Kyle hated flying.

One would think with how frequently he flew to different countries for performances he would be used to it by now, but he still could never bring himself to enjoy the experience. It didn't matter how nicely furnished the plane's interior was, or even that this particular jet was a private plane shared only by about half a dozen other people. The lurching feeling in his stomach and the stutter in his heart as the plane took off into the sky was a dreaded feeling, alleviated only when they finally touched back down onto land at their destination.

However, this evening, as the Boeing 747 jet touched down onto the landing strip at Heathrow Airport, Kyle didn't feel the usual rush of relief brought on by being on solid ground again. The uncomfortable clench in his stomach refused to budge as he gazed out the small airplane window, the London city lights glimmering against the inky night sky like little jewels.

"Glad it's not raining tonight, eh?"

Kyle didn't bother acknowledging his manager, Reg, sitting across from him in the upholstered leather airplane seat. Reg always wore a button-down shirt and tie wherever he went, even if he technically wasn't on the clock, and tonight was no different.

"It's always raining here," Reg went on, shaking his head and sighing as he pulled out his phone. "Like the bloody wetlands, this city is."

Kyle continued to be silent as Reg busily typed away on his phone. The jet bumped and jolted slightly as they coasted along the landing strip, finally slowing down enough so they could roll up to their gate. Kyle silently let out a breath, going unnoticed by the other man.

"So how d'you like the private jet?" Reg asked, smiling expectantly at Kyle before glancing around the plane's lavish-looking interior. "I told you this was the best way to fly."

"I was fine flying commercial," Kyle said petulantly, finally tearing his eyes away from the window so he could fix his gaze on Reg. "I told you, a private jet wasn't necessary."

"Oh, live a little, lad," Reg grinned and chuckled teasingly, as he often did with his favorite client. "You haven't been home in six years! You deserved a little fanfare for your grand homecoming. Tell me, how do you feel?"

Kyle turned his gaze back to the window, gazing unseeingly out into the world. "Exceptional," he said dryly.

"Oh cheer up. London is excited to see you again," Reg said lightly, leaning back to cross an ankle over his knee. "You'll be giving masterclasses at the Royal Academy this semester... and at only twenty-five years old! Most musicians don't even get a chance like this when they're fifty! The papers are sure to write about you in the coming weeks, I promise you that."

"I doubt they'll be writing much about my musical prowess," Kyle mumbled as the plane finally came to a complete stop in front of the jet bridge. He hadn't meant for Reg to hear him say that, but the man chuckled at his statement all the same.

"I may have to agree with you on that. With Chloe teaching alongside you, I doubt the media will focus on much else," Reg smirked at the younger man. "Have you spoken with her at all lately?"

Kyle shook his head. "Not since last year," he said. Both of them understood him to mean 'not since we broke up'.

"Well, I suppose meeting up with her again is unavoidable," Reg said sympathetically. "Maybe you, me, Chloe, and her manager can all have a little tête-à-tête before classes start up again, just so we can lay everything out on the table?"

Kyle scowled at the thought of sitting down with Chloe and her manager to discuss their defunct relationship. He'd almost rather date that vapid shrew again. "How about no."

Reg sighed. "You're going to have to face her eventually, Kyle."

"I know," Kyle said fastidiously. "I'd just rather hold off 'eventually' for as long as possible."

Reg didn't get a chance to respond as the flight attendant approached them to say they were allowed to leave their seats. The two men unbuckled their seatbelts and got up to gather their things.

"I know you're not thrilled about working alongside Chloe for the next few months, Kyle, but these classes are a great opportunity for you," Reg said in a rather serious tone, hooking the strap of his bag over his shoulder. "And you've been travelling all over the world since you left Julliard two years ago. I know the adventure can be fun, but you can't keep that up forever. You need to come home at some point."

Kyle didn't say anything to that, but silently felt that if London continued to be the place he called home, he'd gladly continue travelling the world forever.

Without another word, the two departed the jet and walked out into the cool London night.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Around the same time, in a different part of the city, a taxi pulled up on the site of the road near a row of nicely-furnished flats. The back door of the car soon opened, and out stepped a cute red-haired woman, gazing up at the buildings with an eager smile on her face.

Stephanie Ryan had never been to London before, but even after her long eight-hour flight from Boston, she found herself wide awake and excited to begin her adventure here. Three months in this brand new environment was sure to be an experience she would never forget.

The taxi driver popped open the trunk (or boot as it was called here in England, Stephanie had to remind herself) so she could grab her bags, including her violin case. The London evening was mostly quiet as she unloaded her things, but suddenly she saw a light flicker on in one of the flats as the front door burst open with a crash.

"Steph!"

Stephanie's friend Lydia Zebrowsky waved excitedly at her before running forward, and Stephanie chuckled. Whatever nerves Stephanie had felt travelling to this unfamiliar country went away the moment she saw her old friend again.

It felt like she had truly made the right decision coming here.

Lydia hadn't changed a bit in the years since Stephanie had last seen her: she had the same tall lanky frame, the same round tortoiseshell glasses perched on her long nose, and her frizzy brown hair piled up on top of her head in a sloppy bun. Tonight Lydia wore a pair of overalls over a long-sleeve oversized green jumper with Birkenstocks on her feet, but somehow she made the look work.

"Oh my God!" Lydia squealed happily as she hurried down the path toward the street. The two women quickly embraced, laughing and smiling happily as they reunited.

"Oh my gosh, I've missed you!" Stephanie grinned, finally pulling away and beaming at her friend. "How've you been?"

"So much better now that you're here!" Lydia beamed, her British accent reminding Stephanie fondly of their days back in music school together. "Again, I'm sorry I couldn't pick you up at the airport. I don't have a car, I'm afraid."

"Oh please don't worry about it. I understand," Stephanie assured her. The cab driver approached them, and Stephanie quickly paid him before she and Lydia grabbed her suitcases and carried them inside.

"Here we are," Lydia flicked on the lights in the foyer. "Apologies for the mess."

The flat was small but cozy. The walls were covered with overstuffed shelves filled with books, manuals, and sheet music, and a small piano was tucked in a corner beside a music stand covered with loose sheet music and scribbled notes. A small tabby cat sat perched on a pile of books on a nearby coffee table, swishing its tail as it blinked up at the two women.

Stephanie smiled. She knew she would feel right at home here.

"I love it," she said sincerely, smiling at her friend. "I can't thank you enough for letting me stay with you while I'm here in London."

"Are you kidding? This is going to be so much fun!" Lydia squealed excitedly. "It'll be just like our conservatory days, only this time you and I are actually good musicians who know what the hell we're doing."

Stephanie laughed at that. "Oh, I don't know about that. You're the only one here who's an actual music professor at the Royal Academy!"

Lydia waved her hand dismissively, as if being a professor wasn't that big a deal. "Oh please. Teaching musical theory has its benefits, but I hardly get to play as much as I used to. By the end of the summer, I'm still going to be elbow-deep in term papers while you're probably going to be sounding like David Oistrakh!"

Stephanie couldn't help but grin in amusement. "I better start practicing then."

"All in good time," Lydia nodded, checking her watch. "It's pretty late right now, though. Care for a nightcap before turning in?"

Stephanie didn't feel particularly tired, though she knew she would likely feel pretty jetlagged in the coming days if she didn't get on a regular sleep schedule. "Sure, sounds good."

"You've come at a great time, Steph - the summer term starts in about a week, right after Easter," Lydia smiled. "The Academy will then be open for students and musicians to practice as much as they want."

"I better get ready then," Stephanie joked, though there was an undercurrent of worry in her voice. "Are you sure it's alright for me to be using the practice rooms even though I'm not technically a student?"

"It might be a little unethical, but non-student musicians come by the Academy all the time," Lydia shrugged. "Plus, I can vouch for you if anyone causes you trouble."

Stephanie felt a bit comforted by that notion. "Okay. Thanks."

Lydia then led the way further into her flat, giving Stephanie a short tour of the kitchen, dining room, the guest room where she was going to be staying, and also the cupboard where her cat Leopold slept. Stephanie smiled as she took in Lydia's small, cozy space - it felt very homey, and Stephanie knew she would enjoy staying here with her friend for the next three months.

Rediscovering her love of music and the violin was why Stephanie was here. And by God she was going to soak up every minute of this.