Chapter Four

Chapter Four 

I waited till Ryan went to bed… and then waited another hour or so until I was sure he was really asleep. I crept down the hallway and peeked into his room. He was snoring loudly, thankfully, he was definitely sleeping. 

Going back to my room, I looked at my bed. My suitcase packed with everything that actually meant something to me. I didn’t plan on coming back this time, so I didn’t want to worry about what I was leaving behind. On top of the case were my passport and the very little amount of money I had to my name…. And then the plane ticket. 

I had enough to get me to the airport and something to eat. 

I kept checking the clock, the flight out wasn’t for another 8 or so hours. I was definitely lucky that the letter came today if it hadn’t the ticket would have been totally useless…. It was also good that Ryan didn’t open the letter… or that I actually did!.. 

I shook my head and grabbed my handbag, stuffing my last few bits inside, my wallet, phone, chargers, laptop, passport, ticket, a few other bits and slung it over my shoulder. I grabbed my suitcase and looked out onto the landing again. 

I could still hear Ryan snoring away down the hallway and knew it was safe. I took a deep breath. 

Now or never and if I went I COULD never come back, even if I wanted to. 

I just smiled to myself. Alexander was worth losing everything! … but I wasn’t losing much. Infact, I was gaining sooooooo much more. 

Ok. Go, Harley, Go, go, go!!! 

I rushed out of my room and pulled my door closed, mentally saying goodbye to everything in there that I had left behind, and hurried down the stairs. Ryan’s key was in the door, so I quickly unlocked it and headed out, locking it behind myself again and posting the key, The cold night air hit my face and the reality of the situation became very clear. 

I was locked out. No turning back. 

I pulled out my phone and called for a taxi to pick me up down the road as soon as possible and when they told me it was on the way, I headed off. 

I would just get something to eat at the airport. 

As I started walking to meet my ride, I kept thinking, wondering more like, about what the guys could have done to be sent to prison. I got the impression that they were very careful about the illegal stuff they do, what could have happened? 

...and then I couldn’t stop thinking about seeing Alexander again. Hugging him, kissing him… 

...and then the panic set in. 

What if he was mad at me for ignoring him? 

What if he doesn’t understand WHY I did what I did?! 

What if he doesn’t want me anymore?! 

Oh, Christ! 

No, No, I couldn’t think like that. I’m sure Jemma wouldn’t have contacted me if that was the case. I just had to think positive. Everything would be fine. 

My taxi pulled up and I threw my bag inside and climbed in. 

‘Birmingham airport?’ I smiled and nodded to the driver as I put my seatbelt on. 

‘Yes please, thank you’. 

As we started the drive, I looked out the window and just couldn’t contain my excitement. I saw my reflection in the car door window and smiled at myself. 

‘Are you going anywhere nice?’ I looked up at the driver. 

‘Yeah, actually, I’m going to California’. He looked at me in the mirror for a brief second. 

‘Oh wow, that’s exciting. Holiday?’ I shook my head.

‘No, Hopefully, to live. My… my boyfriend and dad and step mum live there’. He just hmmm’ed and nodded and that was it really. I just looked back out of the window again and sighed. 

This was the start of something, I could just feel it! 

When the taxi pulled up at the airport, I was surprised to see it so busy… considering it was after 2 am. Maybe there were a lot of flights out this early in the morning... Maybe they were cheaper, I don’t know. Either way, the driver couldn’t get close, but I didn’t mind, It wasn’t like I was in a big hush, I still had HOURS before my flight anyway. 

I paid the driver and thanked him. He wished me luck and told me to have a safe flight. I thanked him again and got out before starting the short walk to the airport doors. 

I couldn’t believe I had actually done it! I had left in the middle of the night and now I was at the airport! This was crazy! 

I’d message my friends when I got to California and tell them what was going on… well… not everything, but the whole ‘’I’ve left the country, don’t think I’ll be back’’ thing. I had work in the morning and everything. I had really just up and left! 

It was… an exciting adventure! 

Walking in, I remembered where I needed to go and what I needed to do from the last time I flew out. I checked in, checked my bag in and then headed to the food court in search of an insanely large coffee and some food! 

***

Sitting down at a table, I tucked into my burger and fries when I suddenly realised I hadn’t even spoken to Jemma yet. I pulled my laptop out and went to my emails. I wrote out a quick one to her just saying that I got the plane ticket and sorry I hadn’t been in touch but I was at the airport, waiting and that I’d be there by the afternoon. 

Now it was just a waiting game until I could get on that plane and go!