After chatting in line for a bit Dan has offered to show you around the city and have lunch with him and his friends! How absolutely lovely.
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I followed Dan into the pub, feeling a little nervous, for the first time that day since my morning trek to find a nearby coffee house. I had been having a great time with him, it was a little weird at first, but once we got to talking things were fun. I was surprised at how compatible our senses of humor were, perfect for laughing at weird shops and clothes we couldn’t believe anyone would actually wear.
“Hey guys!” Dan greeted his friends who were already seated at a table/booth by the window. We were of course, late.
A chorus of “hey Dan"s greeted us, I couldn’t help but grin as I noticed Phil and Louise sitting across from each other, and next to Phil was a boy who I didn’t immediately recognize.
"This is *Y/N* she just moved to London for school and I’ve been showing her around.”
Dan explained as he gestured for me to sit next to Louise in the booth, then sliding in next to me. Louise moved over to make room and gave me a big smile.
“It’s lovely to meet you *Y/N*! My name’s Louise.”
“Hi! Yeah it’s nice to meet you!”
“Dan, I can’t believe you made a friend!” Phil exclaimed.
“Yeah how exactly did that happen?” Louise asked, “you never talk to anyone.”
“Well first I actually recognized him from his videos..” I admitted, a little shy about sitting in the middle of the group.
“Ahhhh of course…” They joked,
“The only reason anyone would talk to him.”
“And we were stuck in line together, so he was forced to keep up a conversation.” I offered up further, smiling and glancing at Dan.
“Well it wasn’t much of a conversation,” he contradicted, “so get this guys, she’s being all polite and asking me how my day is cause like she said we were waiting in line together and that’s what a normal person does. And there I am starting to think about the socially acceptable length of time before I can get back on my phone and pretend to take a call or check a text (yes I know I’m a terrible person shut up) so she goes, ‘here I’ll take out my phone too, you go ahead and tweet about awkward small talk with strangers’. It was literally the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.”
“And you’re hot and sound American so after you ordered he asked you if you’re from around here.” Finished the boy in the chair by Phil, winking.
“Yeah or maybe, Chris, I’m just a nice person and genuinely wanted to be helpful!”
They all laughed at this and Dan’s voice got all high as he defended himself.
“What?? Like I can’t be nice? Occasionally?”
“Oh no you’re dashing,” said Louise snorting, “a very nice guy who happens to hates strangers!”
“So chivalrous, the way you never hold the door for people and avoid making eye contact with cashiers!” Phil added, then looking at me he said, “I’m so sorry though we’re being so rude, we haven’t even introduced ourselves.”
“I did!” Louise said indignantly.
“Phil she obviously knows who you are.” Dan said rolling his eyes.
“I do…” I admitted, smiling.
“Still, it’s polite. I’m Phil and it’s nice to meet you.” He reached his hand awkwardly over the table and I shook it. “Nice to meet you as well!”
“And this is Chris,” he continued, Chris shook my hand very seriously.
“Pleasure to meet you.”
“And you!”
“There.” Said Phil, satisfied.
Their waiter must have noticed the lull in conversation as he chose now to come and see what Dan and I wanted, he asked for whatever Louise was having and I just stuck with water.
“Louise and I have very similar tastes in beer.” Dan explained to me, “and it better come through for me today because I have no idea what you’re drinking.” He directed towards Louise.
“You’ll like it don’t worry,” she waved a hand, “*Y/N* aren’t you going to have a drink?”
“Oh, well I’m not 21 yet so…”
They all laughed and I was a little confused.
“Ah, the drinking age,” snorted Dan, “one of Americas best features.”
“It’s 18 in London dear,” Louise explained, “not that anyone really minds. Didn’t you know?”
“Oh, oh my God yeah I completely forgot… I’m so used to not being able to y'know?” I could feel my face turning a little red.
“Ah that must be terrible.” Chris said, shaking his head.
“Yeah, a life without alcohol is but a half life, a cursed life…” Dan stated, staring off into the distance.
“Dan, have you having been watching Harry Potter at 2 in the morning again??” Phil asked incredulously.
“Oh what, like everyone doesn’t have that line memorized.” He defended himself.
“So…what should I get?” I asked, having very limited experience with good beer.
“Just get what we’re having,” Louise suggested, “if you like beer at all sure you’ll like it.”
I shrugged, “Yeah, sounds good.”
“So *Y/N*,” she continued, “did you recognize all of us then when you came in?”
“Well like I said I do know Phil…I watch all his videos.”
Phil grinned upon hearing this and it made me smile.
“I’ve only seen a few of your videos, but I LOVE when you and Dan do collabs, they’re hilarious, you two are my favorite,” Phil’s smile dropped at that. “And Chris I haven’t seen any of your videos…sorry…” I finished apologetically.
He waved his drink in the air, “No worries, they’re shit anyways.”
There was a pause…
“Louise and Dan?” Phil said,
“Oh come on.” Dan rolled his eyes.
“…they’re your two favorite?”
“Face it Phil, Louise and I just have better on screen chemistry… Or, worse shared experiences irl….”
I giggled, “Probably the latter.”
“Yes but Phil.” Louise reasoned, “she’s actually subscribed to you, so, objectively, I bet she prefers you.”
“Oh…well yeah that makes sense.” Phil brightened up.
“If you ask me you’re all twats,” Chris mused, sipping his drink, “…equally.” He added.
“Well, nobody asked you did they Chris??” Dan replied. The mad bants stopped for a bit when our drinks arrived. Dan told the waiter we’d have another of the same, then tasted his and sighed dramatically, “Ahhh Louise, you never let me down.”
“What is it anyways?” I inquired, trying to read the label.
“Raspberry ale” Louise said, “it’s quite good.”
“So now that everyone’s here and we’re all aquatinted…can we order some food?” Chris asked.
“Yeah I’m starving.” Phil replied, and we all agreed.
The rest of the evening passed quite pleasantly, we ended up ordering loads of appetizers for the table. They were all extremely friendly and had a comfortable group chemistry that I was more than happy to observe and join into. It was around 3:00 when the group decided to disband, everyone had busy schedules or work they had been putting off. After the bills were paid Chris and Louise said goodbye and promised to see everyone again soon. Once they left Phil looked expectantly at Dan, who said he’d walk me back to my place (“Right, like I’d take you to a strange part of London and just leave you there.”)
Although it turned out the pub was only about a 20 min walk to my apartment. This we discovered after missing the bus that could have taken us there. The weather was still surprisingly nice however, and I was enjoying myself immensely. The boys were both SO tall, a fact I found myself marveling over to no end. Being 5"11 myself it was very refreshing not being the tallest one around. When we reached my door, Dan suggested we exchange numbers.
“In case you get lost or mugged or something.” He explained.
“Dan! She just moved here don’t freak her out!” Phil exclaimed.
“If I get mugged wouldn’t they take my phone?” I asked, handing Dan’s back to him.
“….Good point. Well then in case of mugging AND lost phone, we live up on —-. Please don’t tell the Internet.”
“I won’t.” I promised. “Thank you for the offer, I really appreciate it. And thanks for having me along today I had a lot of fun!”
“Yeah not a problem! It was way more fun than shopping alone likely would have been.”
“And I’m really glad I got to meet you!” Phil cut in. I laughed,
“Nice meeting you guys too, have a great rest of your evening!”
“Yeah you too!” They both replied as I stepped into my doorway, giving an awkward little wave goodbye.
