Now Or Never...?

Chapter 1

"Do we have to go to five more stores?" I asked my best friend Ana.

We were traveling together in London and she had insisted on going shopping in the vast and busy London streets. She had this odd theory that no one would believe that you visited a foreign country without a souvenir and in her case a phone number. I'm not gonna lie, Ana was drop dead gorgeous. She could have easily gotten a job as a model or actress, but instead she decided to lay low and do the hard work behind the cameras. She was an amazing photographer and had won several awards for her work but I always joked around with her about being perfect. Which she undeniabley was. She was a petite "5'2 with short blonde hair that cropped her face perfectly. Her stunning hazel eyes off set her look making her look even more breathtaking. She was artsy and simply flawless.

Me on the other hand could do nothing right. I was about "5'9 and was built the complete opposite of her. I had long, brown, wavy hair that was full of highlights from my many days in the sun. My eyes were a vibrant green when I was happy but could quickly change to an angered brown when I was stressed or irritated. My eyes had slowly changed color over the years, moving from a dark brown to an emerald green. My sense of humor was what made me stand ou the most though. When ever I was people seemed to be laughing, and I wasnt even trying. I think that is what annoyed Ana so much. I could make a simple joke out of everything including her precious shopping which I wasn't too fond of. But I'd always been the sporty, tomboy kind of girl. I was only 3 years younger than Ana putting me at a whopping 18. I had just graduated high school and would be attending a private college here in London in the fall. I was a straight A student so I wasn't really sure what a should pursue, so in the end I chose the school with the outstanding academic and performing arts standards. I had the ability to carry a pitch but my voice was not the most lovely. I played the guitar and the piano and hoped that they might free my mind from the oh so stressful life that unraveled before me.

We had come to England to tour around so I wouldn't be completely lost here in August. Ana had tagged along as support and to catch some pretty vistas on camera along the way.

As we walked in to the next store I sat down on the bench and told her, "When you reach your credit limit you can come back, I'll be right here."

She laughed and rolled her eyes, "Fine," she said, "But I'm going to check out the bikinis, I saw a really cute red one!"

I turned around to face the crowded street. "Wow," I whispered, "I wish I lived here, this is beautiful." A gorgeous blonde Brit boy walked past me. I stared at him them laughed to myself. "Oh Peyton, you'll never be that lucky, Ana might, but never you," I mumbled to myself. I never had much luck with boys. I mean sure I was attractive but my friends always seemed to be freaking drop dead gorgeous, making me look like American trash next to their beautiful foreign play boy bodies.

Ana walked back to the bench I was sitting on with a bag in her hand. "Ya bought it?" I asked.

"Of course!" she said, "The cashier was really hot so I had to buy something!"

"And lemme guess," I replied. "Y'all are going on a date tonight."

She scoffed, "Pey, you know me too well!"

"Is that a compliment?" I ask.

"But," she continued, "I wanted to spend tonight with my best friend in London! So we have a date tomorrow night!"

"I hope you mean watching a movie in the hotel, cause I think I might collapse!" I swiftly replied as we walked through downtown London.

"Sure!" she said, "That would be relaxing!"

We walked a little farther as she told me about her date. Apparently his name was Mitch. I didn't really listen to the rest though. I was busy observing a familiar looking group of five teenage boys.