Prologue
My heart felt like it was in my throat as I fiddled with the satin hem of my dress. Why was I here? I'd been invited, but I sure as hell didn't belong.
I'd asked Jerry to stop down the road, so that I had a few seconds to pull myself together. I clenched and unclenched my fists nervously, ignoring the slight pain that bloomed from the crescent-shaped marks in my palm, willing each second to grow longer.
The venue was beautiful. Sunlight streamed down the walkway and palm trees waved gently in the distance. The red carpet was a slash of silk across the pavement, curving up the hotel stairs to the venue’s ornate double doors.
Stars were already arriving.
I watched as Bruno Mars waved to the crowds—his fedora tilted stylishly. He slung one arm around Michael Buble for the cameras. I saw Selena Gomez in the distance, chatting cheerfully to the press. Her management team raced around in a panic, doing their best to put space between her and Justin Beiber.
I felt my palms sweat.
What if he’s right there in front of me when I open those doors? What if he’s here with somebody else?
My breath caught in my throat. I wasn't ready for this. I'd never felt so fragile. One slight aberration and everything inside of me would come toppling down like a house of cards.
“Miss Price, are you alright?” My driver, Jerry, glanced up into the rearview mirror worriedly.
“I’m okay.” I mustered up a small smile. “Just a bit nervous is all.”
I couldn’t put it off any longer. I adjusted my dress one last time and swung open the door, letting my skyscraper heels hit the pavement. Nerves and adrenaline coursed through my body. My breathing quickened. My senses were on overload with the screaming of the crowd, the crashing of waves offshore and the gulls squawking overhead. The first thing I heard was;
“Oh my God! It's One Direction! Harry! Harry, I love you!"
My eyes lifted, and I spotted the boys on the red carpet in the distance. There he was. My heart stopped. They looked incredible as usual—each of them dressed individually, and yet, perfectly in sync. I watched as Louis leaned over and whispered something in Harry's ear. Harry chuckled, his green eyes shining as he shot the crowd his famous dimpled grin.
One last time. I told myself. One last event and you’ll never have to see him again.
The thought was supposed to keep me calm, but instead, it made my heart squeeze painfully in my chest. He hadn’t seen me yet. They were getting closer and closer to the doors, waving and pausing for the paparazzi as they went.
A light breeze danced through the air, lifting the locks of hair that had fallen from my braided up-do. The breeze carried the salty spray of the ocean nearby, and yet all I could feel was the sun bearing down on me, the commotion of traffic whirring behind me, as if time had stopped.
Time hadn't stopped, no matter how badly I'd wanted it to. And now, here I was.
The noise of screaming fans roared through me, as I took my first cautious steps onto the red carpet. Mila's floor-length gown fanned out like a ripple of silk in my wake. Here we go. I summoned up all the confidence I had and forced myself to smile.
“Ava! Ava! Over here! I love you!”
“Miss Price, Look this way!”
“Perfect, Ava! Give us a smile! Show us some leg!”
YOU ARE READING
Chasing Blue Roses
Humor"He was the type of guy who would break your heart into thirty million pieces and make sure you had the time of your life while he was doing it. It was the kind of heartbreak where after he was done, you'd drag yourself up off the ground, compl...
