Three Thousand Miles To You
By Deila Longford
(Three Thousand Miles Series)
(Book one)
Copyright 2012 Deila Longford
Author contact
Blog: http://deilalongoford.blogspot.co.uk/
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Deila-longford/341582502598985
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One
I brush my long, blonde, curly hair and gaze at myself in the mirror, is this really what I look like at the age of twenty-two? I see myself every day and have an occasional glance in a mirror, but do I stop to look at the girl staring back? Her deep brown eyes and huge red lips are the first things that come to my attention, the golden waves of her curly hair as it hangs freely down her back, all this is evened out by her light golden skin that is glowing. Who is she? The thing that strikes me most in my reflection is the way my eyes stare back, as if they have something to say, it is as if there is a hidden depth and another layer to me. The truth is, that it’s just my story and me.
"Alanna,” I hear my roommate shout as she pours in through the bathroom door. "Hey are you nearly done in here?” Sophie says,
"Yes, just one more second."
My roommate is from the city and she is very pretty some might say she is almost too pretty. She has a mass of thick, dark, straight hair, brown eyes and a skin tone so rich you would think she lived on a tropical island and not here in the cold winter of the East Hamptons. Sophie and I are currently staying in a small cottage-style house that I rented out while college is on break. Most of the time we live together in the college dorms of Columbia. From the very first time I met Sophie, I knew that we were destined to become friends. We met six years ago at a charity event held in my dad’s honor. My dad works for an advertising company in the city. There are huge client lists, all sorts of products and loads of boring parties. I cannot really say that they are my kind of thing, although I do make an appearance every so often to support my dad.
"Earth to Alanna," Sophie says, now looking annoyed.
“Sorry Sophie,” I say.
“You were doing it again.”
“I was?” I tend to have a wandering mind, and I do not think I have ever finished a conversation with anyone in my life. There are always a million things going round in my head at any one time. “How are you feeling about tonight?” I say trying to make up for ignoring her while I had my little thought bubble.
“These charity events aren’t always my kind of thing, but you know that tonight is one of those times I just have to go. I have to look my best, and try to show everyone including HIM, that I’m okay and that I’ve moved on.”
"Sophie you have been doing so well and as for HIM, he is just a loser who didn’t know when he had a good thing, it’s only his loss.”
"I know Alanna but seriously how am I supposed to be okay with everything?”
"Sophie." I say in my most sympathetic voice. "Chace is one of those guys, who you can tell is never, with a capital N, going to stay with the one girl. Even this one now, that he thinks he is so head-over-heels for, eventually she will get boring. He will break up with her for some stupid reason - that only he could have. He will realize that he actually does not really care for her, and just as he said about you, she’s only a distraction, someone to look good on his arm, someone he can show off as a trophy- just to make the other trust fund babies of New York jealous and think Chace has one up on them.”
“Alanna I know that you’re right, but the kind of feelings I have for him don’t just go away. I fight every second of every day, just to try to stop myself from thinking about him.”
“Sophie you have to move on."
“I know, I know.” Poor Sophie, there is nothing worse than seeing my friend upset like this. I really could kill Chace for the way he has treated her. Sophie went out with Chace for about a year, their dads are business partners who joint-own a hotel in the city, naturally they thought their kids would be great as an item and have pushed them together ever since they could walk. Every vacation they shared, the kids were always together, every party, every event - the two families were inseparable and from a very young age, Sophie has loved Chace. On paper he is perfect, standing at 6 ‘2”, his sandy blonde hair, his piercing blue eyes, his full lips and perfectly tanned skin, he is just an all-round nice looking boy.
But then they had one of the worst break ups in the history of bad break ups. They shared a small apartment on the edge of town and Sophie, like the little homemaker she is, had become almost the perfect little housewife. Everyone loved them as a couple, they complemented each other in every way possible and she was totally in love. Nevertheless, by the end of the year, there were all sorts of rumors about Chace and other girls, Sophie tried her best to ignore them until one night while she was out Christmas shopping in the city the worst happened.
Sophie had asked me to go round to the apartment to feed her dog, as Chace was out of town: she had run into an old friend from school, they had got into talking, and she would not be home for hours. However, Chace was actually home. I walked in and I could not believe my eyes: there he was with a girl in my best friend’s bed. And not with any girl - he was with one of Sophie’s best friends, Chelsea. I could not speak, I just stood there looking at them. What really shocked me the most was the look on Chaces face, it was as if he almost wanted someone to walk in and see him there with Chelsea: it was all a game to him.
As quickly as my brain would function, I picked up the little white dog and ran out. Then I had to make one of the most difficult phone calls I’d ever made - I had to call my best friend and tell her that her boyfriend and her oldest girlfriend were together and that I had walked in and seen them. That it was their apartment and, that it looked as if, it had been going on for a while. And that he had been lying to her all that time, and her friend had done the worst thing a friend could ever do.
Sophie drove straight home and the fight began. Chace told her he had never cared about her anyway. He said she was a just an arrangement for the good of the business to show a united front. A purpose to make their rivals jealous, to show they had everything the best hotel, the entrepreneur son with the daughter of the hotel owner. The little trophy on his arm not only a front but also a business deal for the press, just a distraction, the one thing to put the hotel in the limelight. Therefore, the story is he says he cares for Chelsea but, unknown to her, he is using her just as he did my friend, he has now moved her into the same apartment and they are the golden couple whilst my friend hides away in shame.
Two
When we arrive in the city for the party, the blinding lights of the press are there to greet us. As we step out of the limo, I have on my black, tight mini dress and my favorite shoes, my Christian Loubotins. My hair is curled and hanging down my back, I do not usually wear much make up; just a blush, one stroke of mascara and a little nude gloss and, of course, a spray of my hidden secret my Chanel no5.
"Alanna I don’t think I can go through with this it’s too hard look at all the cameras."
"Sweetie, you look amazing just go with the flow and you have nothing to be ashamed about, you are the best.”
I wasn’t lying when I said she looked amazing she totally does, she has on a long gold tight ball gown and her hair is pushed up into a high bun she does sometimes tend to go over the score with makeup but tonight she looks great.
"Let’s go," I say as we make our way onto the red carpet in front of the building. In front of a c
amera Sophie is a natural, she has been at it for so long that it is like a second nature to her. Me. on the other hand, it is a little different I tend to stay away from the cameras but with Sophie by my side that is not possible.
"Alanna Hart over here,”
“Strike a pose.” I do my best as I shyly flash them a smile. Sophie on the other hand is not so shy; she always goes for the one hand on the hip, chin down, foot out pose. It really is all just for the cameras but sometimes I think that Sophie takes it a little too seriously. As we enter, I can see it is the usual crowd with a few new faces. Overall, there are around 150 guests and single-handedly I could name almost every one. Jake Harper CEO flies around on a private jet and tells everyone else what to do, Charles Vanderbilt thinks he owns the entire city, but really he is just a spoiled little man who is secretly in the closet and whose wife and daughter only care about the expensive gifts daddy brings home from Paris.
“Sophie, Marco is here,"
"What no, don’t let him see you?”
“It’s already too late he is walking over, get ready for another slanging match Alanna."
"Hey," The tall dark guy says.
"Hello Marco,” I say trying to sound cool. Marco gives Sophie a little nod.
"Hi" Sophie adds.
"So how’s it going, how have you been Alanna?"
“Fine,” I say.
“I heard what happened before Christmas that must have.” However before he can finish I jump in.
"Look Marco that really has nothing to do with you, and as far as I’m concerned it was for the best. My friend was far too good for Chace he treated her with nothing but pure hatred and disrespect."
“Alanna I was only going to say,”
“Well don’t Marco, it’s just not.”
"Just not what,"
“It is nothing to do with you.”
“But if you think Alanna, it is because you know that Chace is my friend, he tells me everything. So yeah it kind of has got to do with me."
“Really you think it does, tell me this Marco, do you really think that it was a nice thing for Chace to do?”
"Well."
“Well what Marco?” I look out the corner of my eye and I see Sophie, she is standing next to me looking like she is about to cry, her smile has faded and her eyes look desperate, I can tell she hates every moment of this conversation. With my friend’s best interests at heart, I look at Marco, the tall, dark guy that makes me feel like I am a little doll even with 6-inch heels on. I look at his big dark eyes and thick wave of dark hair; you can certainly tell he has Italian roots. Even though he is good looking, there is something about him so arrogant, so full of himself and so self-involved, that I really find him rather repulsive. I turn to look at my friend and as I take her hand, she gives me, a quick smile. As we head away, I turn to look at Marco and simply say, "Bye."
"Quickly Sophie," I say as we make our way to Ladies room.
"Alanna you didn’t have to do that."
“Do what?” I ask looking confused.
"Stand up for me like that.”
“Sophie, do not be silly you know I will always stand up for you, and anyway Marco is just an arrogant ass."
“Alanna you always say that about him.”
“It’s true you only have to look at him and the way walks over like he is god’s gift to women.”
“Alanna do you ever stop to think that maybe Marco likes you?”
“What? Likes me, how could that self-obsessed idiot like anyone other than himself?”
“Alanna there is no use in me staring this conversation with you, because I know I will never win. But just think, he is always where you are, he always comes up to you first whenever he sees you and then if it’s not totally blind to see the way he looks at you, it’s like he is looking at what he wants, and with such passion.”
“Stop Sophie, I am just not interested in Marco, never have, never will.”
As we walk, up the stairs and into the main reception area, to look for the Ladies room. I cannot help but stop and look around the room at the surroundings in which this party is. It is really elegant and beautiful, there are huge flower displays, and the walls are gold and silver with painted charbs on them. The whole room is lit up with several chandeliers so big and over the top but simply gorgeous. The food lays in all its glory on massive white tables with gold Versace tablecloths. Huge silver platters all filled with the tiniest little canapés, Lined along the bar is Moet champagne in crystal ice buckets. At the back of the room, an elegant band is playing all dressed in tailored black suits and the women in white cocktail dresses. You have you hand to the organizers they really know how to throw a party together.
“Here is the Ladies room Sophie.”
As we walk in two older Ladies are on their way out and gossiping about one of their friends no less.
“Do want to some gloss Alanna?”
“No thanks Sophie I’m fine.”
“I can’t believe I’m actually here Alanna, I have been dreading this night for so long and yet here I stand.”
“Tell me about it, I have forgotten how awful one of these parties can be.”
“It’s just I know that they are here somewhere, and I know they are going to be rubbing my face in it.”
“Sophie you know those two are made for each other, only she could do that to a friend and only he could make you love him like that, and then shatter everything, seriously they are not worth your thinking time.”
“I know, but the other thing is that I know everyone here is thinking about it. Talking as if they know the facts, they look over see them so happy and all over each other. Then they look at me, standing alone looking glum and not wanting to be here.”
“Sophie you always care too much what people think, and these people you know what they are, all fake, their fake smiles, their fakes laughs and fake interest in any one other than themselves. Talking about their million dollar homes and competing for who has the best car.”
“Alanna I know all this, but it still doesn’t make it any easier knowing that everyone is talking about you.”
“Do what I do, don’t let it bother you, it’s hard enough in life without worrying what other people think.”
“I know you’re right and from now on, there will be no more tears, no more hiding away and I am going to go out there and enjoy the party have fun with my best friend.”
“After all we are the hottest two socialites in the room tonight.”
“I hate when you do that Alanna.”
“Do what?”
“When you make fun of all this”
“Sophie it’s the only way I get through it.”
We head back out and go straight to the bar. The bartender pours Sophie and me a glass of champagne each. We toast and listen to the soft music. I look over to my right and I spot HIM, he is standing with two other men and he is smiling from ear to ear. He has on his dark grey suit, his hair pushed back and he does look nice and, I can see why Sophie really liked him at first glance, there is nothing not to like. To Sophie’s despair and mine, he sees us and his smile quickly fades. I see him make a nod as he always does.
“Oh Alanna I still love him, look how gorgeous he is, I can’t help my feelings I want him”.
“Sophie, I know you do but he is not right for you and what he did, that was just too much.”
Speaking of what he did, I see Chelsea. She is wearing a little blue dress way to tight and way too revealing, her auburn hair short and straight. She walks up to him gives him a kiss on the cheek and links into his arm.
“There is no doubting it now Alanna they are really an item.”
“Sophie, don’t look over, let’s go.” As we start for the tables, I see Chace say something to Chelsea and to our dread I see him start to walk over. Before we can try move so we do not have to speak to him, he is there right next to us looking down with his eyes so blue that you think you could swim in them.
“Hello girls.”
“How have you been Sophie?”
“I have been okay Chace.”
“Yes considering.” I say a little harshly and Chace shifts looking very nervous.
"It’s a nice night out.”
“Yeah it is a nice night." Sophie says.
"Look Chace,” I say staring him in the eye. “Is there something we can help you with?”
“I just thought I would say hello.”
“For what reason Chace, you made it clear that Sophie is not good enough. Why do you want to say hello? You have your little trophy over there, so go back to her and don’t bother us.”
“Alanna I just… never mind enjoy the night.” He takes Sophie’s hand kisses it gently and he walks away.
As Sophie and I walk to take our seats for the speeches, I see Marco again this time he looks annoyed.
“Alanna may I speak with you?”
“On you go.” Sophie says, “I will be fine.”
“Okay then.” I say hastily.
Marco leads the way over to the side where it is quite and no one is around. “Alanna I need to ask you something.”
“Okay, go ahead.”
“Why do you hate me so much?”
“Marco I don’t hate you.”
“You certainly make it look like you do.”
“Marco I don’t hate anyone, I really don’t.”
“Why do you act that way around me?”
“I don’t feel I act any certain way around you.”
“Yes, you do Alanna, you have a problem with me and I don’t know why, I don’t feel there is any reason for it and I need you tell me why.”
“Why is it so important for me to like you?”
“Don’t do that.”
“Do what?”
“Turn the question right back around to me; answer me Alanna, once and for all why do you hate me?” He says rather loud. He is almost shouting his face is red and full of anger. Why do I bother you so much Marco? I think as I look at him. Why do you need me to like you, maybe Sophie is right maybe he does like me and perhaps he is a just a little boy with a crush.
Three Thousand Miles To You,(Three Thousand Miles, Series, Book #1) Page 1