Keep Calm and Carrie On

Chapter 17 - It's Hard To Choose.

"I have always wanted to try getting in one of those red buses. Nathan, do you know where we could possibly ride one?" Maureen inquired.

Nathan nodded. "Yes, of course I do! But the bus will have to take us somewhere. I suggest the Big Ben?"

Carrie nodded. "Sounds like fun."

Nath twined his left finger around Carrie's, which she was truly fond of. She found this as a sign of affection.

As of habit, her slender fingers immediately touched the ruby pendant that rests atop her neck, as a comforting act that she has been doing subconsciously since the day she left for London.

"We have to hurry along," Nath told them, "otherwise we're going to miss the 'big red bus' you want to try!"

Carrie cursed under her breath. "God darn it! I shouldn't have worn these stilletos." 

Maureen chuckled. "Good thing I'm wearing sneaks."

Carrie almost dropped to her knees. "I wasn't expecting us to take a day trip to London! We could've rode a bus or something, right?" Carrie whispered to Maureen.

"It's called sightseeing, Cars." she contradicted.

Carrie rolled her eyes.

"You know what," Carrie announced, "I'll just walk barefoot."

Nathan stopped in his tracks and walked towards her. "No." he pressed.

Before Carrie was given the chance to retaliate, he swept her off her feet and carried her up, bridal style. Carrie instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck for support.

"A princess mustn't get her feet dirty, Miss Bradley." he whispered in her ear. 

"But a prince, however, Mr. Sykes, mustn't get exhausted in any way. He has servants to do the necessary job." Carrie contradicted, and quirked her lips upward.

Nath started chuckling. "By servant, do you mean Maureen?" he teased.

Carrie shot him a hard look. "You should stop bullying her." 

After what must be fifteen minutes of walking, they finally reached the bus stop. Crouching down, Nathan let Carrie stand again. Maureen immediately climbed up to the top deck of the bus.

Wind rustled against Carrie's hair. She giggled and took a deep breath, inhaling London. "It's beautiful." she thought, and spread her arms open.

"Babe," Nathan murmured, and wrapped his arms around her waist. 

Carrie grinned. "Yes?"

"I want you to know that I've already ridden this bus over a million times already, yet somehow, it feels different, in a good way, when you're here with me." he told her.

Maureen turned to face us. "Seems eligible as song lyrics, Nathan. Wouldn't be hell surprised if I see that line on your new single."  

Carrie flushed. "Unfortunately, Nath, I won't be able to speak from experience."

Suddenly, a shrill, high-pitched scream made Carrie flinch. "I KNEW IT! IT IS NATH! SAVANNAH! COME OVER HERE, RIGHT NOW! I'VE SEEN RIGHT! IT'S NATH!"

"Fans." Nathan uttered.

Then, a brunette girl came up to the top deck, eyes searching frantically for Nathan. Once she met his gaze, she ran up to him and kissed him right on cheek. "YES, NO PAUL! THANK HEAVENS!" she breathed.

"Yes, love, that's because I am on a date with my girlfriend." he told her, and signed the piece of paper the girl Savannah asked him to sign.

"WHAT?" the blonde girl wailed, "I'M SORRY, NATH? I JUST HEARD YOU SAID YOU HAVE A GIRLFRIEND."

Nathan nodded. "That's right. Her name is Carissa." 

Suddenly, the blonde girl dropped to her knees, and sobbed. "I THOUGHT-I-I-WE HAD A CHANCE-OUR FUTURE-FU-WITH-NN-NATH..."

"I think she's breaking down right now." Carrie told Nath and Maureen, a worried expression plastered on her face.

Maureen crouched beside the blonde girl. "There, there. I know how it feels to know that the person you are deeply in love with *cough* Harry Styles *cough* already has a girlfriend."

"YOU'RE NOT HELPING!" she screamed in Mau's face, and cried even more. 

"Oh, Lucy! Calm down!" Savannah told her, and patted her back. 

Nathan hoisted the crying girl slowly and tipped her chin upward so that she was facing him. "Don't-" she said, and turned away, "I don't want you to see me like this."

Nathan brushed his thumb right below her eye to rid the tears that were welling down her face. "Shhh. You look fine. I promise. Now, I don't want you to cry about this anymore. You have to promise me, okay?" 

Lucy nodded, but ended up sobbing even louder. Nathan embraced her for a hug. "I LOVE YOU SO MUCH, IT HURTS." she murmured. 

Nathan rubbed her back soothingly. "Shhh. I didn't mean to hurt any of the fans in any way at all. I just... I just fell in love."

And Carrie swore, in that moment, she felt like Nathan was really the one.

Carrie wasn't a tad bit jealous of how the fan kissed him on the cheek and hugged him tightly. As a matter of fact, she was taken aback at how Nath was so warm and close to his fans. Carrie loved it. He treated them very well, unlike the other celebrities. Some celebrities would just smile at their fans. Nathan just treats his fans as if they're family.

The day ended shortly, leaving Carrie tired. Today, she saw the other side of Nathan. He knew how to love and treat someone right, and it made Carrie love him even more. He would make a great dad someday.

As she lay on her bed, fingers trailing the soft, silk sheets, She reminisced their trip today. Big Ben was indeed a great sight to visit. She could still hear it chiming in her ears. 

Suddenly, her phone buzzed. She struggled to reach for her phone by the bedside table and finally got hold of it. 

It's a call from an unknown caller. 

"Hello?" Carrie asked.

"Bradley, hey. Hi." Sebastian replied.

"Sebastian?" she asked, "Hiii!"

He laughed. "Hey. Did you miss me?"

She sighed. "Of course! Why'd you call?"

"Oh, I was just wondering if we could Skype? I really want to see you right now."

"Sure." Carrie told him, and turned on her brand new MacBook. "So, is there an exam tomorrow? Have you reviewed yet?" 

Sebastian chuckled. "Nah. I'm not planning to ace today's exam at all." 

Carrie raised his eyebrows. "Today?"

"Yeah, it's currently 4 a.m. here." Sebastian informed her.

Carrie gasped. "Oh, right! Time difference! So you woke up at 4 a.m.," she cut off.

"Just to hear your voice, and hopefully see you."

Carrie realized that she was stuck between two men. She was stuck, as if she was entangled in a sticky, spider web, unable to free herself from two spiders that were crawling towards her slowly. Carrie shook her head, trying to make up her mind, but she couldn't choose. She realized that she loved them both.