The next morning, I awoke at half past five and looked out of the window. It was pitch black, and that strange time between sleeping and waking that you expect no one to be about. On our street, no one was, just one man in a suit walking briskly to the tube. Living near school and being able to get up at half seven made me forget that the rest of the world didn't follow the same rules. True, it was December in London and I don't know what I expected, but all the same, it felt like the middle of the night.
I hadn't slept well, but tossed and turned all night, thinking today over and what I was about to do. Whatever, I'll sleep on the plane. Probably.
I sighed and turned away from the window, unplugging my phone and shoving it into my bag.
When I opened the door to my room, the lights were already on in the kitchen and Sally was making breakfast.
"Morning!" She smiled brightly.
I groaned. "How are you so awake? It's like two in the bloody morning!"
"Someone's a grumpy guts!" She laughed, flipping a fluffy pancake in the frying pan. "I've been doing fashion weeks for years, I'm used to this time of day. And if you want to make it as a model, you'll have to get used to it too. I'd be up anyway, I've got a wedding today. All day over in Surrey. I'm going straight there after dropping you at the airport."
After a couple of moments she plonked two glasses of orange juice and plates of pancakes onto the table and sat down opposite me.
"Eat up. You'll need your strength, you've got a long day ahead."
I picked at the pancake, but it was difficult what with everything on my mind and the ridiculous, random time of day. By the time I'd eaten half of it, it was almost time to leave the house and I had an excuse to leave it on the plate. I showered quickly and dressed in a hurry, worried about getting to the airport late. The last thing I needed was to rush. I wasn't a big travelling fan, but I knew I needed to look nice to arrive at the Carlenko reception, so I pulled on a smart black dress and fur coat that Victoria had given me after our screen test months ago.
I was just pulling my hair into a tight ponytail and double checking my hand luggage when there was a knock at the door.
"Who could that be?" I asked, lugging my mini suitcase (but still considerably heavy) out into the flat. "Who's even awake at this time?" I muttered to myself.
Sally pulled open the door and Max was standing there, smiling, already in his school uniform.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, not even trying to hide the annoyance in my voice. Him coming wasn't part of the plan at all.
"I just wanted to see you off?" He smiled, puzzled at my reaction, and helped me with my case.
"Thanks, but, you have school." I reminded him.
"Wrong. I have a double free this morning, so I'm spending it dropping you at Heathrow."
"You really don't have to." I smiled anyway, but didn't mean it that much.
"Lola!" Sally reprimanded. "Do you think Max wants to get up this early and trek across London for you?"
"Yeah, who loves Heathrow traffic more than I? Come on, I told you I'm here for you!"
"Thanks, Max."
"Lola! We should have left twenty minutes ago!" Sally cried.
"Shit." Max grabbed my case and started pulling it out towards the car.
"Forgotten anything?" Sally asked, searching for her own makeup bag for the wedding.
"Don't think so." I replied, double checking that my phone, earphones and passport were in my bag. "Tickets, money, passports...money!"
"Crap, I should give you some spending money." Sally replied, fumbling in her bag for her purse as she locked up the flat. "Haven't got any cash..." She mumbled to herself. "Here, take my American Express, it'll be euros anyway. Code's 9-6-2-8. Do you want me to write that down?"
"No," I smiled to myself, knowing that everything was going to be fine. "This is fine, thanks."
We pulled up at the airport, and luckily we'd avoided the traffic, but I think Sally would be caught in it on the way back.
"Now, Lola." Sally turned to me as she parked the car. "Are you sure you wanna do this?"
I took a deep breath. "Yes. I am."
"In that case, have fun and don't worry! Denmark is amazing! And you have Kori to keep you company, it'll be great. Call me when you land and keep me updated on all the Carlenko stuff! Love you!"
She hugged me across the car. "You're like a daughter to me. And I know your Mum's proud of you too."
"Thanks, Sally. I love you too." I kissed her cheek and hugged her again, grateful for everything she'd done for me.
She turned to Max.
"Money to get to school?"
"Oyster." He waved it. "Tube to Knightsbridge."
"Cool. See you later kids." She heaved the suitcase out of the boot, kissed me and hugged me again, hugged Max, and then shooed us in the direction of the airport. "Go on, you'll miss your flight!"
Eventually, the car left, Sally's hand sticking out of the window with a thumbs up.
The other models and our manager were gathered by the entrance when we got inside.
"Come on, you're late!" Kori called, ushering us over.
"Carlton, Anna." The manager was saying.
"Here, sir."
"Lola, are you sure you wanna do this?"
Max began, but I interrupted him.
"Max, I know you're gonna think this is really stupid, but-"
"Chapman, Hermione."
"Here sir."
"Say it Lola, whatever it is, say it." He said, not conscious of Kori standing by, and listening in for sure, especially now I've discovered that she likes Max.
"Coleby, Lola."
"Here, sir." I replied, then turned back to Max's concerned green eyes. "Look Max, I can't do this."
"Do what? This trip? You'll be fi-"
"No, I mean I can't do this! Us! I'm so sorry!" I broke down, tears welling up in my eyes.
"Hey, hey." He pulled me closer to him, but it just made me cry even more. Kori couldn't hide the fact that she was listening at this point.
"What's up?" She asked in her casual American tone.
"I think I know." Max said, pulling my face out of his chest gently.
"Lola, I was gonna say something to you yesterday, but I didn't think it was what you wanted to hear. Now I know it is. You're just -"
"Not feeling it anymore." I whispered.
"Exactly. I know you're still in love with him. He's my best friend. And you're my best friend too. And I want you to be happy, no matter what. And if I can't do that..." he sighed. "I know Brooklyn's right for you. And I'm not. And I'll always love you, but we both know, deep down, it's not like that."
I burst into tears again, but they were tears of relief.
"Savlani, Kori."
"Here sir!" Kori's head whipped round to answer her name.
"Is she okay?" Asked the manager.
"Just a nervous, flyer, we'll just go get her a drink, she'll be fine!" Kori replied, grabbing her bags while Max grabbed mine and together we made our way over to Pret A Manger, which was already teaming with people.
"Thanks for saying that Max. It's all true, I just didn't know how to break it to you. You've been so good, and..." I looked across the table at Kori. "And you deserve to be happy too. With someone who loves you like I never can. Someone like Kori."
"Me? What?" She jumped.
"I know you like him, Kori." I mumbled, wiping my eyes. "And Max is a good guy. Too good for me."
"That's not true!" Max stroked my hand across the table, but his eyes strayed across Kori's beautiful face with a sense of wonder, and I knew they could work.
"Hey, guys, I think we're going through check in." Kori looked over her shoulder and true enough, the manager and models were heading for the gates.
I wiped my eyes again, determination flooding my body.
"Kori, I'm sorry. Go, you'll miss the flight."
"Wait are you really a nervous flier?" Kori asked, while Max's face showed equal confusion.
"What? No, but I have somewhere I need to be."
"Where?" Kori and Max said at once.
"Paris."
Hey guys! I hope you like this chapter, it's one of the last few.
FINALLY Lola makes her choice. Thank you all for rooting for whoever you rooted for. Whether you're Team Brooklyn, Team Max, or Team Lola, thanks for loving this book as much as me.
Please leave me a lovely comment and vote if you enjoyed this. Thanks for supporting me all the way through.
Xx
Fluuctuate