Trying Your Luck // Joel Hokka

I

It was early morning and I was on my way to the airport. I was a vagabond, an explorer, a cosmopolite. I have never lived long enough in one place to call home ever since I moved out of my parents when I graduated university. I felt that no place felt enough for me, so I moved around a lot.

From London to Helsinki, from Helsinki to Barcelona, from Barcelona to New York, from New York to Paris, and now from Paris back to Helsinki. I loved the thrill of living in a different place, meeting new friends, connecting with old ones, and so on. I was a freelance screenwriter and journalist, so it didn't matter where I lived, I just needed to write and do it within the deadlines.

The decision to move back to Helsinki wasn't a spontaneous decision for once in my life. Helsinki was my home a few years back when I was fresh out of university and felt like the whole world was at my feet. One of my best friends was Finnish and after graduation, she had to move back home and on the night of her send-off, something snapped in me and I told her that I want to see what life is like in Finland. A week after that I told my parents that I have fallen in love with the country and I'm staying here. And now after 3 years of wandering around the world, I'm back here, the place that holds such a special place in my heart.

I needed to get away from Paris as far as possible.

I was a lover, I fell in love with people within a night, but as soon as I fell in love with them, I fell out of love just as fast, until I met my biggest fear, a man who couldn't let go and Paris became too small for me. I learned the hard way that love isn't the most beautiful thing in the world, I learned about it through pain and prison sentences. I knew that my past with this lover is going to hunt me, but I also knew that I was much more than that, I was ready to talk about the abuse and embarrassment that I felt while being in such an unhealthy relationship, but I didn't want for that to become my only personality trait, so I spoke about it only when needed. I never really expected that my life would turn into the mess that it did within the last year, but here I was, once again on the move.

If I say that my move to Finland was just based on the fact that I missed the country and the friends I made, I would be lying. No matter how hard I tried to convince everyone, including myself, I knew that I needed to see the one person who made me the happiest and safest.

I finally had landed in Finland and I already felt like I could breathe again. My friend was already here as he had sent me a message while I was waiting for my suitcases. I have learned to have as little as possible over the years, because my life was mostly me moving, either because of work or my own motivation. I got my two suitcases and went to find my friend, and that appeared to be an easy job as I spotted the flaming redhead with a sign in her hands that said "Bergman". I didn't care that the airport was full of people, I shouted my friend's name and ran to her. I dropped my suitcases and jumped to hug her. She caught me, even if I was a bit taller and heavier than my friend.
"Darling! How much have I missed you!" I almost yelled out the sentence.
"Not as much as me, love." Alice hugged me tighter.
"I hope you have missed me as much," I heard another voice next to us, and I turned my head to see the one and only Joonas Porko.
"Porko!" I got out of Alice's embrace and went to Joonas, "I guess a little," I chuckled and gave him a tight hug.
"I heard that you're a big shot now, so I wouldn't even dream of you remembering me," Joonas said when he let me go.
"Oh, look who's talking!" Joonas was in the band and after their little Eurovision stunt, I have heard a lot about them in the press and also my friends did talk about them a lot, the friends that didn't know the band, I couldn't be any prouder.
"I guess we both will soon be proper A-listers," Joonas joked while picking up one of my suitcases. Alice and Joonas became good friends and if I didn't know that Alice was lesbian, I would assume that she and Joonas would have made a cute couple. They were basically the same person but trapped in two different bodies.
The friends led the way to the car and when I saw that Joonas was getting in the driver's seat, I almost jumped out of the car. There were many things the man was talented and good at, but driving wasn't one of them, most of the time it felt that he wanted to kill himself while driving because everything could easily distract him. The guitarist promised me that he would pay attention to the road and would get us back to Alice's place in one piece.

Thankfully Joonas kept his promise and we made it to the flat safe and sound. I will be staying with Alice until I find myself an apartment, but in Alice's words, I could stay as long as I need, as she likes having people around and it makes her feel less lonely.

As we walked into the flat, I heard loud "Welcome back" being shouted at by about 20 people. I was standing there dumbstruck and speechless. I should have guessed my friend would do something like this.
"I know that you probably want peace and quiet, but this was too good of an opportunity to miss," Alice looked at me with a proud smile. She loved to surprise people and she knew that I loved a good party, so I just gave her a smile and gave her a side hug.
"If anyone will hand me a drink, I'm not going to complain," I laughed and Niko handed me a glass of wine.
"But first, I need a  hug," Niko said before lifting the drink up in the air.
"You do remember that I'm taller than you and reaching for that drink would be too easy," I teased my friend but gave him a hug anyway. Niko handed me the drink and I just loudly said "cheers" before gulping the drink in one swing. I got myself a refill and greeted everyone in the room.
I was talking to my old colleagues from the bar I used to work at, when my eyes started to wander around looking for that one person, and then just on cue, I heard someone cough behind me.
"Hi," I turned around and saw those blue eyes that I fell in love with years ago. He looked different, he looked more grown-up and serious, his hair was blonde now and he didn't have that ridiculous emo haircut anymore, even though he was still dressed as a horny teenager in his tank top and black skinny jeans.
My smile grew big and without thinking I pulled him in for a hug. I missed Joel, too much that I would allow myself to admit.
"Hi to you too," I smiled at him and saw that he was blushing, "All this time and I still can make you blush," I teased him.
"With that charm of yours, you could make anyone blush," Joel flattered me. Only then did I notice that we were still in each other's embrace and I wiggled myself out of his touch, even if it was the last thing I wanted to do. Being in his arms felt right, but I knew that there were too many people here and there would be too many questions.
"You look great! Love the hair, should work a bit on your outfits, but who would have guessed that you could become hotter," I blurred out, I was naturally flirtatious by nature, so I was never too shy to compliment people.
"I'm just like wine, love, getting better with years," Joel laughed and flipped his hair.
"Eleanor, you need to give a speech," Joonas walked up to us and I looked at him confusingly.
"Why would I do that, my dear cotton candy-headed friend?" Joonas just pulled his tongue out and I did the same.
"Because you are back and we threw you the party of the year!"
"Oh good God, what am I even supposed to say?" I complained and looked at Joel for rescue, but he just shrugged his shoulders.
"You better give some speech, or we will have to listen to Proko nagging you the whole night."
"You heard the man!" Joonas smiled proudly and started to yell "speech, speech, speech" and more people joined in his chanting.

I got up on the chair and looked around the room, I saw some old faces, some new ones, but I never have felt like I belonged somewhere, as I did now.
"I don't know what I am supposed to say, as I'm sure I'm not dying, nor is it my birthday, nor have I done something extraordinary. But for the sake of Proko, here it comes. Actually, can someone pass me a shot before I go on," Alice handed me a shot and I downed it and kept going, "Now we talking! I have been to many places over the past few years, I have met so many people, some so famous that I couldn't believe my eyes, but it has never felt as good as it feels to be here with the people I care about, with the people I grew as a person and the writer, and in the end the people I love the most." I said the last bit and felt how my eyes automatically looked for Joel and as soon as our eyes locked I knew that I wanted him back, no matter what. "Cheers my darlings!"
Everyone cheered with me and finished their drinks and as I got off the chair the rest of the night went by in a drunken haze.

//
I have been writing for a while, but this actually the first time I publish something, let alone fan-fiction.
For the sake of the story, I will be using some already existing media, such as films and I hope you will forgive me.

English is not my native language!

The feedback is always welcomed!