snapshot •josh dun

three

The sound of yet another London rain pattering on the roof of the apartment. The smell of fresh paint, coming from where, he didn't know.

Joshua sprung out of his bed and put on his glasses. throwing on black jeans, a floral button down, and pink vans, he called her.

"Hi!" He said into the phone.
"Hello Joshua! What brings you to ring me?" Abigail answered.
"I was wondering if you'd like to get dinner with me?"

Wait. Wait. Wait.

"Yes, I'd love to!!"

He could hear her smiling on the other line and he smiled at the thought of her blushing.

"Great! I'll pick you up in an hour?" Josh asked, glancing at the time on his phone. It was 7.

"Great! See you soon! My flat number is 245 if you were wondering."
"Awesome, see you soon. Goodbye." Josh said, grinning. He never knew Abigail lived 6 doors down from him. 
"Bye Joshua."
"Bye Abigail."
"Bye."
"Bye."
Neither wanted to be the one to hang up first.

Abigail ended up doing it.

As soon as the call had finished, Josh threw down his phone to the bed. He needed to get this place fixed up. What if she came over after dinner?

"You and your stupid American views, dammit Joshua." Josh mumbled to himself, gathering all his dirty clothes into a laundry bag and putting it in bis closet to be taken to the laundromat tomorrow. He dusted off his flat screen television, then he made his messy bed, using a vacuum to suck all the crumbs from the night he tried crumpets for the first time.

Sweeping the floor, tucking away his shoes, closing the curtains, and putting away all the stray snacks and throwing out the paper plates and plastic utensils took a bit of time. By the time he was done, it was 7:30.

Shoot, he almost forgot.

Grabbing his wallet, Polaroid, and phone, he dashed out of the complex and into the street below. As he ran, he shoved all the items he brought with him into his leather bag.

Handing the clerk a five pound bill, he dashed back up to his apartment.

7:50.

"Good god!" Josh mumbled, locking the door to his flat.

As he walked to her door, yellow tulips in hand, he pondered.

Should I be early?
Josh don't be early, you dummy, you'll look like you've been waiting for her.

Should I be late then?
Then you'll just look like a jerk.

He finally, at 7:01, knocked on her door.

"One second!" She called out. I ran a hand through my platinum blonde hair.

Nervous couldn't begin to describe it.

Abigail swung open the door, revealing a bright and cheery flat. The walls were a pastel yellow, the cream colored curtains drawn to reveal a balcony and some flower boxes, getting moistened in the rain. A ukulele hung on the wall, and a white bed frame took up the corner. Her TV was softly playing Dodie Clark.

I took a look at her face. Her honey blonde hair framed it perfectly, and her bursts of freckles became somehow even cuter by the bright yellow eyeshadow she wore, which perfectly matched her sunflower yellow dress.

"Hello Joshua!" She said, smiling like a ray of sunshine. I saw that her feet had on a pair of Mary Janes and I smiled.

"Hi Abigail. These are for you." I said, blushing as I handed her the tulips.

She looked in awe at them.

"Joshua! They're beautiful!"

Josh blushes, Abigail does the same. After she puts the flowers in a vase, they head out into the city, shielded by Abigails' yellow umbrella.

"Now you'll have to show me around the city, me being an American and all." Josh joked.

Abigail laughs, the giggle being bubbly and contagious.

"Ah yes, I do suppose I'll have to show you the old way then shall I? Perhaps a cup of tea before we head off to Buckingham then?" Abigail says, doing a snooty impression.

We burst into laughter as we walked down the wet cobblestone.

"But really now. What's it like across the pond?" Abigail asked as we passed a store lined with fairy lights.

"It's strange. Lot's of fighting. And hate. Lots of that too." Joshua states.

"Why that doesn't sound like fun now does it?"

"No I guess not."

"You know, my mum always said 'Abigail, never trust an American man. They'll say they love you and love another woman, then they'll break you down to the smallest you can become.' You aren't like that Joshua, are you?"

"Far from it Abigail. Far from it."

When we get to the restaurant, it has a slightly fancy atmosphere. A man takes out coats and puts them onto hangers as we walk in. My tan trench coat looks funny next to her bright yellow peacoat.

It was 11 p.m when we finally returned to the apartments.

We stop at her door.

"Thank you for the amazing night Joshua. I haven't been out in quite awhile. I do feel awful for letting you pay the check though. Here." She says, handing me two twenty pound bills. I shake my head.
"No. It's my pleasure. I had so much fun tonight."

We stand there, smiling. Me in my dark clothes, her in her bright ones.

"Goodnight Joshua." Abigail smiles, slipping off her shoes, and starting to close her door.
"Goodbye Abigail." I say, grinning. Her freckles seemed like the many stars currently in the sky and made my freckles on my nose look like mud splats.

She shuts the door.

I walk down the hall and hear rapid footsteps running to me. My eyes go wide and I tense as a thin pair of arms wraps around my back, dainty hands clasping together on my stomach.

"Sorry. I wasn't ready for you to go." Abigail whispers.

A genuine smile paints my face.

Content.