A name popped up on the screen and my chest tightened and my heart beat loudly.

‘Elliott has logged on’

My hand moved the mouse to hover on his name and my index finger pushed quickly on the mouse’s left button twice.

Bethany says: Eli! I just finished packing my things; I am heading for the airport in a few moments. Gosh, I’m so excited, I can barely contain myself!

I looked at what I had typed and began to fidget. I am extremely excited, I can’t stay still, it’s almost as if I have drunk more cups of coffee than I need, but that’s not the case at all, in fact, I haven’t had any coffee as of yet, because, I just don’t need it, I’m running on excitement alone.

The computer beeped at me and I reopened Elliott’s flashing window.

Elliott says: God, time flies! I can’t wait either; this is going to be the best summer ever! God, ahh! I haven’t seen you in AGES! This is going to be so WEIRD! But I bet it will give you the break you need after all that crap you have to go through.

Bethany says: Yeah, I really need to get away from here; a few weeks over there will do me a world of good. And I know, it’s been 11 years Eli! It’s amazing we even managed to stay best friends, I expect if anyone else had their best friend move half way across the world they would just give up.

After I had entered my message my mind began to wander a little.

The last time we were together we were seven. Our mothers had always been good friends, we were often told about how they attended the same school and all that, but then Elliott’s mum met a man in America, who she fell madly in love with, and so Elliott and Elliott’s mother both headed out to the states to live their lives.

Of course me and Elliott weren’t happy, we had known each other our whole lives, and for as long as we could remember we had each other and needed no one else, in fact we were so sure we’d always be a team that whenever anyone else tried to make friends with us, we’d just turn them away and play together, but because of this, when Elliott did leave, I was alone, and no one wanted to be friends with me, and it stayed that way for a very long time, until I met Bridie, but more about her later.

As for Elliott, well when he arrived in America, his mum enrolled him in an all boys academy and he made lots of friends extremely quickly.

But even though he had new friends, he still continued to keep in contact with me, as I did with him. Sometimes we would call each other, but not a lot because long distance phone calls were extremely expensive, and my family isn’t the richest of families.
Most of all we would write to each other, with stories of our weeks and all sorts of silly things really. Other than the odd missed call, or the odd late letter, we were still talking frequently, we were still best friends.

And then, after we were a little older, we each got an online messenger and from then on we spoke every night, and for years we have continued speaking every night, only missing the odd few nights, but even then, we would make up for it.

My eyes skimmed over the computer monitor, realizing I had spaced out for a while.

Elliott says: Giving up is for fakers or weak people! We (obviously) aren’t either of those ;D

Elliott says: By the way, do you still like noodles in a cup?

Elliott says: Cause I let Hunter do the shopping this week.

Elliott says: Hello?

Elliott says: Hellooooo?

Bethany says: Oh, sorry, lol, was day dreaming. What are noodles in a cup?

Elliott says: Oh, erm.

Elliott says: Pot noodle?

Bethany says: OHH! Yeah, I love it.

Elliott says: Good, cause you will be eating a lot of it.

Bethany says: Ahh crapp! I got to go, or I will miss my plane, byee!

I exited the conversation and logged out before he could reply.

I ran through my apartment seeking my large handbag. 

“BRIDIE!” I screamed frantically. “BRIDIE!”

“Whaat?” She dragged, shooting a disgusted glare from behind her bedroom door within our apartment. Her facial features quickly became softer as she gave a short laugh after I –jokingly- glared back.

“Have you seen my handbag?” I asked while continuing to look around the small living room/kitchen.

“Err.” Bridie watched me tug the cushions from the sofa with a blank expression. My eyes traveled to hers. 

“It’s black.” Nothing. “With spots.” Nothing. “With… A… Pink handle?” 

“OHHH! That thing? I remember that, looked like it was pulled from the ass of a horse.” She began matter-of-factly. “So I chucked it out.”

“You did what!!” I began to hyperventilate. 

“I’m kidding! God. I put it on your bed.” She rolled her eyes with a sigh. I ran towards my room, not missing the low tone mutter of “…Makes me sick…” Under my close friends breath.

I grabbed the large handbag which was full of various things, purse, iPod, phone, keys, books, sweets and snacks, pens and paper and of course my passport and plane ticket.

I headed towards the front door with my handbag hung on my shoulder and grabbed the two heavy suitcases.

“Bridie!” I called once again.

“Why are you here!” She called back sarcastically. 

“Don’t forget to pay the rent, don’t leave the lights on in rooms you don’t use, no parties, keep the cupboards full and remember to log on once in a while to talk to me. Bye.”

“Bye, enjoy your summer!” 

I left the apartment and headed down to the lobby where I was to wait for my taxi, which I had booked earlier that day.

I stood excitedly for no more than five minutes before my taxi arrived and I clambered into the back with my suitcases and handbag.

“Morning love. Going to Heathrow right?” He asked after checking the details on his satellite navigation system.

“Yep.” I squeaked. Oh gosh, oh gosh. I couldn’t wait! This is going to be the best summer, ever.

“Going anywhere nice love?” The diver asked.

“Oh, right, yeah! I’m going to America for the holidays!” I replied, fidgeting impatiently.

“Sounds great,” The man replied, not really taking that much of an interest in my life at all. “Any reason? Or just a holiday?”

That was it, I began to ramble on about Elliott, and how I was having a rough time recently, and how he had invited me to stay with him. The story, though seemingly short, managed to fill the full duration of the ride.

“Well I hope you enjoy your stay love, that will be fifteen quid please mate.” I quickly handed the balding man the money and grabbed my bags.

My eyes fell on a stranded suitcase trolley and I quickly dumped my bags on it.

I strolled into the building and went through customs with no trouble. With time to kill I plonked down on the hard, cold metal chairs by the gates which lead out to the landing area and took my book from my large hand bag and settled down to read.

My eyes kept traveling to the clock, which ticked by slowly. I read the clock out to myself for the last time before realizing that I had read through dozens of pages without remembering a single word of which was written on any of them.

“Calling flight number 249! I repeat, calling flight number 249!” A loud, high-pitched voice emitted from the speakers.

I stuffed my book back into my bag and hurried to my gate where I was checked once again and allowed through; my feet led me into the airplane and seeked out my seat. I found it and sat down clutching tightly to my bag. A window seat, wonderful!

I would be there soon. My heart beat quickly. Not long now.

But even though I was telling myself this, I still had hours yet. The flight itself would last over 10 hours, and then I have all that bother on the other end of finding my luggage and mazing trough the people there to find Elliott.

That will take a while, seeing as I haven’t seen a recent picture of him in over six years.

Oh god. What if I can’t find him? What if I am stranded in America all alone with no way of getting back for two months? Oh god. Oh god Oh god.

This is a bad idea. 

I looked around the plane calmly, even though on the inside I was hyperventilating.

Families laughed and joked as they found their seats while business men walked by with up turned noses.

A boy walked up to the row of seats in which I was sat with a seemingly full back pack.

“Hey.” He smiled and maneuvered his way past a few seats until he got to me. His seat must be next to mine.

“Hi.” I replied, a bit too panicked to really have a conversation.

“Looks like you have me for 12 hours of pure entertainment.” The boys smile became a grin. I smiled to him; it was the polite thing to do after all.

“You scared of flying too?” He asked me, taking an interest in my stormy eyes.

“No,” I began. “I’m just a little worried that’s all.” I sighed, picturing my arrival.

“Want to talk about it?” The stranger asked and tucked his bag between his feet.

“I’m just scared that I won’t be able to find my friend when we arrive.” I answered quietly and peered through the window at the airport.

“Hey, don’t worry about something like that. You will find your friend. Besides, there will be phone boxes, so if you can’t find him or her, then you can call and find out where they are.” The boy replied smoothly and I turned to face him once again.

“I suppose your right.” I sighed, feeling a little better. In fact I felt a little stupid now, I mean, of course there will be phone boxes.

“So I’m Gary.” The boy beside me put his hand out.

“Bethany.” I took his hand in mine and shook it.

The safety procedures were explained carefully followed by a quick show of where the emergency exits are – just in case.

The plane began running along the run way and soon we wee in the air with a few bumps.

Gary clutched tightly onto the arms of the chair in which he sat, obviously frightened of flying.

Gary and I spoke for hours about all kinds of things, our lives, the reason for our trips to America – Gary’s dad lives in the states and invited him over for a holiday – and of course our interests.

Night slowly approached and all the people surrounding Gary and I slowly nodded off, and, I suppose I was a little tired too.

All that excitement and talking had defiantly got the best of me and as Gary spoke about his girlfriend back home my eyes began drooping.

“So she was like “Fine! Just leave and go to America, leave me here, fine!” and I was like “Fine I will!” and then – Err.” Gary looked at me silently, but after a few moments broke the silence, “Bethany?”

“I’m sorry Gary.” I yawned. “I’m so tired.” 

“Yeah, not you mention it I’m a bit sleepy…” Gary yawned too, my gesture being the most contagious around.

We asked the stewardess for a pair of blankets and soon we were snuggled down, each with headphones in our ears and soft music infecting our systems. Sleep took over.

A light shaking woke me from my slumber and my eyes stop open, alerted to the touch of strong hands on m arms.

“Bethany.” A masculine voice whispered. My eyes fell onto Gary’s and e grinned a childish grin that only a little boy would have in most circumstances.

“Yeah?” I asked groggily, removing my headphones from my ears and pausing my iPod.

“We need to put our seat belt on, the plane is readying itself to land.” My heart began to beat loudly as I fastened my seat belt.

Not long now, not long now! Oh goodness me! Oh goodness me! Breathe Bethany! Breathe!

The pilot spoke through the over head speaker, but I couldn’t pay attention. Elliott is going to be at the airport waiting for me, which means we are so close right now.

I pushed my face against the window, we were landing. I watched the airport come closer and closer until finally we landed with people on the run way bustling around and preparing a ladder for the passengers to use in order to get off the plane

I gulped as I looked into the airport, I couldn’t see anything inside the building as the early morning sun was reflecting from the large glass walls of the airport so brightly that it was almost blinding 

“Oh god.” I breathed loudly 

“I know,” Gary began. “Scary isn’t it. Don’t worry I will stick with you.” We smiled toward each other.

“Promise?” My smile faltered slightly. Gary nodded.

“Yeah come on.” Gary stood and picked his bag up from between his feet where it had stayed the entire flight. I followed suit, clutching my bag tightly to my chest.

Slowly everyone filed from the large airplane and walked across the tarmac to the building were we were checked through the gate 

“Hey look, there are some trolleys over there.” Gary muttered and pointed to a group of stranded trolleys a few feet away. We each grabbed one and headed towards the conveyer belt in which hundreds of suitcases of different shapes, sizes and colours, some were even littered with stickers or pictures.

Gary pulled one from the belt. A large brown one. And then another. A smaller grey one with a couple of stickers on and some writing. He loaded his trolley with his two suit cases.

That’s when I saw one of mine and run towards it, grabbing it and tugging it onto my trolley.

Gary waited patently beside me as I looked out for my last suitcase. There it was, the blinding lime green colour emitting from behind the black flaps. I took a hold of this one also and put it with my other 

My chest tightened with every step towards customs. Elliott was in the same building as me.

I walked though the large machine which seeked out metal with no problem, Gary followed behind me, also with no problem, but still quietly as the security guards checked over him once again with a hand held machine.

We continued on our journey towards the airport entrance. My legs were weakening with each step. Today is the day I meet Elliott for the first time in 12 years.

“Gary!” A loud, overpowering voice yelled over the heads of hundreds of people. Gary’s eyes shot around the people. All the people.

There were so many people here, of all different colours, and backgrounds, it was hard to see anyone among these people, it just seemed that faces all blended together and colours just mixed into one unexplainable mess of colours.

“Gary! Over here.” This time the voice was louder. Our eyes fell on an ageing man whose hair was slightly thinning on top. The man pushed past groups of people until he reached us and grabbed Gary in a big bear like hug.

“Gary my boy.” The older man grinned and ruffled Gary’s hair.

“Dad!” Gary grinned back, then looking over to me.

“Dad, this is Bethany, she was sat next to me on the plane.” Gary’s father grinned as he looked me up and down. “Bethany, this is my dad.” He continued proudly.

“Nice to meet you.” I smiled shyly.

“You too.” Gary’s father replied, his strong American accent almost incomprehensible to me.

Gary quickly ruffled through his bag and pulled a drawing pad and a pen from it, his lips fastened around the lid of the pen as he pulled it of and began furiously scribbling something down.

“Here.” He ripped the paper from his pad and handed it to me. On the paper was his name and number. “Call me.” He threw me another cheeky grin.

“Come on then trouble.” Gary’s dad said and began pulling Gary towards the exit.

Wait, Gary is meant to be staying with me.

“Bye!” He screamed before he was out of eye and ear shot.

Now I’m alone. Oh god. I’m alone and I have no idea where Elliott is going to be.

My dark brown eyes skimmed over the faces around me, no one was even a little familiar. 

My chest began tightening again and my breathing became shallower. What if I can’t find him, I will be stuck here all alone. My hands trembled on the metal handle of the suitcase trolley.

In out. In out. Just breathe everything will be okay. Gary said there are phone boxes. Just breathe.

My legs shook as I pushed my trolley around in order to find a pay phone. Where the hell are they?

I began to dig through my bad to find my phone. I clutched it in my shaking, sweaty hands and searched through the phone book. Now I just need to find a pay phone.

This was useless, this place is so big, I will never find them. Tears began to well in my eyes as they darted around trying to find a sign which said phone boxes.

Then I felt a great relief, in the distance I could see a phone sign. I hurried towards it, pushing the heavy trolley as fast as I could. My hand grabbed the phone and I took a few deep breathes before entering the money and dialing the number.

The phone rang no more than three times before it was answered by a deep male voice which strongly resembled an Americans accent.

“Hello?” The person asked. It had been a few years since I had spoken to Elliott on the phone, the last time we spoke; his accent was relatively English still.

“Elliott?” I whimpered.

“Bethany?” The voice shouted happily.

“Yeah, I’m in the airport, and I don’t know where to look for you, I’m really scared.” I admitted and a deep chuckle replied.

“Meet me outside the entrance; I will make my way there now. See you soon!” 

“Okay, bye.” I put the phone back on the hook and looked up at the signs which hung from the ceiling. Exit, I have to go left.

I followed various signs until I saw the bright out doors a few feet away.

There were still a lot of people hanging about by the doors, how do I know which one is Elliott?

I pushed my trolley out of the doors and stood y the wall on my own. This trolley was amazingly heavy after a while; my arms ached quite a lot actually. Not to mention I was still tired anyway.

A boy who looked to be my age with thick glasses and blonde hair walked towards me smiling. Is that Elliott? I held my breath nervously and bit on my lip.

“Hey!” The boy squeaked and walked past me, I looked over my shoulder and the blonde boy was hugging an older lady. I sighed and looked back to the front again.

“Ahh!” I yelled and stepped back. Another boy of who looked to be my age with light brown straightened hair which hung just past his dark green eyes. From the boys mouth emitted a low chuckle which made his eyes seem that little bit brighter.

“Bethany!” He greeted cheerfully.

“Elliott?” I asked cautiously. I’m stupid of course it’s Elliott.

Elliott grabbed me and squeezed me tightly. His smell drifted over me, I liked it.

We squeezed each other for a few moments.

“Come on, let’s go.” Elliott took my trolley and pushed it towards the car park, while I, shyly, followed behind.

We walked past rows and rows of different cars before we came to a halt where Elliott unlocked his boot and lifted my bags into the trunk. He pushed the large metal trolley the side and slammed the boot shut.

Elliott opened the door for me and I timidly slid myself into the low car. He closed the door and walked around the front on the car, doing a couple of embarrassing dance moves as he did so, with a wink in my direction. I giggled. This would be a very interesting summer.