The Escalator to Heaven

Prologue

"Quick- cute guy at one o'clock" my mum whispered into my ear.

"Yuck mum! we are in public you know." I hissed smiling.

I couldn't help turning slightly to my right though, looking for this cute guy. I decided to be critical as I searched through the long line of guys waiting at the juice bar. A well toned ginger haired boy turned my way and smiled, he was cute but there wasn't a chance, he looked exactly like Johnno, my ex, and that alone put me off. The next three guys were cute, but they were standing next to girls and I didn't want to be the girl who wrecked a relationship. I automatically skipped over the next ten or so guys as they looked around 40. When I realised I'd passed 'one o'clock', I backtracked my gaze, thinking maybe there was a diamond [cute guy] in the rough [the old men]. I was right, all middle aged men, my dad being one of them. I smiled at him as he caught my eye and winked and I realised he was who mum was talking about.

"Gross, mum" I complained half heartedly.

She just laughed and smiled at my expression. My phone beeped in my pocket and I smiled to myself. It was my best friend, Beatrice. She hated her name and got everyone to call her Bea. The only two people allowed to use her full name were her mum & her grandmother. The text read ' I'm at Target. Meet me in 10?' I quickly shot one straight back, 'sure, dad's just getting us juices and mum & I need dresses for Tash's wedding so I'll meet you at the barbie dolls.'

I spun around to see dad coming back with three juices. He held out my yellow juice and said dramatically "lemon, ornage and apple- for the princess. And for my queen- watermelon, kiwi fruit and banana", mum and I laughed and said our thanks while we headed off to Target.

As we left the main part of the mall, leaving dad to browse the technoloogy stores we laughed and chatted away about my older sister's upcoming wedding.

"Has Tash got her dress yet?" I asked mum.

"Yes. It's beautiful, it looks exactly like Nanna Josie's." she replied with tears in her eyes. My Nanna had died two months ago and Tash had promised she'd wear her dress- but when we found it it was ruined. Moths had gotten into the trunk it was kept in and eaten away all the lace. Luckily mum had lots of photos and Tash had gotten the dress maker to replicate it.

The Surrey Hills Mall is massive, it's situated into three distinct buildings. The first two are four storeys, packed out with shops, and the newest addition was the building esigned especially for Target. It was two storeys but it was big in it's own way. The opening was yesterday and the doors still had a steady stream of people coming in and out. I couldn't wait to see the opening sales.

As we entered through the large glass doors I was shocked by the amount of people in the one shop. I couldn;t hear myself think over the noise. I grabbed onto mum's hand and headed to the toy section, using the large overhead signs as a guide. I saw Bea waiting at the barbie dolls, playing a game on her phone. She looked up and squealed. I hadn't been able to spend time with my best friend in what felt like forever because I had beenn so busy helping Tash get the wedding stuff sorted.

Bea said hello to my mum formally, as she had been taught before enveloping me into a bear hug. Mum and Bea talked for a bit while I stood beside them, fidgeting eagerly as I couldn't wait to find the perfect dress for Tash's wedding but just as Mum went to leave an earth- shattering sound filled my ears. It sounded like the world was about to end. There was rumbles of sound, one starting immedietly after the last ended. I looked around, only to see people running, running for their lives I suppose. I turned to face mum and Bea when I realised what was happening, the store was collapsing. Mum grabbed onto to my hand and held it so tight it hurt. I contemplated running out, but I knew we couldn't make it in time. Mum reached out for Bea and held us both with the grip of  a Mama Bear, she screamed to us, "whatever happens! I love you both!"

And then my world faded to black.  

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Thanks for reading guys! Any feedback- good or bad is appreciated and I'll try to update loads.

Just for your information though:

Surrey Hills is a place in Sydney but the story isn't set in Sydney- it's not set in a particular country or anything.

This story is my own- I came up with the idea ages ago and I wrote a basic plan on my ipod and now I've decided to upload it.

CHECK OUT MY AWESOME FRIEND narnni3487. She has written three awesome stories-- check them out!!

Thank-you so much for reading and don't be afraid to comment or to shoot me a message (: