Speak Now & Surprises [Hunter Hayes fanfic]

Chapter 1: LAX

The late afternoon sunshine glinted off the steel exterior of the commercial jet as it steadily gained speed, rising higher and higher into the amber-tinged blue California sky, leaving nothing but a wispy white trail behind it that criss crossed with the others floating peacefully above the airport. I circled into the parking lot, relishing the feeling of crisp gravel beneath my newly placed tyres. My company always did this - new commission, new car - a comfy position really, the only downside being you don't always get to keep the ones you like. The same applied with the people.

I slammed the drivers' side door a little too briskly as I climbed out, still getting to grips with my new wheels, before thumb punching the button for the boot on the keys so I could lift out my suitcase and ask myself the same old question - why oh why had I packed so many shoes?!

LAX shone like silver with the taste of stale coffee as I wheeled through the corridors and into the waiting room, searching for my manager who'd instructed me to meet him here at eighteen-hundred hours sharp. Disgruntled at his lack of punctuality I sat myself down on a row of chairs next to a Duty Free and picked up a copy of Vogue some previous person had left behind; the pages lay splayed on the fragrance samples.

It was only a few minutes until I heard his booming voice. He was as deep and strong as you'd expect from a man of six foot two, striding towards me in his shiny black shoes and blue pinstripe suit with a leather briefcase pinned to his side; a steaming fresh cup of coffee in each hand - he always forgot I didn't take milk and this time would be no exception, I was sure.

"Hey, Ricky." I gave him a reserved wave as I eyed the coffees and he eyed the buttons on my blouse - don't think the thirteen year age gap between us put him off, he was always telling me how much I'd excelled before his eyes since beginning my internship for his company at the tender age of sixteen, promoting me from lunch run duties to his attractive, underage receptionist. We all knew where he got his kicks from - there wasn't a single male on his payroll.

"Ah, if it isn't Miss Shelby White," he arched a thick, overgrown brow at me and extended a coffee, "Fancy running into you here!" Ricky joked, a thick and throaty noise, before sliding down onto the metal chair next to me and pulling out the briefcase that he'd managed to wedge beneath his armpit. He wasn't all bad really, just a lonely guy with a string of psychotic exes with equally psychotic exes of their own, which I suppose would be enough to put anybody off the dating world for a while. He ran a hand through my light blonde hair, tucking a strand behind my ear for me as he grin a crooked smile.

"I've got something you'll really like in here." He smiled again, a big, white smile that showed off all of his perfect teeth; he may have liked sleeping with his employees but those that he chose never minded either, Ricky was succesful, charming - oh, and did I mention, British? He was the full package for a brunette twenty-something with self-esteem issues lower than sub-arctic temperatures in the middle of winter.

"Go on then, impress me." I leaned back in my seat and humoured him, after all, he was going out on a limb for me here; not many companies would want a nineteen-year-old college drop out who'd barely graduated from simple clerical duties less than a year ago flying solo now, would they? See, even if Ricky was a sleaze, he'd always believed in me.

"Taylor Swift. She's just completed the first two legs of her four leg world tour, one-hundred and ten shows in total, box office estimated at over a hundred million dollars. Think you can handle it North America?" Ricky looked up at me but all I could manage was a few gasps and a faint clutch at the heart.

"You're serious?! You're actually serious?!" The words came out more unprofessional than planned as I stuttered and spluttered before him, "Ricky! You got this for me?!" I exclaimed in disbelief, not sure whether to stand up in excitement or even if I could at that moment, my legs felt so shaky beneath me that I was unsure if they would hold.