I was right. We were screwed. We couldn't find a place for the dogs to stay, so we had been given instructions to collect our things and leave whenever we were ready. Unfortunately, I knew I wasn't ready to leave, but because we couldn't keep the dogs in our hotel room, we had no choice but to leave immediately.
Tears were streaming down my face as I called my parents, to see if they could pick us up from the train station. My mother did her best to comfort me, but her ever-optimistic attitude wasn't really helping me now.
My father said that he would sue the dog place for everything they had, but that was a useless plan, as the whole problem was that they were going into administration and had no money to take anyway. Not that it was all their fault... I guess I should have played it safe and never taken the job. It certainly would have been easier if I'd never known Taron.
I had left Draco with Amy and Colin, allowing them some time alone while I promised to pack everything up in the hotel. Taron had been busy again that evening, but promised to meet me before we left. The closer we got to the time, though, the more nervous and upset I was getting; I couldn't help but think that there could have been so much more between us. I couldn't help but wonder what could have happened in the weeks I could have been there with him... I cried as I packed, even though I kept telling myself that it was stupid.
It didn't take long for me to finish putting everything together, and sorting times etc. for the trains. In no time, I found myself sitting on the edge of the empty bed, staring at my watch. It was almost time.
My phone started to ring, and it was Amy.
"Are you ready?"
"Yeah."
"You sound terrible."
"I feel it. You sound good though."
"I am!"
"What are you talking about?!" I was annoyed that she could be so happy, while I could be so miserable.
"I take it Taron hasn't reached you yet then?" Amy giggled, and I became more and more frustrated with her attitude.
"No, he hasn't even called yet."
"He probably won't. I gave him our room number; he'll be there soon."
"What?!" I stood quickly and rushed to the mirror to check my puffy red cheeks.
"He has something to tell you."
"And he told you first?!" I said, outraged.
"No, silly, Colin told me."
"But... wh-... what's happening?"
"It's good news, I promise," Amy giggled girlishly, telling me she was still with Colin, then hung up without any warning.
I swore at the phone and shook my head. I felt that this 'good news' could be anything from Colin telling her she was pretty, to a life-changing discovery, but all I hoped for was a way to stay here.
I rushed over to the bathroom, in the hopes that washing my face would take at least some of the cried-out look away. I splashed water over my face and neck, and dabbed myself dry. I tried to apply fresh make-up, but my hands were shaking and my mind was elsewhere. I did what I could, without a moment to spare before I heard a gentle, but excited knock on the door.
I smoothed down my clothes, then did the same to my hair, and sighed at the sight of someone that clearly hasn't had enough time to get their life together. I reached the door and opened it slowly, trying to act calm and collected.
"Has Amy told you?!" Taron hurried in and grabbed both my hands.
His expression showed that he hadn't noticed my state, so I smiled and shook my head.
"We've solved it! I talked to some of the cast to see if you could use their flats, but everyone's pretty much in the same position – other than the few that have taken in the dogs they've been acting with... so I took it to Colin and Michael... you know, Michael Caine?" he was talking so fast that I could hardly keep up, but with the smile on his face, I liked where this was going. "And they couldn't take them in either, because they have fancy houses or whatever... but they did come up with a solution."
"What solution?" I asked eagerly.
"This is genius."
"What is it?" I could hardly breathe.
"They've found you, Draco, Amy, and Rosie a house."
I looked at him expectantly and waited for the explanation...