The Bearer Of News

A Warm Welcome - Chapter 1

I packed my suitcase ready to go to South America, I haven't seen my best friend in years. Me and Samantha went to school together, we weren't close at the time but it was when we left that we figured we had more in common with each other than we had thought. The last time I saw her was when she flew over to the UK to see her husband on a tour.

This was at least two years ago now, me and Samantha met for coffee in London at The Garden Café by Lambeth Pier, we chose this one as it used to be our favourite when we were in school, we would go there every week and order our usual, I would have a diet coke and a red velvet muffin and Samantha would get a banana smoothie with an apple turnover. I remember spilling boiling hot tea onto my trousers the day of my university interview there, thankfully she lent me a pair of hers! How time flies!

She asked me to fly over to hers last year in February but I couldn't afford it, and I was still studying at university. I've left now though, and I'm a promoter and a stage manager for a small venue in Oxfordshire, so I can't wait to get over and tell her about my new job, I made sure I kept it quiet to surprise her with some juicy gossip. My phone buzzes, it's a message from Samantha, and I plonk myself down on my bed and read it,

'Hey Em can't wait to see you, got something exiting to tell you!!! Meet you at the airport hun, not long now .x'

I wonder to myself what could she have to tell me, since we haven't seen each other in yonks I can think of a million things, but without further hesitation I send a quick reply back and make my way downstairs with my suitcase, after locking the door behind me. Perks of living in a flat, elevators, no-one wants to carry a heavy suitcase down 20 flights of stairs. Although since I live on the top floor I still have to go down one flight to the elevators, I've never understood the design of this building.

I reach the bottom floor and head for my car, my little Audi A3 I only just managed to pay for it on top of my university fees! All these little things in life are so expensive, you don't realise it till you live independently. Anyway I turn on my stereo and make my way to Heathrow airport, singing along to Bury Tomorrow! It takes me about 1½ hours to get there but it doesn't feel like it. Once finding a car space and sorting all my things I'm ready to board my plane. Suitcase sorted, boarding pass sorted, everything sorted.

'Sam I'm on my way, can't wait to see you got something to tell you too! P.S. I'm bringing over my yoga mat, you have to teach me some moves!x'

I fell asleep on the plane, I woke up with only an hour left of the flight, I didn't sleep last night. Flying to South America felt weird, especially doing it on my own. After checking my phone for messages I go and apply some more make-up, I'd be landing soon and I looked as if I'd been dragged through a hedge backwards. By the time I had got back to my seat and ate some food it was time to land.

The cool fresh breeze attacked my face. After double checking everything, all my possessions, suitcase, I begin to call Samantha... she picks up right away.

"EMMA! We are just pulling up at the pickup point, I think I can see you, BYE!"

Ouch my poor ears, I can't help but smile, she's always managing to make me smile. She hung up right away, but I see her now approaching in her black Range Rover with Mr Ben Bruce by her side, they are such an adorable couple! They pull up right in front of me and I practically get rugby tackled to the ground when she jumps out the car.

"EMMA!" she bellows in my ear, at this point everyone is looking around, I was embarrassed but I scream back at her.

"SAMANTHA, I MADE IT!" she smiles at me, never before have I seen her this overly joyed but I don't mind it's awesome seeing my best friend again, this time for two weeks, I was staying at hers so I knew it was going to rock.

We both look around to see Ben sat in the car laughing at us, I can't blame him really we had just acted as if we were school girls. He shakes his head sarcastically, then climbed out and grabbed my suitcase putting in the boot of the car.

"Get in then kids" he says as we jump into the car, we all laughed. The drive back to theirs dragged, it felt like forever. I couldn't stop thinking about what the news was she wanted to tell me!