"Alanna," he says looking impatient.
“Marco maybe I do give you a hard time, but the truth is I don’t really know you to hate you. Whenever we speak it does get a little heated, maybe we are just two people that don’t get on.”
“You don’t know me?”
“Not really it’s not as if we are friends or anything.”
“Will you let me show you who I am and get to know me?”
“What?”
“I am going to Venice for the New Year with my family I would love it if you would join me.”
“You want me to go on a family trip with you, I am just after telling you I don’t know you and that’s what you say.”
“You can get to know me, I will show you my life and the real me. I’m not the fast car driving, douche bag you already know and hate.”
“I don’t hate you Marco.”
“If that’s true then come away with me. I will show you Venice, take you shopping and buy you anything you want, please, don’t say no.”
“Marco, do you realize how crazy you sound?”
“I’m not crazy, just maybe a little crazy for you.”
“Marco I’m sorry, but I can’t it’s not my nature to run off with a boy to another country.”
“Please don’t say that Alanna.”
“I am sorry really I am but no I can’t go.” He looks sad a face I have never seen (before) he takes my hand and says.
"Alanna maybe one day you will open your eyes and see me here waiting for you and that I’m the right guy for you." I look at him and I walk away.
Three
The next morning I wake and thoughts of last night are spinning round in my head, what was Marco thinking, asking me to go away with him, he is crazy. Also, I cannot get over the nerve of Chace for thinking that he could just walk over and play nice. “Alanna,” I hear Sophie say.
“I’m off into the city, do want to come?” I get out of bed and pull on my black and white silk robe. I rush down the stair to see Sophie standing there, in her tight skirt and buttoned-up blouse.
"Want to come?"
“I would love to, but I can’t, I have to go over to my parents apparently they have some news or something.”
“Okay then Alanna, I will see you later then.”
“Yeah have fun.”
With a slight bang of the door, Sophie is gone, and I am alone again with my thoughts. I still cannot get over everything that happened last night, the sheer fact of Marco’s questions and how random they were. The crazy thing is that just ten minutes earlier we were having a heated discussion and in which I was really somewhat rude, how could he just ask me to go to Venice with him after that and I really feel that there is something wrong with him. I go over to the coffee pot and as I grab a cup I, notice Sophie has left me breakfast, waffles and strawberries fresh coffee and the morning paper. As I take a sip of the coffee, I see on the front page of the newspaper Sophie and I with the headline "hart of New York" I never get used to seeing my face in the paper. I open up to page three and I see the article about last night’s event. As I read through, I cannot believe what I am reading.
“Alanna Hart and Marco Marino are officially a couple and by looks of things they were having a lovers tiff on growers at the party said.”
" I overheard them talking she was telling him she didn’t love him anymore and that their trip to Italy for New Year’s was off, she basically dumped the guy right there on the spot and the poor guy looked devastated."
“Looks like Manhattan’s new it couple are over before they even started.”
I hate the press, I take the newspaper and throw it in the bin, so wrong everything so wrong, I need to get away I need out of this bubble I can’t spend New Year’s here like this. I sometimes do hate New York and hate this life. I hate the fact everyone knows my name - I need out. I go upstairs through on my jeans and long-sleeved black shirt and my Loubotins grab, my purse and head for the door. I make my way to my car and I see there is a little red envelope on the window ledge. I go over and grab it. I open my car, jump in, and as I sit there I carefully open the envelope. Inside there is a little pink piece of paper and its reads.
"I am still waiting, please change your mind. I have feelings for you I really like you please come with me to Venice all my love Marco." I take a deep breath thinking maybe what if it did.
When I arrive at my parents’ house, I see an unfamiliar car in the driveway. I push through the door and into the huge hallway. My mom has a very good taste in home decor everything is black and white, everything to match and everything so luxurious and glamorous. I hear talking in the kitchen so I make my way through. Sitting there, I see my dad, my mom and Penelope, my little sister with long golden blonde hair and huge brown eyes, not as big as mine but still very big. She is dressed in a little pink and white dress, her hair flowing and a beautiful smile on her face.
"Lanna,” She shouts rushing over to me.
“Oh Lanna it’s been ages.”
“Yes Penelope it has and I am sorry, but hey look I brought you something.”
"What is it?"
“Remember my little pink Chanel bag you love?”
"Yes." she says too excited.
“I brought it for you.”
“OH really Lanna I love it I love you.” She says taking the little bag and giving me a huge kiss. She bolts out of the room and upstairs to her room no doubt.
“Hello Alanna.” My mom and dad say. “How have you been?”
“I’m fine whose car’s that in drive?”
“Your father got me a new one do you like it? Did you see the paper this morning?”
“Yes it’s nice, and yeah I saw the paper everything they are saying is lies.”
“You know how they twist things and sweetie you look a little thin. Have you eaten today?”
“Yeah Mom I have.”My mom is one of those moms who really worries but bless her I love my mom she is amazing. My dad walks over and says.
“Now sweetie I have a little something to ask you.”
“Okay, go ahead.” I say as I sit on one of the chairs at the breakfast bar in the oversized kitchen.
“I know everything is going on here with the parties and all but I have to go out of town for new years and I was wondering if you want to join me.”
“Where are going?”
“London.” “London, oh Dad of course yes I’m there when do we go?”
“Is tomorrow too soon?”
“No its fine, oh I can’t wait I am going straight home to pack. Finally I’m going to London.”
“Okay, sweetie I will send you the flight details it’s an early flight tomorrow that okay?”
“Of course I am so excited.” I give my mom and dad a quick wave and shout goodbye to Penelope.
I rush out the door and I jump in my little red Mini Cooper and head for home. I turn on the radio as I drive, I am so excited about London ever since I was able to talk I have just been so obsessed with everything British. I love every aspect of the country, the legends, the myths, which surround it and the history. The culture and off course I love the Royal family. It is just so amazing to think over there in, what can only be described by me as, the most beautiful country in the world, that Royalty actually exists. There is a Queen, there are princes and most of all there are castles. I know every American has a soft spot for the UK but me. It goes far beyond that, to me it is a real passion and my dad has always promised that one day he would take me to London and now that day is finally here. When I get home, I cannot contain my excitement. I rush up the stairs and find my Louis Vuitton suitcase. I fling open the suitcase on my bed and start looking in my closet for what I could possibly bring to London. Right, so it’s December and it is going to be cold over there, so think practical, right jeans, and just as I go to reach for them my iPhone bleeps and I have a new email from my dad
"Hey Lanna this is all the details for the trip to London."
FLIGHT VS67 NON STOP JFK-HEATHR
OW
VIRGIN ATLANTIC
28/12/12 @ 6.30am
FIRST CLASS
GATE 19
p.s do not be late sweetie!
I reply, Oh Dad how could I be late, I have been planning this trip my whole life, and I wouldn’t miss it for anything
P.s How long we going for, Lanna.
Right where was I, jeans I do not really know how long we are going for so it’s kind of hard to guess how many pairs I will need. I think it is best to take around seven if we are there for a week then I will have a pair for each day and if we go for less then I will have extra. That’s pants sorted out now sweaters, I am thinking turtlenecks and button up cashmere sweaters will be so right for the cold, bitter winter of the London streets. I grab a few, I mostly wear dark colors like black, dark deep rustic reds and navy which everyone always says goes great with my blonde hair and light but golden skin. Now shoes, obviously I bring my Loubotins, Jimmy Choos five pairs should be enough, and of course, my dark brown UGG boots but I will leave them out, as they are better for the airplane. Now evening wear, after all it is work for dad so I am thinking there will be a few events for us to attend. I go into the other side of my walk in closet and switch on the light and there they all are my dresses from the one I went to prom in and other high school dances in, to my Cotillion dress. They are all there and not one out of place not one that does not have some memory attached. I choose and few, a white one which is really flattering with a thin black belt that goes round the waist and another by Vera Wang and of course the only dress I love and have never worn the white and pink Chanel dress my mom bought me for Christmas. I throw in some other essentials hair dryer, products, make up etc. I leave out my black sweat suit for the plane.
Beep, my phone again another email
Hi, Lanna sorry I forgot to say how long, we are away for 4 days, I have to go just now I am on a conference call so I will see you in morning and please sweetie try to get some sleep tonight
I reply,
Okay Dad so excited I will try to sleep. See you in the morning Lanna.
Now that I am all packed and ready to go I head down the stair and grab a snack. I switch on the TV and try to relax until the morning comes. I flick through the channels but nothing seems to take my fancy. I switch off the TV and grab my laptop from the coffee table. I switch it on and sign into my email account. I notice that Portia is online, she is one of my closest friends I went to school with she does not live out here in the Hamptons but instead she lives in the city. The upper west side to be exact in her mother’s hotel, Portia is a petite girl around 5’1” with a thick mass of light brown, wavy hair, that is always too perfect and never out of place. Her hazel eyes have a certain sparkle and her thin but pouted lips are always painted. She is always dressed in the most figure hugging dresses that really show of her curves. Overall, she is a lovely girl and one of the few that is a genuinely nice person. I open up the instant messenger chat box and send her a quick email.
Hey Portia how’s it going?
Quickly she replies
Hi fine what about you did you have a nice Christmas?
Alanna: Yes, it was great spent it with the family there is nothing better.
Portia: Yeah, so I heard everything with Sophie she must be feeling a mess right now.
Alanna: She is fine you know it has been hard for her after all she did love Chace and Chelsea was a best friend of hers, but she is as good as to be expected.
Portia: It was terrible thing for a friend do; I know it is bad for a boyfriend to cheat, but come on what Chelsea did was much worse than Chace.
Alanna: I totally agree, Chace was always that sort of person and as hard as it is to except he cheated, Chelsea was a friend and it was unforgivable.
Portia: It is an awful situation, so I hear that you and hunky Italian Marco are a thing!
Alanna: Yeah except we are not,
Portia: Everyone is saying that you are.
Alanna: There is nothing going on with me and Marco there never has and never will be.
Portia: The press has it wrong then.
Alanna: Very wrong, although he did ask me to go to Venice with him,
Portia: Wow, are you going.
Alanna: No, I am going to London tomorrow with my dad.
Portia: London you have always wanted to go it must be a dream come true.
Alanna: Yeah it totally is.
Portia: What I would give go jet off to London it gives me goose bumps just thinking about it.
Alanna: Yes, I am super excited trip of a lifetime!
Portia: Yes it is.
Alanna: I better go and grab some dinner and head of to bed it is a 6.30 flight and I need sleep.
Portia: Have fun and I will see you when you get back.
Alanna: Yes, we will meet up for coffee or something.
Portia: p.s happy new year
Alanna: Happy New Year
I log off and close up my laptop. I go over to the kitchen and have a raid through the fridge oh what looks good. I grab a pre-made chicken salad and can of coke and I sit down at the table. As I begin to eat my dinner, I think to myself, did Portia really think that Marco and me where an item? On the other hand, was she simply just fishing? That is the thing with Portia, although she is nice and everything else, there is a side to her that maybe is a little bit of a gossip. She does tend to spread rumors a lot and I am always very aware and careful of what I say to her. Knowing that whatever I say could end up on her blog or even worse in the hands of the press.
“Hi.”
Sophie shouts as she pours in through the door with more Macy’s bags than I think I have ever seen in the arms of any one person.
"Shop till you drop huh?"
“Oh you could say that.” Sophie says with a little smile.
“I have the most amazing news.”
“Oh, do tell.”
“You know how I always wanted to go London?”
“I think everyone knows that Alanna.”
“I’m going.”
“When are you going?”
“I am going tomorrow.”
“Huh?”
“Yes in the morning.”
“Why are you going to London?”
“My dad has work, over there and he has asked me to go with him.”
“How long you going for?”
“Four days.”
“That’s wonderful really it is you must be so excited?”
“I am.”
“I bought you a little something today.”
“You didn’t have to.”
“No, but I wanted to, you have been so good to me recently and have helped me through a lot. I just wanted to show how much it’s appreciated.” She rummages through her bags and pulls out a little Tiffany box, she hands it to me and I carefully open the little blue packaging. I am surprised when I see the little silver locket; its round with carved roses on it and inside there is a picture of Sophie and me at the beach.
“Sophie it’s wonderful I love it, really its lovely thanks.”
“I wanted to get you something special, you are amazing Alanna.”
Four
I am, finally here, sitting on the airplane first class heading to London. I cannot really contain myself with excitement. Although I am not really the best flyer in the world, in fact, usually I am a nervous wreck on an airplane and I cannot lie and say I am not felling the same way now. As the plane takes off and turns around on its way to London, I feel a sudden sense of unease, it is as if I am falling the plane starts to shudder and I nearly jump out of my seat. It shudders again and starts to shake I am terrified. I have a glass of water on my table and I see the water start to tipple out of the glass, oh my god this is scary. I see the airhostess and, perhaps it is just me, but she seems to have worried look on her face oh please do not let there be anything wrong with airplane, oh god please. Then all of a sudden the shuddering and shakes begin to fade off and I hear the captain through the microphone.<
br />
"Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, there was a lot of head wind there but luckily it seems to have cleared. We are looking at a nice, smooth flight with duration of just over seven hours, so sit back relax and enjoy the flight."
“Oh thank god,” I say to dad who is a little preoccupied with paper work I do not even think he noticed the shudders.
“Yeah sweetie fine” I shake my head in disbelief. How could he be so wrapped up in his paper work not to realize the plane was practically falling from the sky? Maybe, that is a little overreacted, any way he is just being dad and I am not going to let anything ruin my trip. I put on my headphones and search for a movie to watch. I see that the latest Twilight movie is on. I do not usually watch that kind of movie, but hey, I might as well. When the movie is over, it is time for lunch and I must say that, for airplane food, it is actually quite nice. Another hour passes and I cannot help but flick my little TV screen over to the sky map, I cannot resist seeing how far I am away from London my dream city. I see that it is just less than four hours to go until we land. I take out my iPod and start to listen to some tunes, and in the process, I must fall asleep. I am dreaming I am in London, I am at black tie event there are people all around, it is same kind of setting as the event in New York the other night but somehow more spectacular, more elegant, and more glamorous. I wake up to find one of the cabin crew speaking through the microphone.
"Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, we are just under thirty minutes from Heathrow please if you need to use the facilities please, do so now."
I rush up and look at my dad still sitting there with his paper work, he turns and smiles and says
"Nearly there." I smile back.
I undo my seatbelt and head for the bathroom, as I enter I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror. I cannot look like that, my hair is a total mess; it is all sticking up and frizzy. I take it of the ponytail and try to smooth it out best I can. I look in my carry bag and find some smoothing serum, I run a few drops through my hair and quickly it bounces back and I decide to leave it loose. I also take out some green tea face wipes and give my face a quick wipe, I pop on some glowing moisturizer and quick dollop of lip balm and I am ready to go. I swiftly head back to my seat and just in time as the captain has turned on the seatbelt sign. As the plane is heading in to land, I brace myself, as landing is always one of the worst things I hate about being on an airplane. I am always terrified that the plane will hit something. The plane touches down I feel a sigh of relief not only that the plane has landed safely but I am in London finally.
Three Thousand Miles To You,(Three Thousand Miles, Series, Book #1) Page 2
