DUCHAS (The Drive Within, Book 2 in Baile series)

Chapter 21 Young and Beautiful

Isla

"I got that summer time, summer time sadness. I got that summer time, summer time sadness, oh, oh oh, oh." Our choir group warmed up our vocal cords on the bus with a medley of Lana Del Ray songs.

"We should throw some Marina and the Diamonds in the mix." April scrolled through one of her many playlists for our next song. "I've got it." She tapped on the song, which happened to be Sex Yeah.

"Speaking of...that." I was reluctant to explicitly say what I did.

"What?" April was only half paying attention as she scrolled through Pinterest for makeup ideas.

"You know how Riley came with me to the Isle?" I took it slow.

"Mhm." She continued to scroll, pin and save.

"We had a lot of time to...grow."

April turned to look at me, her expression conveying her upmost confusion. "What were you growing?"

"Riley and I had sex." I finally said it.

April's eyes bulged. "Holy crap!" She pulled me into her arms. "I'm so happy for you."

"Thanks." I squirmed in her grasp.

"You have to tell me everything." She tucked her phone away, showing her seriousness.

I should have expected this.

"On a scale of one to ten, how good was it?"

I rolled my eyes. "Do I have to answer that?"

"Of course you do. I tell you about my conquests."

"Riley isn't a conquest." It was so objective.

"Fine, please answer the question."

I sighed, smiling to myself as I thought about all the memories we made at the Isle. "Eleven."

"Ooo." April pinched my cheek. "Somebody had fun. I'm so jealous right now."

"It has been a while since you last hooked up with someone." I realised.

"It's been an eternity." It was April's turn to sigh. "But there will be plenty of time in London, and plenty of English boys."

I smiled her newfound enthusiasm, looking away to join in the remainder of the Marina's song.

Hours passed until we reached Dublin, boarding a flight that would take us straight to London. Our families would arrive a couple of days later, we needed time to settle into a hotel and prepare for our biggest song ever.

I took a window seat, constructing a nest of pillows for April and I as we fell asleep among the stars.

I opened my eyes to find I was lying on my back, sailing through the night sky. I sat up, discovering that I was sitting on the roof of the plane. I stood up, balancing with ease as the cool air kissed my skin and combed my hair.

'I've seen the world, done it all, had my cake now.' Lana's voice flittered my way through the sky. 'Diamonds, brilliant, in Bel-Air now.' My feet began to move to the song. 'Hot summer nights, mid July, when you and I were forever wild. The crazy days, city lights.' A familiar figure was outline in stars before me on the plane. 'The way you'd play with me like a child.' I reached out to take his hand. 'Will you still love me when I'm no longer young and beautiful?' The stars dispersed and I danced about the plane looking for my love. 'Will you still love me when I've got nothing but my aching soul? I know you will, I know you will. I know that you will. Will you still love me when I'm no longer beautiful?' I turned around to face the starry outline of my love. 'I've seen the world, lit it up, as my stage now.' The stars brightened before me. 'Channeling angles in a new age now. Hot summer days, rock and roll, they way you play for me at your show. And all the ways, I got to know, your pretty face and electric soul.' I cupped his face with my hand. 'Will you still love me, when I'm no longer beautiful? Will you still love me, when I've got nothing but my aching soul? I know you will, I know you will. I know that you will. Will you still love me when I'm no longer beautiful?' The stars danced with me, in all manner of colour. 'Dear lord, when I get to heaven please let me bring my man.' His hand found my own and we danced in harmony. 'When he comes tell me that you'll let him in, father tell me if you can. All that grace, all that body. All that face, makes me wanna party. He's my sun.' The sun peeked over the horizon. 'He makes me shine like diamonds.' My skin lit up white like diamonds in comparison to his orange and yellow ambiance. 'Will you still love me, when I'm no longer young and beautiful.' Her voice faded and the plane jolted beneath me and the stars dissipated, my luminescent skin dulling in hue. The wind grew too strong and I was thrown into the air, falling far away from the metal bird.