LA to The Bay

Chapter 55: Santa Monica

Shutters on the Beach, Santa Monica, California

I lie on my bed in this hotel of opulence, spectacularly placed next to the ocean, the very antithesis of the Motel Hell and its grubby car park, yet I haven't got a single clue what I meant to do with myself now I'm here.

I'd booked myself in here deliberately, knowing that I would need some time out and indulgence after so long on the road, but instead of offering the relief I had planned for the silence is getting to me like the tick tock of a Grandfather Clock at bed time that just won't go away. But the worst part is that I can't even hear a clock ticking; it's just a vacuum of silence.

I rest my head on to a plump pillow but it's softness fails to comfort me. I'm all alone and without any nonsense chatter going on around me its only now that I realise that in a few days time I'll be back to selling sausage rolls like none of this ever happened. All my freedom stripped from me once more. Freedom I've just taken for granted and complained about since I got here. Whilst the rest of them continue on their merry way. Leah will no doubt start the whole thing all over again, Lottie and Louis are headed to Miami, the Models Inc. to New York and Harry? It strikes me that I haven't a clue what Harry will be doing when he gets back to London. Does he even have a job back home? There are still so many questions I've yet to ask him; it never having occurred to me to ask before. And that's not out of selfishness, it was just a consequence of the warped reality we'd adjusted to by being on the road and moving between towns; that was what we did, that was our reality. Except there is life beyond the coach and it never occurred to me that he might have an alternative life of his own too.

But now it's too late and I'll never find out because he's gone, and all because I was too much of a dumbass to ask him to stay, and so I'm here, staring at my navel and enjoying room service for one as my punishment.

I look at the clock, it's 2.30pm. He'll be at the airport by now, checking in for his flight back to London, whilst I stare out at the ocean dreaming of what could have been.

Get a grip Niamh! That's what you're thinking and so that's what I'm doing, never mind this fancy hotel robe I'm wearing, I need to get moving and get to the airport pronto.

'Airport please.' I shout at the driver as I jump in to a taxi.

'You in a hurry Miss?' It's like a scene from a movie, we're stuck in a traffic jam and the clock is ticking and all the time the driver seems more than content to witter on about all the now A list celebrities he went to school with whilst he's just a taxi driver, but that's just his typical luck, right?

'I should have been the next Bruce Willis.' He's still mumbling to himself as we finally pull up at departures.

'Why thank you Miss.' I hear his voice trail as I throw a 100 at him and run in to the departure hall, desperately searching the boards, searching for the flights to London.

'Niamh, what are you doing here?'

As if by magic he's just walked through the door, his back pack slung over his shoulder nonchalantly. Except he's not running like I am, he's swaggering and looking just as cool as always.

'Are you just getting here?' I spit at Harry. 'You'll miss your flight.' I feel panicked for him, how can he be so laid back when it comes to check in?

'I did the walking tour of Hollywood since I've got loads of time.' He shakes his head at me despairingly. 'Anyway, what are you doing here?'

What am I doing here, that is a good question.

'I...' My voice trails as I think to myself.

'Yes.' He looks at me expectantly.

'I don't want you to go.' I blurt out at him finally. 'I want you to stay with me.'

'And why do you want that?' I'm not sure if he's just torturing me by getting me to say it, again; it's like he almost enjoys dragging these confessions out of me.

'Because I love you too, you dim wit.' I fluster my arms about in front of him. 'You know I do. You've know it since you kissed me in Las Vegas. Since before then even.'

I await his response but he is silent. He really is enjoying the moment, or maybe I just got it wrong.

'I mean I only want you to stay with me if you want to too.' I'm blabbering. I can't believe I've done this, rushed over here like a fool and declared myself to him, only for him to turn round and reject me, which is exactly what he's about to do.

His eyes curl up cheekily from beneath their hooded lids, 'I'd love to.' He finally speaks and from the half smile he is giving I can sense that he too is almost embarrassed by my crazy declaration. But I push the embarrassment I am feeling to side and reach out for his hand and he leans down to kiss me, really kiss me, before we turn around and head right back to the taxi rank, all the time still holding on to each other like we don't actually believe it.

'Santa Monica please driver.' Harry instructs as he throws me on to the back seat just like in the beginning.

'Can you believe it?' I beam.

'I know right?' He is grinning too; the unmistakable beautiful dimpled grin that only he can bare.

'That we are actually here.'

His face suddenly becomes confused like that's not what he was expecting me to say.

'In America.' I clarify.

'Erm we've been here for the last three weeks, remember?'

'I know that silly, but it feels like we're arriving all over again, except this time it's just the two of us.'

As the light returns to his face he leans in to kiss me and I go right ahead and kiss him right back.

***

"Welcome to Hollywood! What's you're dream? Everybody comes here because this is Hollywood, land of dreams." Happy Man, Pretty Woman.

Authors note: thank you so much to everyone who has taken the time to read my story. I truly hope you enjoyed it and I can't thank you enough. I realise the ending might be a bit cliché but i've done unresloved endings before so wanted to go for the happy ever after this time, although knowing Niamh and Harry they will be arguing before they even makeeping it back to Santa Monica.

Since this is also a 1d fanfiction I thought I ought really upload one of their songs. Given the point in the story and the fact that Niamh and Harry have come full circle from their starting point I thought it apt to add History as the theme tune for the ending. I hope you agree?