Quick to Love

Chapter 1

Six months earlier.......

"How long are you going to be Syd?" called Charlie from the other room.

"Just give me 2 mins" I shout back.

"If you don't get your arse in gear we are going to miss the flight!" Charlie says in an irritated voice.

We need to be at Gatwick at least 2 hours before our flight to Ibiza and we are cutting it fine already.

"The taxi is going to drive off in a minute if we don't get there" Charlie was getting anxious.

I don't know why Charlie is surprised, I am always late to everything. I told her when she booked the taxi that she should book it at least half hour earlier than we needed to compensate for my lack of time keeping. She never learns though, even after 10 years of friendship. We met at 6th form college after she transferred from another school. We became firm friends on his first day after she complimented my handbag in the 6th form common room. I knew from that moment we would be besties.

"Syyyyddddddd he's about to leave'"

"Right I'm ready" I call after stuffing my toiletries in my suitcase.

"Shit have i got my passport" I mumble to myself, remembering that I left it on my bedside table. I run the short journey from the hallway to my bedroom and collect the passport sitting on the side. That would have been a great way to start our trip and wouldn't be the first time I've left my passport at home. We don't talk about that day.

I collect my bags and do a once over of the flat. Charlie and I live in a 2 bed loft in Canada Water. It's on the 2nd floor of a converted warehouse by the river. We were lucky to get the lease as it was so sought after but I managed to persuade the smarmy Estate Agent to hold it for an hour whilst I confirmed with Charlie that we could afford it. Sometimes you have to use your feminine whiles to get what you want. I know it is not the most feminist thing to do but needs must.

When i get outside the taxi driver takes my bags, I hop in the back with Charlie and we are off.

I am so relieved to get away. We have been planning this trip for so long and I never thought we would get here. Work has been super busy recently and Charlie has been here there and everywhere with auditions. She's an actor and has been trying to get her next role without much luck. Luckily her last job paid well so we don't have to worry about not making the rent.

Charlie interrupts my thoughts "Violet said she will meet us outside the entrance at 1pm"

"Ok cool" I reply looking at my watch.

Violet is our other best friend. She lives with her boyfriend Jack in Camden, so she is meeting us at the airport. She is the most punctual out of the three of us, so I wouldn't be surprised if she isn't already there. She won't be thrilled when we rock up with minutes to spare for check in.

The taxi journey seems to take ages and of course we get stuck in every possible traffic jam. I hate queues so I sit there tapping my foot like Thumper from Bambi.

"Will you stop that?" Charlie moans at me, "you are making me feel car sick!".

I'm sorry" I answer. "You know I hate queues".

I wouldn't say I am a control freak, but I hate the unknown. That counts for everything in life. The unknown makes me anxious and so I try to avoid it at all costs. I'm that person that looks up the ending of a tv programme before I've even watched half the series much to everyones annoyance. Especially when I accidentally reveal what happens.

The thought of us missing the flight is driving me crazy. Luckily, just as I start furiously googling the traffic reports we start to move again. An hour and multiple traffic jams later and we are pulling up to the drop off at Gatwick South terminal. The taxi driver opens the car boot and removes our luggage. He drops it on the path and wishes us happy holidays.

Once we have collected our bags, we start walking towards the entrance. We spot Violet within 30 seconds. The first thing I see is her beautiful long blonde hair. I've always been jealous of her luscious locks since the day we met 3 years ago. I must ask her what shampoo she's using at the moment.

"Hey Syd, hey Charlie" she shouts as she runs towards us for a group hug.

"Looking good Vi! How much luggage are you bringing" Charlie says glancing at her bags. As always Violet has brought her whole wardrobe with her.

"You know I don't travel light Charlie! I have paid the extra luggage fee so don't worry about being embarrassed at the desk" she scalds.

"Sure sure" Charlie replies in a dismissive tone. "Let's get going so we can check in. I am starving!"

We walk through the doors and find the check in desk for our flight. Luckily it only takes 5 minutes as we have arrived towards the end of the check in window. After our luggage has been taken off us we go through to security. I always seem to get my hand luggage checked whatever I do and on cue my suitcase goes down the conveyor belt to the security check.

"Any loose liquids?" he barks at me. He gives me that stare that jobsworth's always give you.

"No" I protest "I made sure to follow all the guidelines" I add quickly. I hate it when this happens. I always make sure I do exactly as I am instructed but I still always get stopped. Must be my bad luck.

My bag gets opened and rifled through much to my annoyance. I don't know what he was expecting to find. I am waved on when it's apparent I am not hiding a gun!

"Right, where shall we eat?" Vi asks after we have made our way through the duty free maze.

It's 11am so its that in-between time, not breakfast or lunchtime. We look around the many shops and restaurants that are airside and we settle on the ever consistent Wetherspoons for brunch and a tipple before our flight.

Half an hour later, we are full after finishing our pancakes, waffles and all day breakfast.

"Cheers guys" I toast. We each hold up our super cheap glass full of Prosecco. "Let's have the best holiday!' I add as we clink our glasses and take a sip.

"So Vi, how is Jack?" I ask as she takes another sip of the vile cheap fizz. I'm all for cheap drinks but next time I think I will stick to the spirits.

"He's ok, I can't say he was super happy about this holiday. He was like a lost puppy when I walked out of the front door". As she talks about him, there is a twinkle in her eye. I'm slightly jealous but brush it off.

"God he's so obsessed with you, I don't think it's normal" Charlie moans. She too is clearly jealous of their relationship but would never admit it.

Violet makes an annoyed face at Charlie. "No he isn't obsessed. He just loves me" she says defending her boyfriend.

"Well if my boyfriend was like that I would need space. It sounds so suffocating" Charlie whines.

"Well you don't have a boyfriend, so come back to me when you find someone that will put up with you" Vi adds half joking half being serious. Charlie looks hurt but to cut the tension, throws a napkin at Violet's head.

"Guys chill" I interject "We are about to go on holiday, let's not start off fighting!"

Sometimes Charlie and Violet rub each other up the wrong way. I try to be the mediator when that happens. They only know each through me as Violet and I work together at Allure. Allure is a luxury Womenswear brand, with it's head office in central London. I work in the design department as one of the ready to wear designer's and Violet is my buyer. We started working together when I got the job 3 years ago and since then she quickly became one of my best friends. We started going for lunch and after work drinks regularly so I decided to invite Charlie along one evening because I knew they would hit it off.

"Anyway no talk about men this holiday. It is going to be a romance free zone remember!". We agreed before we came that we would make this a total girlie holiday. On of us always gets distracted by a man and so we wanted to make sure we spent quality time together. "This holiday is about relaxing, sunbathing, drinking cocktails and dancing on tables" I laugh as I add the final bit. I don't dance on tables often but I have been known to in the past on my girls holidays.

Violet and Charlie nod in agreement and we chink our glasses for the second toast of the day. "To a man and drama free holiday".