Chapter 1

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Christine huffed as she twirled her pen between her fingers.
She stared down at the blank page, wracking her brains for any ideas. But none came.
Christine sighed before putting down her pen and standing up to stretch.
Her muscles ached from sitting at her desk for too long but Christine had to sit at her desk. It was her job.
The small ping from her phone told her that she had received a message. She put her thumb on the home button, which recognised her thumb print, before opening the message.
It was from Molly.
Molly Blake was Christine's best friend and the person Christine could count on the most. Molly was a scriptwriter so she knew all about writer's block but unlike Christine's, they didn't last very long. Molly was like an idea machine. And it wasn't just that she came up with a lot of ideas. She came up with a lot of good ideas.
Molly had often offered her ideas to Christine, but Christine always passed.
She didn't want to take Molly's ideas because that would mean taking credit that wasn't rightfully hers. And if it came out that she had taken an idea off a friend or if Christine herself released it, then people might start to think that all her ideas were pinched off other people.
Christine's last novel, Rumour Has It, had been a huge hit and Christine had no idea how to follow up on it. It was a standalone so she couldn't just add another book to it but she was out of ideas.
She gazed around her office taking in the sunlight streaming in through the window on her left. It was a quiet room, almost isolated from the rest of the house. The room was divided by an invisible line, one half had a desk, laptop, copies of manuscripts and a copy of each of Christine's published works.
The other half had a huge big armchair and shelves of books, all of them loved. Needless to say, it was Christine's favourite room in the house.
Christine glanced back at her phone.

Hey
Hey Molly, what's up?
Wanna go on some crazy adventure?
Sure why not? It's not like I'm doing anything better.
😂😂
Where and when?
I'll call around tomorrow. Have enough clothes for a month as well as a passport.
...
Come on!
I'll see you tomorrow
Yes!

Christine read back over the texts.
What have I gotten myself into?
***
Christine stood at the window, butterflies in her stomach. What was Molly about to do? Where were they going? A month seemed like a long time to be away.
What were they going to do?
Christine was relieved when Molly pulled up, as she would finally get some answers.
Oh, how she was wrong.
"Molly, where are we going?" Christine asked as soon as she had buckled up.
"Nah uh, not until we're on the plane."
"But by the time were on the plane, I'll have seen the tickets or heard the announcements."
"Ah well."
"No! Molly that was the part where you were to realise that you were wrong and that it would be easier to cut out the middle man!"
"This isn't one of your books Christine," Molly smirked as she pulled out of the driveway. "Let's just say, it may help you with your writer's block."
Christine grumbled, but looked slightly happier with the arrangements.
It wasn't that long a car journey to get to the airport, they were dotted all around America.
Christine and Molly made their way through customs. Since they had to pack a lot, they had to pay for their luggage which Christine was almost relieved about. She wasn't sure she could've lugged it all around the airport, much less heave it onto the security conveyer belt.
It wasn't until they were in the line to board the plane that Christine found out where they were going.
"Cork Airport, Ireland? How exactly is this going to help me come up with a story idea?"
"Because," Molly whispered ecstatically as Christine leaned in closer. "I'm going to take you on mad adventures in Ireland!"
Christine drew her head black sharply.
"Very exciting I'm sure Molly, but that doesn't mean you get to squeal very loudly. In my ear."
Molly couldn't help herself. She threw her head back and laughed.
"See, this is why you're an author and I'm a scriptwriter. I'm dramatic and you have wit."
"You know what Molly? That's the nicest thing somebody has said to me all week."
"You haven't left the house since last week, have you?"
"No."

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