I FELL IN LOVE WITH THE DJ 5

Russell and I are standing in the living room of what could become my new apartment. He walks around opening every door and every drawer, checking every hinge. I look at him puzzled. He winks back at me and whispers “it works every time, it’s to make him nervous. Sun Tzu, The Art of War, basic stuff woman” and points at the real estate agent. He looks nervous and is staring at us with a polite smile on his face.
“It’s small” he says to me making sure he can hear us.
“I don’t need much space, and it has large windows”, Russ looks at me and rolls his eyes.
“There’s a tube stop at the end of the road and we could give you the kind of lease you asked for” the real estate agent adds.
Russell crosses his arms “It’s too expensive”
“But Dr. Martini said the price range was fine” he tries to rebut.
“She was wrong”.
I give him my killer look but he ignores it. “Now, if you bring the price down to…” and writes some figure on a note giving it him “we could think about it”.
‘We?’ I mouth but he doesn’t even bother to acknowledge me.
“I’m sorry I can’t” he answers him
“Fine, we’re out here, it was nice, pointless but nice to meet you” he tells him coldly gesturing me to follow him.
“No, wait, alright, Dr. Martini’s references are what the owner was looking for… we have a deal?” the real estate agent stops him.
Russell smile, “we do buddy!” and they shake hands. Then he walk to me “piece of cake, those Brits!” whispers shaking his head. “But are you sure about this? It’s a major change from the English trash’s mansion. The good thing is the moment Howard sees it he will come to your rescue. He would never let his princess live in this damp”
“It’s not a damp, it’s homey and charming”
“And a shoe box”
“Money doesn’t bring happiness” I answer him.
Russell nods “But can buy it!” and giggles.
“Maybe…!”
We go back to the agency where I sign the papers “I’ll have to break the news to Jo tonight” I tell him.
“A six months lease only… so the rumors are true, you’re going at Columbia”.
“Don’t know what you’re talking about” and I lower my eyes.
“You’re the worst liar I’ve ever met. I have a friend in New York and he told me he came across your CV during a department meeting. Thinking you were still with Howard I told him there’s was no chance of you moving to the US. I guess I was wrong”
“How many people know about it?”
“Very few, the elite I would say” and smirks, “but rumors spread fast”
“Great, so I’ll have two news to break tonight”.


I’m having dinner with Jo and Jason.
“Howard was really sorry about the picture” he says.
“Whatever, he’s free to do what he likes and who he likes” I mumble.
“He’ll come back to his senses” Jo tells me.
I sigh and try to smile “I found a place to leave”
“What? No way, you’ll stay here with us”
“No, yours is a very generous offer and I might come to enjoy some good meal every once in while but I need my space and so do you”.
“You cannot leave alone” Jason says.
“Yes I can, I’m pregnant not sick. And I also have something else to tell you”
They’re both staring at me. I sigh “it’s not official yet but there’s a high chance I’ll be moving to New York next year. I applied for a teaching position at Columbia, it’s tenure track and it’s Columbia, I couldn’t say no”.
Jo keeps staring at me “after all you did to come to London… you’re throwing it all away because of him? You love working at King’s, you love it here. You have friends. What are you going to do in NY all alone? And with a newborn baby? Don’t you remember how much you hated it when you lived there?”
“It’s time to change” I whisper
“Let him move! I’ll talk to him. He could go back to Manchester, or the Moon. This is not the right time to turn your life upside down” she says.
“I’ve done it already. If they offer me the job I’ll go”.
“You’re so full of crap! Now I know why you love Howard so much, you’re just like him!” she yells.
“Well! Since you’re my friend I guess you’re not so perfect either!” I yell back.
Jason stands up “ladies please, no need to..”
“Stay out of it!” we both yell at him.
I look at her “I’m no longer hungry, I’m going to bed” and storm out of the room.

Around midnight I walk down to the kitchen to pillage the fridge to find Jo’s already doing it.
“Hi” I say
“Hi yourself”
“Is there anything left?”
“Ice-cream” and she brings a spoonful of chocolate to her mouth.
“Good, want to share?”
She nods. “Are you still going to the new world?” she asks.
“I have to”
“Bullshit”
“Do you have any idea how much it hurts to see pictures of Howard smiling to someone else the way he used to smile at me?”
“I wish there was something I could do”
“You could kill every woman in town age 18-35”
“I’ll see what I can do. I am sorry”
“I know, he can’t even name the baby. And I cannot stay here looking at you and Jason constantly reminding me of what I cannot have”
“Sod It!”
“Sod it! Spoon?” and I sit in front of her. She gives me one. “Thanks” I say and we start eating our Belgian Chocolate out of the container.
“Russell fancies you, he always has” she tells me.
“Yeah, I know”.
“Go for it”.
“He could be Howard’s evil brother, thanks but no thanks, if I really have to I’d go for the British edition…” and giggle.
“But he’s nice to you, unlike the British edition”.
I raise my eyebrow “sure, only because he doesn’t know it yet, as Howard pointed out, I don’t look pregnant”
“Wicked!”