ll be out on DVD in three months’, and then somehow spending his Saturday afternoon in Matalan.

Today then, it’s been a real treat to be left alone to feed his mind with things that interest him, and although Fraser doesn’t see himself as an ‘intellectual’ by any stretch of the imagination, just being in these cerebral surroundings gives him a kick: he likes the echoey air of the place, the sense of purpose and the loftiness of the entrance hall with THE WORLD’S KNOWLEDGE written across it, like just being here might spark an idea for a ground-breaking invention or an original philosophical thought. If all else fails, he’s discovered they do a mighty fine millionaire’s shortbread in the caff on the first floor.

Now, though, as he drains the last dregs of his double espresso, he detects a slight slump in mood. He knows as soon as Anna arrives, that that will be the end of his ‘me’ time. Also, just a few minutes ago, he was standing in the queue of the library shop, buying a nice notebook and some pens, when he was informed by some pompous American – or was he Canadian? – that, ‘You can’t use pens in the Reading Room, if that’s what you’re buying it for …’ He felt like saying, ‘No, I’m buying it so I can crack on with my graffiti all over the toilets, you IDIOT.’

It’s really got to him: how dare some random stranger patronize him? Did he look like a vandal? He was already thinking he would rather look at the exhibits and the manuscripts than sit in a stuffy reading room learning Wordsworth poetry off by heart, and now he’s convinced of this fact, but Anna was very insistent.

‘Come on, Morgan, you’re my only close friend who lives in London, and anyway, it’s for the LIST, after all, your girlfriend’s List.’

Fraser really wishes people would stop saying this. It makes him feel more responsible than he is comfortable with – and he hates to be pedantic but wasn’t the List Mia’s idea? Let’s face it, too, so far it’s

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