India
This entire arrangement is rather confusing, Jools decides. Near as he can tell, Hannah had a lot of fun in India. She didn’t seem so annoyed with him, like she usually did, and she even shared a bed with him a few times.
Because it was cheaper, she said.
They did sort of just pick up and go without any real planning, so he had to agree that cheaper was better. And he had been a perfect gentleman and didn’t let his hands wander. It was difficult, but he managed it.
She even cuddled up with him on the flight home. Granted, she also slept most of the flight home, but still.
They went back to Mrs Grayshot’s flat when they got back to London, and Hannah went straight back to the bedroom.
“Mum must be at class,” she declared.
Jools looked around the quiet flat. “Yep,” he agreed.
For a moment, he considered following her back to the bedroom. It was a very brief moment before he decided that he couldn’t handle what was sure to be inevitable rejection. Instead, he took off his jacket and practically fell onto the sofa, falling asleep almost instantly.
“What are you doing in here!? I’ll have you know, I... know karate!”
Jools jumped awake, shouting at the sudden commotion. As he reeled backwards over the arm of the sofa, Mrs Grayshot screamed and bumped back into the wall before she realised what was going on.
“Goodness, Jools. What are you doing here?” she demanded.
“Uh... sleeping,” Jools said, sitting nervously on the back of the sofa.
“I thought you were in India?” She looked around the flat, and the mess Jools and Hannah had brought in with them.
“Yep,” Jools said, watching her.
Mrs Grayshot opened her bedroom door and flicked on the light. “And I suppose you haven’t showered yet, either!?”
“Mum! Get out!”
“It’s my bedroom and my flat,” Mrs Grayshot shouted back. “And I bloody well won’t.” She chased Hannah out of her bedroom and began stripping the bedding off. “I suppose you’ll be moving back in then?”
“No, I’ll probably see if my mum’ll let me stay with her for a while,” Jools said.
“Jools, she meant me,” Hannah said, slumping down on the sofa. “And yeah, can I?”
“Do I have a choice in all this?” Mrs Grayshot asked.
Hannah smiled up at her. “Thanks, Mum.”