Three Thousand Miles To You

by Delia Longford

  I walk over to the gates of Buckingham palace and I am still in a state of shock that I’m actually here,

  BLEEP!!

  Oh crap I hope it’s not my dad hope I haven’t lost track of time. As I rummage in my bag I find my phone and slide to see it’s a message from Sophie its reads

  Hey alanna are you landed safely?

  I reply, Hey Sophie yes we landed safe just out exploring at the minute London is an amazing.

  Sophie is quick to reply

  Great what’s it like? Are you having fun?

  I reply, yes totally amazing having such a great time but I have a boring event tonight don’t know how I will cope without you there.

  You will be fine you’re a natural and just think of all the cute British guys that will be there?

  Yeah I suppose any way I will have to go just now I will fill you in later ok?

  No problem enjoys!

  I have a wander around the grounds of the castle and this sight to me is what only exists in fairytales. I think of all the wonderful nights spent in the castle huge dinners and ballroom dancing the queen in her finest surrounded by the princes and other royals it gives me shivers as I look out at the castle. I check my watch and I see it’s after three so I decide to head back to the hotel to get ready for tonight but with no money I guess the only thing do is start walking. I figure the hotel is up this way I’m quite good with direction and I did pay attention in the cab to the route in which we came. I remember that old post box, the yellow mini cooper that is parked at the side of the road, defiantly passed by those stores, and yes here is the tourist point I see the hotel and as I make my way up the steps and take one look out onto the cold afternoon of the streets of London and yes I’m here I really am.

  Chapter 5

  we arrive at the gala it has similar routines of the ones back home everyone dressed to impress people gathered round talking no doubt about the other guests elegant dining and ice buckets full of champagne although most of the main features are the same the one thing that’s remains different are the people. When I attend an event I usually know everyone in the room but here everyone is a mystery a blank canvas not a single face I recognize. to them they know everyone except the three strangers that have just walked in. my dad and Julian head off in search of some MR. Jenkins they have been talking about all night as for me I head for the bar “what can I get you miss?” “Um diet coke please” as the bartender hands me my drink I turn around and scan the entire room looking at the faces of the people who live in this amazing city. "Oh my" I say out loud who is that? to what I am referring to can only be described as a god a tall twenty seven maybe twenty eight year old well-built light brown haired man with mesmerizing green eyes he is without a doubt the best looking living person I have ever seen. His broad shoulders are evened out by his long slim legs and the dark blue pin striped suit he is wearing looks like it was crafted to fit him and only him like a glove! he moves a little closer and I get a better view looking at him again I really can’t believe my eyes his skin is so tanned and golden and looks like silk his tousled hair pushed slightly back so you can really appreciate his face his jaw so refined and chiseled it would put Brad Pitt to shame with lips so full and his eyes I can’t explain it but somehow they look sad even though he is smiling. I hear his voice as he speaks to the other men he is with and it’s so captivating its sending chills down my spine! I stare at him and to my total despair I see him heading towards the bar he walks over and stands right next to me I try not to stare but it’s so hard and I’m not the only one. As soon as he approached every women around stopped whatever they were doing to have a look at this man. He orders two double scotch on the rocks and waits tapping his long thin finger on the bar. I catch him looking at me with the corner of his eye I try not to let him notice that I saw him and then to my shock he turns around and is looking directly at me his eyes lock on mine I can’t help but feel uneasy around him. "Who are you!" he says a little abruptly “excuse me?” “You heard me” I can’t help but feel shocked is this guy being rude? “Are you deaf who are you?” “I’m from out of town” “I can see that but why are you here?” if this was anyone else I would be straight in there giving back as good as I was getting but with this man there is something stopping me! “I, I, I’m alanna” “was that so difficult?” “I don’t understand why are you being rude?” “I’m not being rude darling just interested when I see a new face and tell me why your here?” “I’m here with my dad on business” “a daddy’s girl?” “What?” “Are you a daddy’s girl?” “I’m not sure what you mean by that?” “I see I’m not going to get any answers from you am I?” “Answers? I am sorry sir but I don’t know you and I find it a little strange all these questions you’re asking!” “Oh you do? Tell me one thing darling he says leaning in and staring so deep into my eyes I feel he can see my soul “do I make you feel uneasy?” I lean back and straighten myself out “maybe a little” “then I apologies” he takes his drinks and heads back to his friends. What on earth was that all about? I think to myself as I turn round and face the bartender I must have a look of despair on my face as the bartender picks up on it. “Are you ok Miss?” I take a deep breath and let out a sigh “who was that?” I ask the guy behind the bar “who that bloke you were talking to you?” “Yeah” “that’s Adrian Black!” “A little rude don’t you think?” I ask the bartender “I guess so I mean he is a millionaire and I think to be honest the guy has issues” “issues what kind of issues? “I am not sure all I know is he has his own company James and brooks enterprises over at the other side of town he only comes here every few months and makes an appearance usually heading out the door with different blonde on his shoulder every time” “so he has a girlfriend?” “no he doesn’t do girlfriends from what I heard only girls for one or two dates then he takes them back to where ever he found them drops the off and doesn’t give them a second thought” I find myself so interested in this man I can’t believe myself “tell me more” “that’s pretty much all I know about him love but if you ask me I think the bloke is messed up all that money and power you know he is only twenty five” “I thought he looked older” I say “a lot of people say that but I think he has had a hard life there is something in the blokes eyes that says there’s more to him than meets the eye” "lanna" I hear my dad say “come over here” he is waving me over while he stands with an older man and a woman with fair hair as I head over I have to pass Adrian Black I try to walk fast but somehow my heal gets stuck and find myself tripping in towards him before I hit the ground he is there and quickly grabs me he pulls me up towards him and I look up at him the only word I can choke out is "thank" but I’m stopped by him he looks at me and lightly says "you must be more careful someone other than me might not have caught you then what would I do?" “Huh?” he lets go of me and says to the other men he is with "I must say goodnight now it’s time for me to go Jeff I will see you Monday" I’m just so mesmerized by is beauty that it’s hard for me even to breathe He looks at me and says “remember me!”

  “Sweetie are you ok?” “Yes I’m fine” “who was that you were talking to you?” ”I have no idea just some man helped me when I fell” “anyway” my dad’s says clearing his throat “Mr. Jenkins this is my daughter alanna” “hi there darling its lovely to meet you at last you know your dad is always talking about you and saying what an amazing person you are I must say I had no idea you were so pretty!” “Thanks” I say blushing Mr. Jenkins goes on for ages talking about the company the business deals the politics and off course the weather but all I think of what was that guy Adrian black about? What did he mean by his last words he said to me? Was there something I was missing? Did I not pick up on something? Have I heard of him before? Does he know who I am? So many questions are going round in my head and I have to come to a conclusion that I have no answers no words to describe him.

  Chapter 6

  When we arrive home I feel so drained I was quite alert all day and evening but now I th
ink the time difference is staring to catch up with me. All I can think about right now is sleep. I make my way into the bathroom and quickly brush my teeth I splash some water on my face and scrunch my hair up into a loose bun and pull on my pajamas. I sink into the massive king bed I feel like I’m on top of the world I feel a sense of achievement now I’m here in London it isn’t long before I fall into a deep sleep.

  The next morning I awake to the sound of traffic and BLEEP!! My phone I open my eyes and to my shock I’m in total alert I jump up grab my breakfast menu and my phone I slide to unlock to see I have a message from Sophie

  Morning sleepy head how was last night?

  I reply, morning to you to or is that afternoon? Any way last night was a mix of good and bad my dad’s colleagues rattled on for hours talking about every boring thing you could imagine however there was an incident!

  Sophie’s replies almost immediately

  What happened tell me everything!

  There I was minding my own business when this totally gorgeous guy walks over and Sophie I’m not talking chace good looking but movie star looks and a presence that would make any one feel a sense of unease. Out of the blue he starts being rude saying where are you from who are you what you doing here, let me tell you Sophie it wasn’t pleasant!

  What a weirdo! Tell me more! Sophie replies so I fill her in on the rest of the situation and to her dismay she is even more shocked than me she can’t believe the nerve of him and what she can’t get her head around most and this I feel the same way about is how I acted around him not answering him back letting him get to me and me powerless to fight back. what sticks in my head was something Sophie said "alanna maybe you have met your match" as Sophie and I say our goodbyes over text I start looking on the menu to choose what I want for breakfast “I will have the bacon sandwich with cheese is that ok?” I ask the girl at the other end of the hotel phone "yes that’s fine would you like some tea with that” “Yes please that’s great” “ok miss your order will be with you shortly” as I put down the phone there is a knock at the door "dad just a minute" no one answers just another knock “okay I’m coming” I open the door expecting to see my dad instead I see a bell guy with a huge bouquet of white rose's “miss hart?” “Yes that’s me” I say in a quiet voice “these are for you” “really? But who are they from?” “I have no idea I just deliver” the bell guy says with an annoyed look like he gets that question a lot. “there is a card” I take the flowers from the guy and sit them on the table in the middle of the room I slip the card out from the slot and read what says "enjoy" I sigh “no luck?” the bell guy asks? “No nothing” “okay bye miss" the bell guy says and walks away as I close the door behind him I wonder about these flowers who could send me these? Surely my dad wouldn’t or Julian and there is no one else I know in this city what a mystery! By 11am I’m all dressed have had my breakfast and I am ready for the day ahead. I make sure I have my purse with money and my hotel key. I head out and onto the lobby and start for my dad’s room I let myself in and see that there is no one around as I turn I see a little pink note stuck onto the mirror in the doorway "lanna I have a meeting I will be a while so don’t wait for me go out and have fun but please be safe see you in the evening" okay I think what to do today? I walk down the streets of London and I feel like I belong here I feel like this is my home and that if all my family and friends where here I really couldn’t see myself going back to the USA! I decide to go to the London eye today so instead of taking a cab I go on the big red London tour bus its stops at all the sights and that way I can choose what I want to visit. I climb the stairs of the bus and find a seat up the front. I can’t say that I have ever been on a bus before but the ones in New York are nothing like the friendly and calmness of this one. I look out over the city and I can’t help but think what Adrian Black makes of all this if he is one of those guys that doesn’t give a rats ass about anything other than himself or if he is kind and loves the city he lives in I wonder if he has been to all these points of the city and I wonder what he thinks of them? Or maybe he is just like every New Yorker I know who can’t understand the appeal of the city. Maybe he lives here because he has to not out of choice. Maybe he wishes he could go away and never come back. There are so many possibilities running round in my head about him I can’t seem to figure him out which is really annoying as usually I am such a good judge of character but as for him I am completely lost for words.

  I see my stop and there is the London eye! I get off the bus and make my way up to the entrance wow its huge is my first thought as I look up at the wonder I pay my fare and climb into one of the capsules there are few other people on board a woman and two little kids an older couple and red haired girl around the age of sixteen with her mom I’m guessing. There is also a few young boys and a girl around my age with blonde hair hanging down her back there is free space next to her so I go over and stand gazing out at the city below I turn my head I see the girl staring so I look to her and give her a little smile she smiles back and says "it’s amazing isn’t it?" “Yes” I say “it really is” “you are an American?” “Yes guilty” I say she gives a little smirk “where about in the u-s are you from?” “New York” “wow I have always wanted to go to New York it has always been a dream of mine!” “that’s funny my dream has always been to come to London” the girl smiles and says “I’m Jessica” “alanna” I say “nice to meet you” the girl says” are you here by yourself?” “I’m in town with my dad and his business partner but I’m sightseeing by myself my dad has meetings all day” “that’s a shame” “no its fine I’m used to it” “yes but no one wants to be alone in a strange city surely?” “I do wish I had my friend here” “how has your time been so far?” “it’s been amazing except last night was kind of strange” “really what happened to you?” the girl asks I don’t know what it is but the people here they are just so nice and I feel like I can openly talk to them about anything the cab driver the bartender last night and now this girl its shocked me as it’s something I would never do back home but here I feel like it’s the only thing to do and I’m so comfortable with it am I a different person over here? I fill the girl in on what happened last night and she doesn’t seem so shocked in fact I think she understands I feel as if she maybe has been through the same thing. “This bloke what was his name?” “Adrian Black” I say and a sudden flash of his face flashes through my head. “I see” Jessica says looking down at the floor “do you know him” I ask? “No one really knows him” “but you have heard of him then?” “Everyone in London has heard of him!” “What’s the story with him?” I ask trying not push the subject “I met him a few months ago I was waitressing at an event he was at and like everyone else I was mesmerized by his looks “yeah tell me about it” I say with a little smile “anyway to cut a long story short he came over to me and asked me to go for dinner with him and of course I said yes” “so you dated him?” I ask “not really when we got to dinner everything started off fine he poured me wine and we talked he started to ask me about my life and what my values were unsure of what he was going on about I asked him to explain what he meant by that he began to smile and said “Jessica I need to know could you ever love someone who was bad? Someone who maybe came from the wrong side of things” caught a little off guard I said “it all depends on the person I guess” “yes but do you think that person could be me?” Unsure of what he was getting at and especially on a first date I looked at him and said "maybe" “tell me have you had a boyfriend before?” “Yes I have” “may I ask how many?” “around three” “I see” he says looking down “Jessica it’s been a lovely night I really enjoyed getting to know you but I don’t think we will ever be anything I think it’s time I took you home now” and without hesitation he walked me to his car when we arrived back at my house he drove away and I have never heard from him since! “I don’t know what to say” “there is nothing to say he is just a strange bloke who I think knows exactly what he is looking for and I was just n
ot it!” “I guess there really is more to him than there seems?” “Yes without a doubt I feel the bloke has issues deep ones at that another thing that is weird he only goes out with girls that have blonde hair” “really?” “He is in the local papers all the time here and never will you see him with a dark haired girl!” the ride comes full circle and I say to Jessica “do you fancy going for a coffee?” “Absolutely I was just going to say” we walk along the cold street and stumble upon a little cafe with union jacks all-round the windows “in here ok?” Jessica asks “yes fine” “I reply we order two lattes and take our seats “I just have to run to loo I won’t be sec!” “sure” as I wait for Jessica to return I look round the little cafe its filled with students sitting on their laptops and ipads no doubt studying I can’t help but think about all the new information I have about Adrian Black I can’t help but wonder what he is all about what is his story if I only knew.