My desperate endeavor to find my whoever

5) Colin Firth

My 3 am alarm sounded, meaning I had to move my arse now or I'd miss the flight to America. Me and a couple of friends are spending our last month together before we all go off and do our own things. Lola, for example, was in a band and they'd just been signed by Pete Wentz, so she was off to Asia for the foreseeable and Ronnie-Mae was finishing off her gap year. Since November last year, she's been all over Europe and Asia; America was her next mission. She'd come home for a few days because of her mum's baby being born - after a holiday fling in Marbella. I'd been personally asked by Adam to actually go out early and meet up with him - I had no idea why though. I threw on my joggers and a random band shirt (which turned out to be Fall Out Boy) then tried to drag my suitcases down the stairs without making too much noise. I somehow succeeded and soon I was stood in the hallway surrounded by suitcases, waiting for Lola to pick me up.

"This is crazy..." I breathed.

I really am lucky. I always said I wanted to travel the world and now I'm well on my way. To top it all off, me and the girls are meeting up with an Australian girl who we met last year. Jenna she was called, and she was lovely. Her band were playing this 'Soundwave' festival in Australia, meaning we wouldn't be seeing much of her for a while but she promised to meet us before she and her band flew out to Oz and when they got back.

"Oh come on Lola..." I huffed.

I was really getting pissed off now. All I wanted was to get to the airport and basque in the feeling that I'm going to be on the other side of the world in a few hours time - okay, more than a few hours - and I just needed Lola to come and get me! I was about to send her an angry text when a car pulled up at the end of my driveway. I started to panic - it wasn't her car - but then her blonde head popped out of the sunroof and her signature cackle rang out.

"Come on, shit face!" she cackled - Lola always cackles when she's drunk.

"Keep your voice down!" I hissed as I dragged my suitcases out to her. "My dad's asleep!"

"Oh shit..." she whispered. "Night, Mr Costello!" she whispered a little louder, looking up at the window.

I shook my head as I walked back up to the driveway to get my last bag. As I went to set the alarm again, I had a sudden realisation. This is the most spontaneous thing I've ever done in my life; just walked away from everything with a few bags and friends to travel to the other side of the world. It's crazy. I feel like Colin Firth in Mamma Mia. I set the alarm and locked up, then went out to the car again. I realised Lola's dad was driving, seeing as she was off her tits drunk.

"Evening, Mr Trohman." I smiled.

"Morning, Erin." he winked back, looking at me through the rear-view mirror. "And I've told you before, call me Bill."

"Sorry, Bill." I blushed.

Yeah, my best friend's dad is related to Joe from Fall Out Boy. Be jel. The car ride to Ronnie's was slightly awkward, seeing as Lola was drunk and shouting out the window to random strangers, but I was relieved when we finally stopped outside her apartment block. I quickly got out as soon as we saw her, hugging her tightly and helping her with her bags.

"Hello, stranger!" I said down her ear, making her laugh. "Missed you, Ron."

"Oh don't get me started," she whined. "I'm just thankful to be spending time with you lot!"

I smiled half-heartedly, then leaned down to grab some of her things. It felt really weird that I was suddenly about to spend the next month with my friends, but two friends, in particular, won't be around. One's dead, while the other is dimly aware I exist...probably. He was constantly on my mind as me and Ronnie sat in the back of the car, having a good catch up while Lola practically cried down her dad's ear because he'd locked her window after she told a stranger he could shag her - well, shouted it out the window to him. Bill wasn't one for smut, especially from his own daughter.

"Lola, be quiet," he grumbled in his American accent.

"But dad-"

"Nope."

Me and Ronnie shared a silent giggle. It made me smile how different they were. Lola revelled in smut while her father wouldn't stand for it at all. The fact she was British and he was American. The little things make me laugh. I watched the world go by through the car window. A couple of planes flying over us suddenly turned into a load of planes and I knew we'd finally reached the airport. I felt my stomach churn a little, most likely out of fear what with this being my first time on a plane and all, but that was quickly put to rest when Ronnie wrapped her hand around mine.

"Baby E, you'll be fine," she assured.

I nodded quickly and went to get my bags off Bill. Lola was now crying in the front seat, probably the full effects of the alcohol setting in.

"I swear to god that girl's liver is gonna be fucked by the time she's 30." he sighed quietly. "Please look after her Erin? I wanna make sure she's safe."

"She'll be fine." I smiled.

I'm not entirely sure why I just agreed to keep Lola sober when I can barely look after myself. I put on this brave front all the time and I seem like I'm happy, but the fact of the matter is that I'm not as strong as I seem. But no matter what, I always seemed to keep it together for the sake of other people.