8 September 2012
Johnny,
Hi! I tried to call you today but it went straight to answer phone. You probably don't have signal but I can't help but worry; we both know you need looking after! I hope you are ok and it's just the busyness and lack of signal and Internet that are keeping you from contacting me, and nothing else.
I went to Stratford today and had a picnic by the river. It was beautiful, the sun reflecting off the water as it was disturbed by swans, narrowboats and people messing about in rowing boats. Have you ever been to Stratford? It always amazes me just how many tourists flock to Shakespeare's birthplace - its not like he actually wrote anything while he was living there. I refuse to pay money to go inside an old house and I do my best to sabotage people's Shakespeare photos. I've never been to the RSC theatre, but I would love to. I remember you said you've never been to the theatre (!) - ill take you to see some Shakespeare one day, maybe Romeo and Juliet?!
You know what I was thinking? It's been nearly a year since we first met. I'm pretty sure we started uni on 12th September 2011, so on Tuesday we will have known each other a whole year. I can't believe it - the time just flew by. I hope these next eight months pass as quickly. No doubt they will for you! I also got to reminiscing (yes, again) about that first uni night out when I got the whole of EY1 together for a meal and drinks - quite a feat of organising! So much so that everyone put in and bought me that bottle of champagne, that I proceeeded to drink pretty much to myself. Although I did keep topping your glass up when I thought you weren't looking. By 8pm we were wrecked and heading off into town to do some serious damage to brain cells, livers and wallets. I actually have big gaps in the ole memory bank - too many jäger bombs will do that - but I have memories of dancing in the Blower and drinking shots, then a bunch of people went home and the hardcore went to Heroes! Heroes! We had cocktails, not that we needed any more to drink, danced and I was very, very drunk. I told you all about my unhappiness, relationship problems and generally shitty life. You hugged me so tightly and I felt, then, that night, that I'd made a great new friend.
Heroes got too mad and started to play rubbish music, you, me and a couple of others (Lucy and...Renu?) went to The Hand In Glove - I know how much you love it in there! On the way you told me...about Hannah and how you were going to get engaged, but she broke it off instead. I was so, so devastated for you - no wonder you were so down (you think I don't notice these things, but I do). I wanted, there and then, to take that pain away from you. Really. I loved you as a friend, despite not knowing you for that long, and I would have done anything to help you. I resolved to always be there for you, no matter what happens. I 'll never break that promise Johnny, I mean it.
Anyway, we returned to drinking and for some reason you ordered five pints of strawberry beer. I drank two just to stop you drinking them. Renu and Lucy went home but we went for a 'stroll' in the Cathedral...and peed in the gardens! I still smile every time I walk by - beautiful, historical building; pissed on it! We stumbled to McDonalds then somehow I ended up sleeping at yours (just sleeping this time, really). I was sort of embarrassed the next day (especially as Sue probably thought I was well slutty!) but it was all good. You were your usual cheery, carefree self, if a little hungover. We went for lunch in town, then sat by the river, feeling somewhat worse for wear. When I finally got home at some point in the afternoon I was hanging, exhausted but strangely happy. I'd had a great, wild night with you like I hadn't experienced for a long time. It was the first of many. And I've loved every one.
So long for now, Love Kim xxx
Letters To Johnny - Four • Opuss № I