"Good old British weather," I said as I took in the rain around me. I didn't mind it at all. I had missed it if anything. "I can't believe I'm home."
"Neither can I," Mum said. We wheeled all of our bags towards the car as we told her everything about the trip. "You better have got me things." She laughed as we all piled into the car.
"I'm so hungry," James complained as he held his stomach to make his point. "What's for dinner?"
"We're going out," she answered with a shrug. "Nowhere fancy but I didn't have time to prepare anything and I don't want your Dad and Jessica thinking I can't cook anything properly."
"Don't be so stupid," Tyler said. "Jessica can't cook anything to save her life. Even Ella is a better cook than her. Dad does all the cooking in their house."
We caught up as we drove home through the streets of London. I smiled as I saw the street teeming with people. Although it was very similar to New York it was also very different. There were different atmospheres in New York and London. They may look similar on a map or in a photo but in reality they were polar opposites. London was home.
Dad and Jessica had taken the opportunity to fly out to London and stay for a few days. Thankfully, they weren't staying with us. I wouldn't have minded greatly if they had I just wanted home to be home. I wanted everything to be the same as it was when I left.
"You've got half an hour to get ready," Mum said as we walked through the door. I grabbed my case and ran for the stairs.
"I get the bathroom first," I shouted as I dragged my case after me. "It's only fair. I've got the most hair."
I heard my brother laughing as they pretended to chase me but they didn't protest. It was still raining out so I didn't dress up too much. I put my hair up in a bun quickly and slapped some make-up on my cheeks and I was done. I wasn't one for making a fuss when I was going out.
As I joined the rest of my family in the kitchen I realised they weren't either.
"The taxi is outside," Mum said as she came into the kitchen. "Are you all done?"
We followed her outside and clambered into the taxi. She gave the driver the restaurant name and we were off. It didn't take long to get there at all, which was a very good thing. I was starving.
"So, when are you meeting up with that Brooklyn?" James whispered in my ear as I sipped my drink. I managed not to choke on it before turning to him.
"Does Mum know about that party you threw last year when she was out?" I whispered back and watched his face whiten slightly.
"What party are you talking about?" Mum said as she turned towards us.
"That fashion one Ella went to when she was in New York," James said quickly. "Have you showed Mum the pictures yet?"
"Ella," I heard someone shout as they came through the door. "I've missed you so much."
I ran up to my best friend and hugged her tightly. "What are you doing here?"
"Your Mum invited me," Evie answered with a smile. "I can't believe your back."
We spent the next hour catching up on things. She gave me all the gossip from school which Brooklyn failed to mention every time we talked. I told about everything that happened in New York - well most things. I would have to wait to tell her about some things, until my parents weren't around. Or my brothers.
"Jade is going after Brooklyn," she said. "She keeps flirting with him. She asked him to go out to the cinema with her as well."
"What did he say?" I asked nervously. I had made my mind up about Brooklyn and I didn't want it to be ruined. I had spent long enough thinking about it.
"No," she said. "He told her he was too busy to go out with a skank and he had someone he was interested in."
I nodded as if I wasn't too bothered but I was giddy with happiness. I turned my attention back to the chocolate cake that was sitting in front of me for a minute or so.
"What's wrong Ella?" Evie said to me quietly as everyone chatted amongst themselves.
"I'm going to pop outside," I said to Mum. "I've lost a ring I think it might be out there."
Evie followed me outside and we both sat down on the curb. "He was there with me, for some of it." I said quietly to her. "We spent a few days together and it was brilliant. I really like him and I can't wait to see him again. But, I'm nervous."
"Are you talking about Brooklyn?" she asked.
I nodded at her and pulled out my phone. I showed her the photos of our time together in New York.
"I told him about Zac. I told him everything Evie," I said. "It felt right. I cried to him in the middle of New York."
"Don't be nervous," she said back as squeezed my arm in encouragement. "It will all be fine." She continued to look through the photos I had taken. "Just think about what you're going to say and don't babble." Her eyes caught on something behind me but she hugged my before I could turn around to see what it was.
"I'm going back to finish that chocolate cake," she said to me with a laugh. "Think things through for a few minutes. I will tell them that you are in the toilet."
She left and I still sat there, shivering every once in a while. I felt someone sit next to me but I didn't look up, it was probably only Tyler or James.
"You're freezing," the person commented after a minute or so. I looked up and smiled as I saw Brooklyn sitting next to me.
"What are you doing here?" I asked him as I bashed his knee with my own.
"Well, I was meant to be here an hour ago but there was a delay with the tubes and I may have got lost a few time." He smiled at me before draping his jacket over my shoulders. "I came to see you, of course.
I tipped my head onto his shoulder. "You missed the main meal but there is still cake left." I felt him laugh quietly but he didn't say anything. "I'm sorry." I whispered to him. "About making you wait and everything."
"It's fine," he said. "I've been thinking and even if you are about to crush my heart it will be a privilage to have my heart crushed by you."
"I'm not going to crush your heart," I whispered to him. "Yes, Brooklyn, I will go out with you even if you were too cowardly to ask me face to face." I tipped my head up to look at him as we both smiled at each other.
He kissed me softly on the lips. "I'm glad you didn't crush my heart," he whispered to me.
"I'm glad I didn't as well," I whispered back. And, I truly wasn't.
