Chapter Four
By the next day, I had accepted something very important about Julian.
He did not know how to arrive quietly.
I spotted him in Camden Market before he spotted me, standing in front of a food stall, arguing with the vendor like his life depended on it.
"I'm just saying," Julian said, gesturing wildly, "if it's called medium spicy, it shouldn't attack me personally."
"That's the risk," the vendor replied.
I walked up beside him. "You ordered it again, didn't you?"
Julian turned, relieved. "Babe, tell him I'm right."
The vendor blinked. I stared at Julian.
"Don't call me babe in public," I said.
"You call me worse in private," he replied.
"That's different."
The vendor laughed. "So, medium or mild?"
"Mild," I said immediately.
Julian gasped. "Traitor."
"You cry," I reminded him. "Every time."
"I do not cry."
"You Googled 'how long does chilli pain last'."
"That was research."
We paid and stepped aside, Julian sulking dramatically.
"You never support me," he said.
"I support your survival," I replied. "There's a difference."
We leaned against a rail, eating, watching people pass. Julian tried the food and nodded slowly.
"…Okay," he admitted. "This is better."
I smiled. "You're welcome."
"Don't get used to it."
"Oh, menace," I said. "You rely on me."
He smirked. "Problem, you enjoy it."
A girl walking past glanced at us and smiled.
Julian leaned closer. "She smiled at me."
"She smiled at the food," I said.
"She definitely smiled at me."
"Your confidence is embarrassing."
"And yet you're still standing next to me."
We wandered deeper into the market, Julian stopping every few steps to comment on something unnecessary.
"Who buys this?"
"Why is that so expensive?"
"Do you think that's real leather or emotional manipulation?"
At one stall, I stopped to look at a jacket.
Julian frowned. "No."
"What?"
"That's a bad idea."
"You don't even know the price."
"You'll love it, then regret it."
"That's my brand."
"You'll wear it twice," he continued, "then ask me why you bought it."
"I will not."
"You absolutely will."
The vendor laughed. "He knows you well."
I sighed. "Unfortunately."
Julian grinned proudly.
That was when we ran into Hannah.
She stood a few steps away, hair tied back, scanning the crowd like she was looking for someone. When she saw Julian, her face lit up.
"Julian!"
He turned. "Hannah."
They hugged quickly.
I crossed my arms. "Am I supposed to disappear?"
Julian grabbed my wrist lightly. "No. This is Elise."
"The menace," I added.
Hannah laughed. "Nice to finally meet you. I feel like I already know you."
Julian blinked. "From where?"
"You come up a lot," she said casually.
I raised my eyebrows. "Do I?"
Julian groaned. "Ignore her."
Hannah smiled at me. "He said you keep him in line."
"That's a lie," I said. "I just stop him from embarrassing himself completely."
Julian sighed. "See? Abuse."
We ended up walking together, Hannah fitting easily into the rhythm, like she was curious but not intrusive.
"So," Hannah said, glancing between us, "how long have you two been… whatever this is?"
"We're not anything," Julian said.
"We're everything," I corrected.
Hannah laughed. "That explains a lot."
At Dishoom, Julian's coworkers were already seated. The table was loud, crowded, alive.
Julian immediately pulled out a chair for me.
"Sir," I said. "I can sit by myself."
"Yes," he replied. "But I won't allow it."
Hannah sat across from us, watching quietly for a moment.
"You two don't even think about it, do you?" she said.
"Think about what?" Julian asked.
"Moving like that," she said. "You just… do."
I shrugged. "Habit."
Julian nodded. "Muscle memory."
Conversation exploded around the table. Someone spilled water. Someone argued about food. Julian told a story badly and I corrected him mid-sentence.
"That is not how it happened."
"It is emotionally accurate."
"It is factually wrong."
Hannah leaned toward me. "Do you ever get tired of him?"
"Constantly," I said. "But I'd miss him immediately."
Julian pointed at me. "See? Emotional dependency."
"Shut up, babe," I said without thinking.
The table went quiet for half a second.
Julian grinned slowly. "Say it again."
"No."
"You said babe."
"I was stressed."
"I'm framing this moment."
Hannah laughed so hard she had to wipe her eyes.
Later, outside, Julian stretched. "I like her."
"She's nice," I said.
"She asked if I'm seeing anyone."
"And?"
"And I said maybe."
I nodded. "Honest."
He glanced at me. "You okay, problem?"
"Always," I said. "You, menace?"
"Still thriving."
We stood there, noise fading behind us, the city moving like it always did.
People came.
People left.
And somehow, through all of it, we stayed.