Stubbornness.

Another nickname for my best friend.

From as far as I can remember, Myra Wong has been fiesty and bitchy, just like me. It's true that she's my best friend of ten years and I can't hide any secrets from her. But she always finds herself obliged to get me into situations I need to get myself into but I can't. On other occasions, she tries a little too hard that she nearly suffocates me, and that's what she's been doing for the last week or so.

Let's go out for some coffee.

Let's visit Brad and Ethan at the gym.

Let's go out for lunch with Brad and Ethan.

Let's stalk him on social media.

I've been trying to get some emotional and physical rest but she always jumps in with a new idea.

After they left us alone last Sunday, she didn't stop squealing in excitement. And although I reassured her that we're in the road to being good friends and that there is nothing but friendship between us, she wouldn't shut up about other possibilities.

Brad was working most of the time, so it was just me and Myra. We went to the cinema, some famous restaurants, we visited some museums and parks but mostly, I was in my room, trying to find offers of apartments and jobs.

"Hanna, hey," Myra pushes the door slowly and enters. "I have some errands to run. Are you sure you don't want to come?" She asks me for the fifth time today.

I shake my head without lifting it from the laptop.

"I know you're probably pissed at me. Hanna, I just want to see you happy. But I won't interfere with your life again, I promise." She sais before giving me a weak smile and closing the door behind her, without letting me explain myself.

I'm not really mad or pissed. Myra is almost like a sister but sometimes I wish I can just hide things from her which is impossible. This is a huge deal that can't be messed with and I don't think she understands that because she has Brad. Diving into a some silly forced relationship was never one of my characteristics.

"The keys are at the kitchen counter in case you wanted to get some fresh air." She yells from the kitchen and I yell a "thank you" back. Then I hear the door shutting closed.

My mind can now relax and think properly. I don't know how I'm going to find a job with a high pay. If I don't hurry up and start working this week, I don't think I'll have my own apartment before two or three months.

Getting a little frustrated at my thoughts, I push my chair away and go to my small closet. I dress up in blue jeans, a white tank top and matching flip-flops. I take Myra's laptop with me, along with the key, fix my hair into a high messy bun and get out of the apartment.

Walking down the streets of Leeds on my own for the first time feels a little intimidating. But if I was going to live alone soon, I have to get used to the feeling. Instead of freaking out, I walk down the sidewalk, with my backpack, and let my gaze wander at the beauty of the nature and buildings. Everything seems close to each other like a piece of puzzle. There is a fast food, a small library, a coffee shop along with a bakery and a jewelry shop near the apartment.

Everything looks welcoming and screaming for my attention. I get especially attracted by the coffee shop, with all its neon colors and outside design and decide to go for it.

To be honest, I've always been afraid of my own company. Back in York, I always had Myra by my side or surrounded myself with a group of girls and boys in my classrooms. But then I was so in need to find a new companion when I was in that shit of a hole. Reading books was my savior in many situations.

But now, in a completely different environment with nothing at hand to do, I feel a little lonely. A little down maybe.

As I take a seat at one of the tables next to the window with my cup of latte, my heart aches in longing for my two siblings. Although it is around 11 am, The Brew, this coffee shop, is full to the brim. It feels so cozy with all the teenagers talking and giggling, all the kids running around to their parents and families, and especially all the love and warmth spread in the air.

My little brother, Jacob, is the one I miss the most. As a six year-old, I feel sorry for him because he doesn't know a thing on what's going on with me. But he's always been my cute superhero. The innocent looks and innocent questions he gives me always make me want to wipe away my tears and start looking at life differently.

I take a sip from my latte, my mind still wandering about my little munchkin, then take the laptop and carry on with my search for a new home and a new job.

Most of the job offers for today are either in a laboratory, or in the journalism field which I'm not interested in. There are some other offers of a waiter in a restaurant and a sales associate but they do not pay well. I guess it's just not my day. I groan inwardly, and roll my eyes at my cursed luck.

"Haven't seen you in a while, Aidan," It takes me a moment to realize someone is talking to me. Standing in front of me is Ethan dressed in black shorts, a white Nike sleeveless shirt and sneakers of the same brand. "I meant Hanna," He giggles. "What are you doing here all alone on a Saturday morning?"

He tucks his hands in his pockets and shifts his weigh on his other leg. His usual crisp scent is mixed with a masculine sweaty odor that lingers in the air. He looks exceptionally good with wet sweaty wavy hair that falls on his forehead, shading his ever so beautiful eyes.

"Nothing, I just came out for some fresh air. I'm still discovering the neighborhood." I can't help the smile that is taking over my face. "What about you?" 

"Oh, I just finished with the gym and I'm here with the boys to get some iced coffee." He points with his hand at Jake and Wren standing in the line.

"Do you come here often?"

"Yeah, this is our go-to meet up place. And we always get coffee from here." His gaze wanders around then comes back to me.

"I don't see Myra anywhere. Are you alone?" He sits at the edge of the chair next to me and I get a glimpse at his perfectly rounded green eyes again that are hooded with a basketball hat. The sparkle in them is so bright that it reminds me of the staring game of last week.

"I am actually. I just want to look for a job and an apartment. But it's not easy when you don't know the country or any contacts." I take a sip.

"Do you need someone to show you around or keep you company?" he looks concerned, worried even if what I saw is right. It's like he, in some weird way, is trying to protect me or parent me.

"It's alright. I'm heading home soon anyways." My phone rings at the table, breaking our eye contact and when I pick it up, it's someone I didn't expect.

"Uncle John!" I say picking up the phone, and gesture a "one minute" with my fingers pinched together for Ethan. He nods and gets comfortable in his chair.

"How are you doing? I ask hesitantly, not really sure if he's all alone or if I should worry.

"I'm great sweetie. I just wanted to check up on you. How've you been?"

"Aw thank you. I'm good. I'm with Myra for the moment until I find an apartment and a decent job. But it's taking longer than expected." I sigh.

"That's what I wanted to talk to you about actually. I have some exciting news for you. I'll be visiting you tomorrow to talk more and I'll call you to see where we can meet, okay?"

"Please don't let anyone know you're visiting me here. I don't want anyone knowing where I am." The words leave my mouth without a second thought and I see deep creased eyebrows in front of me.

"Of course. I got you covered. I will see you tomorrow then." He then hungs up.

"Is everything okay?" Ethan's worrying about me makes me feel loved and fuzzy. Like I've got someone by my side all the time. This feeling is so foreign that I find it hard to believe it actually exists.

"Let's get going Ethan." We both turn and see Wren and Jack approaching us. "Hey Aidan, how's it going?" Wren says giving me a cute smile. This is the first time I see him up close. His hair is a shade lighter than Ethan's brown one. It is swiped back smoothly, making his night blue eyes pop up the most. Jake on the other hand is blond which gives the impression that he's a playboy. He has a pair of puppy blue eyes complimenting his barely seen freckles.

My brain catches up to the word "Aidan" and I scratch my nose in annoyance. Ethan laughs and tells them to call me "Hanna" from now on.

"I'll be out in a minute." He tells them and they wave at me in their way out. I look at him and he has a focused look on his face again.

"Is everything okay?" He repeats.

"Sort of." I sigh, knowing too well I can't hide things like this forever. "I just have too many damn problems at home and between us, I flew away. No one knows I'm here." I don't know why I felt a big burden lift off my shoulders but the interest in his voice reassures me. I don't know what intrigued him about my shitty life or how did he get the idea to even ask but I'm grateful. The change in his facial expression is almost too relaxing when he leans forward and smiles weakly.

"I can always help you look for a place to stay in, you can stay with me if you like. I live by myself. We all have those kind of problems and I think what matters is how we deal with them. You can rant to me anytime Hanna." After he sais that, I can't take my eyes off of his. His words, I feel like, have so much meaning behind them, his eyes and his smile are hiding so much pain but it cannot be seen on the surface.

"Give me a call if you need anything. We can all use a friend." He snaps me out of and I see that he's giving me his phone and extending his hand for me to give him mine.

"I'll see you around Hanna. Don't hesitate to call at anytime." He sais after giving me my phone back and gets up to leave. I almost want to get ahold of him, his wide shoulders and large chest and make him stay longer and rant for him already. But his life seems like a mess itself, a mess that can't be fixed with some chitchats or beer. A mess that has me thinking that I'm not the only person with problems in this world and that some people need help more than others.

I get my laptop and my cup and get going to the place I call home for now, thinking what might be worse than getting a divorce at the age of twenty and escaping home.