survive & fade

Well, at least her comment hadn’t exactly scared him away or anything. She still had the lingering feelings of embarrassment though. “Well, even if your mum was right, perhaps I could help? I know most of London pretty well. I get lost in thought and then lost out of it very often.”

Thomas could tell she was embarrassed by her comment - though as far as he was concerned, it’d been true and all in good faith - but wasn’t quite sure how to express that she needn’t be. So he kept talking, mentally shaking off the chill that had started to creep its way through his body. ❝It’s a relief to hear that it’s not so abnormal.❞ He put his hands in his pockets and smiled. ❝I’d really appreciate the help if you don’t mind my company.❞

“I mean we never plan things,” Jack said with a shrug. Honestly most of the stuff they got into in school was unplanned. Well, unplanned until the last minute. And there was the one time with the numbered pigs. That was definitely planned. “So, I’m going with winging it.”

❝That’s because most of the time when we do try to plan things, it doesn’t work. Except that once. I could not have imagined that going any better than it did,❞ Thomas reasoned, smirking because he knew that the both of them were thinking about the missing pig. ❝But alright. If we get lost, you’re responsible for getting us back. You know better than me what a terrible sense of direction I have.❞

“Oh, you’re fine!” Mary said with a shake of her head. She hadn’t even realized he wasn’t listening until that moment. “I’d just asked if you were lost and offered directions. But it turns out you were lost after all… in thought.”

Thomas' lips creeped into a slow smile at her comment, until he couldn’t help but laugh. 

“I know you’re not,” Jack said, smiling a bit. He had a guess or two where his friends mind was, but he wasn’t going to ask or bring up hurt. “But, okay, I was thinking maybe we should take some time and actually figure Europe out? I mean we’ve been in London six years and I’ve only memorized an ten block radius.”

Thomas smiled - knowing he would often worry his friend if he wasn’t careful, and hating it every time he did - then laughed, shaking his head. ❝That’s fair. We definitely haven’t been out as much as we should have, considering it’s been six years. What are you thinking? Plan it or wing it?❞