Athelstan was still trying to get his bearings in such an enormous city. After seven years at St. Neville’s, where the closest town had been Lynemouth (five shops and a post office!), Orange County was intimidating. He stepped into a bookshop in order to clear his head; bookshops tended to be similar no matter where you were.
Except that this one was apparently enormous. It stretched for seemingly forever. Cash stations to the right, and on the left, endless rows of books. Athelstan took a breath, going toward the stacks, figuring he could at least find something to buy and read.
Alyssa hummed as she made her way through the stacks, running her fingers over the spines. She felt comfortable in bookshops, felt happiest in them. There were already two books in her arms when she saw the confused looking bloke walk toward her. She offered him a sweet smile.
Instantly Athelstan turned beet red. A very handsome girl was smiling at him. He could tell it was just a friendly smile, yet ... her eyes were beautiful. Thinking of something to say, he floundered for a moment, but her book titles helped. “Have you ever read that biography?” he asked her, managing a shy smile. “I would highly recommend it, if not.”
“Not yet, but I’m glad to hear good things about it.” She grinned upon hearing an accent somewhat familiar. “Did you just get here, or have you lived here long?” She was wondering if she should start an ex-pat club.
And she was English! Athelstan might have stuttered a little. “I was. Er. I live out.” He took a breath. “Sorry. I’ve only just come here. I’m beginning UCLA in the summer semester. I live in San Clemente for now. I went to an all boys’ boarding school for seven years, so being in a big place like this is very intimidating.”
“I went to an all girl’s one for ... oh, god, eight years?” She grinned at him, clutching the books to her chest. “I’m going to go to UCI in the fall once I graduate.” She extended her hand, thinking his stutter was adorable. “I’m Alyssa, it’s nice to meet you.”
“Did you?” That did actually make him feel better. “I think I forgot what ladies actually look like except for the postmistress. My name is Athelstan, but I suppose I should find a nickname.” He’d been teased enough in secondary school; he could only imagine American college students mocking him.
“You could try Stan. But I like your name. It’s pretty somehow.” She grinned at him, laughing out loud. “See, at least you had a female member of staff! I don’t think we had a single bloke there except for the headmaster.” She laughed loudly, but it was a pure, genuine sound.
“Oh, she was in the town. No ladies came to school.” Athelstan managed to smile again, as red as he knew he still was. “I was at Saint Neville’s, about an hour north of Newcastle.” “Oh, I went further North,” Alyssa smiled. “It’s good to know someone else has that same background.” She seemed boy crazy at times to people, but too few of them understood that she was just now seeing them again for the first time.
“Deprivation?” Athelstan joked before his brain could stop him, and he felt his face flush again. He had to be the most awkward man on the planet with ladies, even when he was being as proper as possible. “That is, I think it’s not natural to be entirely cloistered. God did make the sexes to interact.”
“Exactly. I think Mum just left me there because it was the nearest boarding school, but I wish she’d have researched things a bit more.” Smiling to herself, Alyssa found herself clutching her books a little more tightly. “Would you like to go get a cuppa?”
“My parents sent me to mine because they wanted me to get a good religious education. I do worship, I do believe in God, but ... well.” He stopped himself. It wasn’t polite to speak of religion, he remembered, with most people. Especially in America. “Is there somewhere to find real tea?” He asked, but winced; he sounded so eager.
“A couple! There’s one not too far from here. Did you walk? I have a car. If you don’t mind getting into one with a mad girl you just met.” She bit her lower lip, smiling to herself. He was so kind and sweet. “Anglican or Catholic?”
“Catholic.” Athelstan smiled, looking down. “It’s not polite to speak about religion overmuch here, I know. It’s just hard, as it’s a huge part of my life.” But yes. Tea. “I can’t believe there’s a real tea shop here. Are there many Englishmen? Or -women, I suppose?”
“It’s not impolite to speak of it. I think it’s odd if people try to convert me, and then I’ll say so, but speaking of it is fine. You said it was part of your life. We’re getting acquainted.” She offered him her arm as they walked toward the cash wrap so she could get her books before they went out for tea. “I’ve met more than you’d think! I went out dancing a few days ago, and there were at least three other English-people there.”
“Oh, no, I’d never. Each person’s relationship with God is their own to shape.” Even his parents hadn’t ever been in favor of proselytizing. Athelstan blushed, but took her arm. “I’m just glad I don’t seem to be a bore. I still don’t ... I’m used to other schoolboys.” She was really beautiful, he decided; vibrant and full of life.
“Then you’re fine to talk about your religion with me.” She smiled, ducking her head a bit. Once she’d paid, she guided him to her car. One of Damian’s shirts was on the passenger seat. “Sorry, my boyfriend left that in there after we went jogging the other day.”
Though he doubted he’d ever have had the nerve to ask her on a proper date, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of disappointment. Of course Alyssa had a boyfriend. “It’s not any trouble.” He tried to focus, to ask other questions. “Is your family here with you?”
“Just my mum. My father left us when I was four. It’s odd, though. I didn’t know... I’m kind of getting to know Mum after a while. She left me at school and I only saw her at Christmas holidays. So it’s a bit like living with an older sister, really. What about you?” She saw the sadness in his face and winced.
“My parents are back in England. I’m here on my own, but I’ll have a room-mate at university, I’m sure.” He smiled a little bit, settling somewhat awkwardly in the seat. He wondered how she could drive with the wheel on the wrong side. “I have a sister who’s a nun, actually.”
“I’d say you could come visit my house for supper sometimes, but my mum’s a bit nutters. You don’t want to spend more time with her than you have to.” Alyssa winced as she started to drive. “But I can always sneak you out food.” Driving toward the teashop that also was a bakery, she smiled. “The woman who owns this place also makes lovely scones.”
Athelstan had to blink. “Your mum?” That was rather impolite, but he tried not to judge. It wasn’t his mum. “It’s, er, kind of you to suggest, nonetheless.”
“I know, I’m meant to be respectful, but she’s ... well, I’m seventeen. What life advice would you give me? Hypothetically, if you were my mum.” She grinned at him.
“About life?” Athelstan had to think. “Erm. I ... maybe to get a good education at university? Find a nice man? Or woman?”
“Mum gives me tips on how to conceive. She told me I shouldn’t have left the last bloke I fancied because he’s virile.” Alyssa smiled grimly.
Instantly his eyes went wide. “God in heaven!” It wasn’t a blasphemy, but a prayer. “How awfully ... Biblical.” He couldn’t help the laugh. What parent was like that in this day and age?
“Right?” She giggled to herself, shaking her head. “And he’s ... far, far older than me. She’s supposed to say ‘Alyssa, no, no shagging men who could be your father!’ but instead she’s all ‘Why’d you stop seeing him, I wanted a grandbaby’. I don’t know where to start.”
“Oh, dear.” Yep, there went the bright red again. “That’s very ... well. I would be very embarrassed if my parents were to intervene in my relationships in that way. Or even my sister.” Of course, the thought of his parents finding out about Aidan was the stuff of his personal nightmares.
“How old is your sister? Are you close?” She smiled at him, reaching up to pinch his cheeks. “You’re handsome when you blush.”
Athelstan thought he might expire from all the blood rushing to his cheeks. “Oh.. My. Thank you?” Breathe, fool. “Her name ... My sister’s name is Godlynne - it’s Saxon, like mine - but she went by Lynne. She’s thirty ... we’re quite close, actually, indeed.” It calmed him down a little to think of her. “She’s not cloistered, so she can get letters and we write constantly.”
“That’s lovely, actually. I always thought I’d outgrow my name eventually. I’ve never really had a nickname.” Logan called her Lyssa, but he was the only one allowed to do so.
“I never have either, even though I’m sure I ought. Americans have problems with my name.” He shook his head. “Your name is lovely, in my opinion, if it isn’t fresh to say.”
“It’s not, no.” She went a little pink herself. “You could try going by Stan?” She bit her lower lip, trying not to blush. She’d noticed that he seemed to like her, and she didn’t want to lead him on.
“I might in school, yes.” She looked awkward. “I’m sorry if I’ve ... said something?” They were out of her car now and going into the shop, and he couldn’t help himself; he took a breath and inhaled the lovely familiar scent.
“There’s pastries and such here too. Would you like one?” She shook her head. “You didn’t say anything. I just feel badly I’ve made you blush so.”
“Oh, it’s unfortunately a bad habit.” Athelstan chuckled, looking down. “It isn’t at all personal. It sounds odd ... but I don’t entirely know. Erm. How to talk with ... ladies, I suppose. It’s just been a very long time.”
“It’s not a habit, it’s a reflex.” Alyssa smiled, queuing up. She was going to get a cupcake and some tea. Life was heaven. Squeezing his hand reassuringly, she hoped it would help.
“A bad reflex, then.” He smiled. “Did you encounter that, when you were home on holidays? It’s just like, you know they’re people, but they’re also different and interesting and exciting.” He couldn’t help but blush, but he still meant it.
“Oh my god, yes. I think going to an all girls’ made me more boy crazy. Now that I live with my boyfriend - my mum took him in, his mother was his only caretaker and she passed - I think I just stare at him a lot. He probably thinks I’m a bit mad.” She giggled, knowing just how he felt.
Well, that would have been embarrassing even if he hadn’t found her pretty. He laughed, looking down. “It must be nice to live with him, though. And your mother wouldn’t worry, because she can be there.” It was what his parents would have wanted, though he couldn’t imagine a girl - or boy - that would have gone along with it.
“His room and mine connect via a bathroom.” She didn’t mention that her mother was trying in vain to get them to share one room. It didn’t seem like something he’d want to know. “She likes it. She’s talking about becoming his legal guardian. I think she’s as fond of him as I am.”
“You may have won the lottery, Miss Alyssa.” Athelstan let himself tease her gently. He was genuinely glad she had someone where everything seemed to work out. How charmed could a life become?
“I think so.” She smiled brightly, not telling him about the other things in her life that had happened that sucked. She didn’t want to scare him off of her.
For a good few minutes, he focused on the procurement and drinking of tea. When he got the cuppa, he took a sniff before drinking, and sighed. “I’m in your debt. This tastes like what you’d find back home.”
“You’re welcome.” Alyssa offered him a bit of her cupcake, handing him the fork she was using to eat it. “At least try the buttercream. I feel like I should go hug the owner of the shop for making it.”
It couldn’t hurt. Athelstan took her fork and tried a bit, eyebrows raising. “That’s very good. You were quite right.” He wasn’t overtly fond of sweets, but every so often they were nice. This was nice, to just be having a cuppa with someone. It had been some time.