Scarlett's POV
"Scarlett?"
"Hmm?"
"You're gripping the seat so tight I'm worried you're gonna tear it to pieces."
"I am?" I asked, looking down at my hands which were clawing into the aeroplane seat which I was currently occupying. "So am I." I let out a small, nervous laugh as I released my hands which were beginning to feel clammy.
"Are you sure you're alright? We haven't even taken off yet..." Maria's voice sounded worried, she was observing me as I tried to hide my nerves. It clearly wasn't working considering we were still on the ground and I was holding on for dear life.
"Yeah, take off is the worst part." I was lying through my teeth, the whole thing was the worst part. Although the actual flying part was deep in the back of my mind as my thoughts began to wander back to what I saw inside the airport. The resemblance was uncanny, I surely can't just imagine that, that girl looked exactly like the one I loved and lost the most, could I?
"I think the landing is worst."
"Huh?" I was barely paying any attention to what Maria had been talking to me about the past half an hour as we waited for everyone to board the plane.
"I was saying the landing is the worst. Are you sure you're okay? You look like you've seen a ghost." She was waving her hand in front of my face to get my attention but it still took me a couple of seconds to notice, I was really out of it right now. But her words 'a ghost' triggered in my mind. I didn't believe in ghosts but my mind was soon beginning to lighten up about the idea of having them gracing the earth with us. Maybe it was a ghost, but why here? Why at the airport? Was it a sign? Am I supposed to be sat on this plane right now? I stifled a laugh before turning to face Maria and plaster a small, yet believable smile on my face.
"I'll be fine once we take off."
"I wonder what films they're showing." She beamed with excitement whilst her eyes scanned over the on flight magazine provided to all passengers. My hands resumed position around the chair, gripping it tighter than before. I couldn't get that image out of my head, it was haunting me. I couldn't help but think something didn't seem right about something but I couldn't put my finger on it.
"Probably some old stuff."
"What?"
"The films, they're probably old." I concluded.
"Oh okay."
"What?" My voice repeated hers.
"Nothing, it's just that I said that about five minutes ago."
"Sorry, just day dreaming." I sighed, debating on whether to stay on the plane or not. I was about ready to unbuckle my seat belt and make a run for the door when Louis' face appeared in my mind. Although it wasn't a happy face, he had a look of disappointment spread across it. He wasn't even here with me yet he was making me feel extremely guilty.
"What are you doing?" Maria's voice filtered through my ears.
"Nothing?" I asked rhetorically, I didn't think I was doing anything out of the ordinary.
"You look like you're trying to break out of that thing." She replied with her eyes trailing down to my hands which were sub-consciously wrestling with the seatbelt buckle. I hadn't even realised I had been doing so it came as a shock, my body wasn't co-operating with me right now.
"Just checking it's done up." I lied but she believed it, or so I hope. She turned back to her magazine, I removed my hands from the seatbelt and tried wiping some of the sweat onto my legs which were covered in a casual pair of skinny jeans. The roar of the engines starting up caused me to jump enough to make a new dent in the ceiling. I managed to regain a normal heart beat before anyone noticed how peculiar I was acting. When the airhostess' appeared at the end and middle of each aisle, unlike last time, I actually paid attention to what they were saying. When they mentioned the life jackets I couldn't help but look on confused, I don't remember anything about life jackets, where were they when I was stranded in the middle of the ocean last time? The safety talk was still going on as the plane propelled itself towards the end of the runway, ready for take-off. I knew we would be leaving the safety of the ground as soon as the cabin crew took their seats. I couldn't help but frantically look around the plane, I checked to make sure all on board luggage was stored correctly, all doors were shut and everyone was sat down. I don't know why but for some reason I wanted to make sure everything was done properly this time, I don't want a repeat offence. The engines sprung to life and I squeezed my eyes as tight as they would go, gripping hold of the seat I took a deep breath and held it in as the plane moved forward.
"Did you sleep at all?"
"No." I hastily replied. We were walking through the terminal at JFK airport situated in New York, one of the most desirable places for people like me.
"You're going to be so jet lagged."
"I'll be fine." I replied trying to hold back the yawn which was threatening to escape my mouth.
"Sure." She chuckled leading me towards the conveyor belt hopefully holding our luggage. "They better not have lost our luggage."
"I couldn't care less, I'm alive."
"Uh?"
"Nothing." I smiled eyeing the suitcases appearing through the gap in the wall onto the luggage belt. Do you know how tempting it is to just get up and stand on the conveyor belt? My eyes naturally scanned the area for any security as if I was really thinking about doing it.
"Don't even think about it."
"What?" I gasped, my head turned to face Maria as stood shocked, could she read my mind?
"You have a devious grin on your face, I know what you're thinking." She chuckled. "Oo! Here they are!" She sped off towards our suitcases which were racing around the luggage belt. I dragged my feet after her, grinning as I did at her happiness. "Here you go."
"Thanks." I muffled, struggling to take my bag from her hands. Unlike last time I had packed far more than I needed. I needed to impress this time, I didn't have One Direction backing me up and supporting me, I was on my own. I'm sure Cassadee will be there to offer advice but it's not quite the same as having your five best friends with you.
"Sure didn't pack light." Maria joked, hauling her suitcase behind her.
"I don't think either of us did."
"We're girls, what can I say?"
"Very true." I laughed, following her out of the terminal. The weather had so many similarities to good ole' London town. The only difference you could say was that it was slightly warmer. I was beginning to think wearing such a thick cardigan over my t-shirt wasn't a wise move. The air was just as musky and humid like back home but I couldn't help take a deep breath in and out again.
"You get used to the humidity."
"You've been here before?" I asked, my head snapped in Maria's direction, she was walking around like she lived here.
"Plenty of times, I have friends who live across the city."
"Oh cool."
"Yep, kinda jealous of them but I love my job."
"Jealous of them too." I jested. I continued to watch as she hailed a cab over like a pro, just like in the movies.
"C'mon, before someone else takes it." Her hand was already grabbing mine and launching me towards the yellow taxi cab pulling up to the side of the road. "Four seasons hotel please." She instructed the driver once we were sat in the backseat.
"Four seasons?" I practically choked out.
"Yeah, we don't get the tour bus for another two days." She replied simply.
"But still the four seasons?!" I was whispering harshly instead of shouting.
"You don't think I'd let you stay in some run down, dingy old hotel did you?"
"I dread to think how much one room is per night."
"Don't worry about it, it's all catered for. Just enjoy yourself." She placed her hand on my knee giving it a reassuring, uplifting squeeze.
"I will." I grinned. As the taxi drove off I honestly felt like I was in a movie, just watching the whole city fly by. I really had to go on a sightseeing tour, this place looked amazing. I could see Times Square in the distance, my feet were just aching to walk around it. The skyscrapers were flashing buy creating a blur of colour out of the window, it truly was beautiful. The thoughts from back at the airport were deep in my mind, hidden for the moment but not forgotten. I couldn't wait to start my adventures here and share them with Louis. He's been here many times before but that's what you get for being in an international famous boy band. I could barely contain my excitement as we pulled up in front of the hotel. Talk about going all out. Every detail was strategically designed, everything tied together so well. I wasn't even paying attention to Maria as she paid the driver and joined me outside of the car. The driver helped get our luggage out before speeding away, back onto the busy New York streets.
"Wait until you see the inside." Maria was laughing at me whilst she raced away towards the entrance. I managed to close my eyes and snap out my trance in time to follow her. As soon as we stepped through the doors my breath caught in my mouth, I have never in my life been in a building so beautiful. It really looked like someone had put a lot of thought and time into the overall outcome. The walls were coated in stunning golden colours with the furniture matching the scheme. Everything was neat and clean but not so much it felt cynical.
"Scarlett Dalton and Maria Rae." My head snapped towards Maria when she mentioned my full name, it was weird hearing it. After leaving school it was very rare anyone knew my last name, let alone used it.
"Your rooms on the twenty first floor, Daniel will takes your bags, I hope you enjoy your stay." The lady behind the desk informed us before her eyes darted towards a young man dressed in a bellboy's uniform. I'm assuming that was Daniel.
"Thank you." Maria replied for the both of us.
"After you." Daniel instructed for us to go forward as he gingerly followed, our bags tightly in his grasp. The elevator ride to our floor was silent other than the subtle elevator music seeping through the speakers in the ceilings. The floor was coated in a very expensive looking marble, the type of floor you could skate around on with just a pair of socks on your feet. "Here we go, rooms 30 and 31."
"Which one do you want Scarlett?"
"We have our own rooms?"
"Duh." She laughed, playfully slapping me on the elbow.
"Room 31 then." I grinned, 31 was my lucky number. I followed Daniel into my room and watched him place my suitcase in the lounge area of the suite. I was in such awe looking at the room I forgot he was even there for a moment. "Oh sorry, here you go." I chuckled, slipping him a twenty dollar bill, since it was all I had.
"Thanks, have a nice stay."
"Thanks." I mumbled, shutting the door behind him. I took a massive breath and just took in all my surroundings, this was really happening.
My clothes were messily hanging out of the sides of my suitcase, scattering across my bedroom floor. An obscure ringing noise from my laptop had caused me to exit the shower earlier than I had wanted. The shower had jets shooting from every angle, massaging and cleansing you to the bone. Luckily I had just finished rinsing the conditioner out of my hair when the ringing started. I had left my laptop on charged since the battery had been completely drained. I threw a towel around my body and rung my hair out before jumping on the bed to investigate. My eyes flickered across the screen until I noticed a small bubble jumping around on the taskbar at the bottom of the screen. I clicked on the animated object and was presented with a telephone symbol; 'Louis calling' was inscribed next to it. I didn't exactly know what it meant by calling, this was a laptop not a phone but regardless I pressed accept anyway.
"Woah, bloody hell." My hand snapped up in front of the webcam.
"Hey Scarlett...I can't see you." I could hear Louis laughing down the line.
"Good, I'm not wearing anything."
"I'm not complaining."
"That doesn't surprise me. You're smirking right now aren't you?"
"If you took your hand away from the screen you might be able to see."
"Are you by yourself?"
"All me and just me."
"Okay, but I just got out the shower so I looked like a drowned rat."
"You make a beautiful drowned rat."
"Liar." I joked. I reluctantly took my hand away from the screen. I cringed at the sight of my own face appearing on the screen and tried to concentrate on Louis'.
"Just been swimming?"
"In the shower."
"You can swim in the shower?"
"Not exactly what I meant." I chuckled. "What are you doing to the screen?" I puzzled, watching all the effects whiz across the monitor.
"First time on iChat?"
"Until 2 minutes ago I didn't know it existed."
"You'll get used to it. So how's Americaaaaa?" He beamed out.
"I loooooove it." I joked.
"How was the flight?" He asked more seriously.
"Um..."
"Scarlett..."
"It was fine."
"Did you watch any films?"
"Not exactly."
"What did you do?"
"Stare out of the window and probably freak out the whole cabin crew."
"Nothing abnormal than."
"Is there someone behind you?" I asked, squinting my eyes at the screen.
"I think the boys are coming back."
"Where are you?" I had my face pretty close to the camera trying to figure out where Louis was. I didn't recognise the scenery, it certainly didn't look like any of the rooms back home.
"Oh we're at the studio, we're just on lunch break."
"How's recording going?"
"Great, Niall's been recording most of the morning, he's trying to perfect his accent whilst singing."
"That's awesome, I'm sure the fans will love that."
"I hope so."
"They'll love anything you do." I complimented but my face soon turned sour when I heard the familiar screeching voice in the background of Louis' screen.
"Yep, they're definitely back." Louis chuckled before he was soon surrounded by Niall, Zayn and Liam.
"Hey Scarlett." They all chimed.
"Hey." I replied. "Where's Harry?" I asked, noticing he didn't appear.
"He's um..." Liam was trying to think of a lie, I could tell, he was terrible at being anything but honest.
"Out." Zayn finished for him, although he looked rather shifty.
"Taylor's there isn't she?" I sighed, trying not to look like I cared.
"Hey Scar!" Her face popped up on the screen, she had clearly just pushed the others out of the way as soon as she heard her name mentioned.
"It's Scarlett." I replied through gritted teeth. I didn't mind people calling me Scar but when she said it all I could sense was slyness and evil seeping through her mouth.
"Ever thought of wearing clothes? This is iChat not some hooker site." She was lucky I wasn't in the same room or her new extensions would be would be decorating the floor right now.
"Taylor!" Louis angrily snatched the laptop out of her grasp, or at least that's what it looked like from this side of the screen.
"It's fine Louis."
"Sorry about that."
"I should probably go, you look busy."
"Oh okay."
"I'll update you on my adventures." I responded, trying to bring the conversation to an upbeat end.
"I can't wait to hear them."
"Okay, well see you soon."
"Byeee!" He grinned before blowing a kiss towards the screen.
"Thank you." I gingerly laughing, catching his imaginary kiss in my hand. "Bye!" I grinned before shutting off the chat. I strode off my bed and towards my suitcase, I needed to find something to wear. This city was just waiting to be explored, not even Taylor could ruin my mood. I knew she was trying to get under my skin and drive me insane but I wasn't going to let that happen and what exactly could she do when I'm half way across the world?