Lost

Chapter 1

For visual purposes, I imagine Luca to look like Lili Reinhart and Eli to look like Cole Sprouse. The rest of the characters are up to you. Ok, read on.

Luca

I twiddle with my thumbs as I glance up at my watch repeatedly. Looking out of the plane window, I see the snow that scatters the ground and trees. 

It really looks like a winter wonderland.

Before I know it, Mr. Briggs, the chaperone for my trip, taps me on the shoulder and tells me to get my stuff together so we can get off the plane. 

He does a quick headcount to make sure we're all here, and then we begin walking towards the baggage claim. I feel his hand pull my shoulder back.

"Luca, don't push yourself too hard for these next few months. Annie would've wanted you to have a good time. Promise me you'll tell me if you need a break?"

I blink a few times before responding. "You got it, Mr. Briggs. Sir, yes sir. Yup. All good."

He gives me a puzzled expression, and then walks away.

I refuse to let Annie's death get to me this week. I've been crying nonstop for the past 4 weeks, and came close to backing out of my trip.

However, my aunt spent a few nights convincing me that I have to go. Studying abroad in London is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I know that I would be stupid to pass it up. 

However, I couldn't help but think how my best friend, Annie, would have loved this trip. She had always been the more cultured one out of us. She would yell at me when I couldn't use chopsticks properly, critique my French speaking mistakes, and correct my table manners at Spanish restaurants.

Annie and Luca. Luca and Annie. Where there was one, there was the other. However, where Annie was, there was also her oxygen tank. And, eventually, there was a wheelchair. 

Then, there was also a casket. And that was the end of Annie.

I was depressed for a few weeks until it declined into numbness. And that is where I am right now: void of any emotions.

Shaking these thoughts out of my head, I continue towards the baggage claim. I observe all the groups of friends who will be with me on this trip. I had no one with me, except for Mr. Briggs, who had always been a teacher-friend of Annie and I.

Annie actually used to always make fun of me for having a slight crush on Mr. Briggs. She was always the more risky one, so she would make it a point to leave me in a room alone with him, or make sure I would go to him for tutoring. It was ridiculous, and never failed to make me feel like a blushing child. 

We all grab our bags and begin to make our way to the bus that was waiting for us. 

I step onto the long tour bus, collapse in a seat, and look out the window.

I couldn't help the small smile that forced itself onto my face as I looked at the passing London scenery. 

Maybe this would be my happy ending.

The truth is that I planned to kill myself on this trip.

 I would do it away from my aunt so that she wouldn't have to find my body. Most people would gasp in terror at the thought of me doing this. But for me, death isn't so scary anymore. If Annie went through it, so could I. 

I still haven't decided how far into the trip I'll do it. I'll probably wait a few weeks before, so that I can at least get to know London a little bit. 

I fall asleep to the steady hum of the bus, and can't help but have dreams of Annie.