Huan elbows me and points to a large tour group making their way down the aisle we’re in. I’m assuming they’re Australian from the flag the tour guide is gesturing with. Huan grins and motions toward the group. I muffle my laughter and we shuffle up to the stragglers and pretend to listen and nod when the guide says something.
I peek behind me. Sage’s eyes are wider than I’ve ever seen them and Dev is shaking his head and waving for us to come back.
The group surges ahead, following the guide out of the main abbey and into the cloisters outside. A sign on the door saysTour Entrance Only.
I bite my lip and follow, keeping my head down.
“What are you guysdoing?” Dev whispers. He and Sage have run to catch up to us.
“Come on,” she whispers. “Before we get in trouble.”
Huan shakes his head. “Be cool. Or as close to cool as we can get.”
The guide points to something behind us and the entire group turns in our direction. I almost duck. Instead, I turn and pretend like I’m looking with everyone else. We’re not fooling anyone. Two women whisper to each other and give us the evil eye.
Another steps forward. “I don’t remember you being a part of our rugby sevens team.”
Oh, crap. The group is made up of only women. Very fit, very intimidating women.
“Um, nice to meet you?” I say.
Another girl steps up.
Huan pulls on my arm. “Come on!”
We take off through the doorway and into the chapel. We scurry through the crowds and back onto the lawn outside. I put my hands on my knees and burst out laughing.
“We almost got our asses kicked in a church.”
The others are laughing now too, though Sage is shaking her head. “What were you guys thinking? What if they called the guards? What if they kicked us out?”
“Were we planning on coming back?” Huan asks.
She huffs. “Well, I’d like to have the option. They might have some database where they keep our names on file or something.”
“Or maybe an Abbey prison?” I suggest.
She rolls her eyes, but her mouth crooks up in a half smile.
“Well, that was more fun than I expected.” Huan gestures to Sage’s itinerary. “What’s next?”
I point at the London Eye. “Do we have time for that?”
“I bet the line is already crazy,” Sage replies. “I mean, we could try, but...”
I wave away my disappointment. “Never mind. I’ll follow your lead.”
“Okay, well, we were going to go to Trafalgar Square next. I think it’s pretty close to here.”
I look at my phone. It’s eleven thirty. We’ll be cutting it close but I don’t want to waste a minute in London. “Let’s do it.”
The Tube car is almost filled when it arrives at our platform. We push on, followed by even more people so that we’re crammed together, body to body. Everyone shifts so that they aren’t directly facing another person. My nose is inches from another woman’s shoulder, and I can sense Dev right behind me. Huan and Sage are farther back. The train zooms off to the next stop, and we all sway in unison. My nose fills with the stench of perfume and sweat.
Despite claustrophobia-inducing conditions, I can’t stop smiling. I study the Tube map and the fun advertisements that line the inside of the car. Everywhere I look, there’s something else that I want to photograph and share online so I don’t forget. When I turn to read more advertisements on my left, I find Dev watching me. His face is very close.
“You’re always so happy here. I don’t remember you being like that last year.”
I didn’t realize he’d noticed me. A tingle runs down my spine at the knowledge and I focus on his shirt rather than his gaze. “Just excited to be visiting London finally.”
