Falling Angel

Chapter 3

The plane ride was due to take around 13 and a half hours, with one possible stop in the middle. It felt longer with the constant scream of a young child 3 seats behind or the obnoxious music bursting out of the earplugs of a girl who was similar age to myself, but, eventually we arrived at what would have been around mid afternoon in England but was early morning in Vancouver. Stepping off the plane I grimaced at my reflection in the windows of the terminal. My hair was matted, pushed awkwardly to one side, my entire face reflected tiredness and the bags under my eyes seemed to have tripled in size, but I didn't bother stopping in the bathroom to fix myself. Tonight, there was to be a cast party as this was a special episode we were filming, the 300th episode. There were 4 times the amount of extras than there usually is and therefore a party seemed like a good way to get to know who we would be working with. We were to start, formally, tomorrow. 

I soon found the taxi, waiting outside the Vancouver Airport Terminal, that had been arranged to pick me up and take me to my hotel. The silently polite driver took my enormous bag and heaved it into the trunk before opening the backseat door for me to clamber in quite inelegantly and him shut it behind me again. The driver started up the engine already knowing exactly where we were going and headed in that direction whilst I enjoyed the silence of this taxi, in contrast to the bustling terminal and loud plane. The journey took only around half an hour which was spent in pleasant silence and when we arrived I tipped the driver generously for having being such well needed company, quiet and courteous. This was what I needed as I was slowly beginning to feel the clawing of nerves at my insides. The driver gently tipped his auburn head at me in a silent thanks after passing me my case, then turned slowly with a small smile as he clambered back into his seat and pulled out of the drop-in parking. Seeing the loss of my last escape panicked me knowing that I couldn't go back on this now. It was time for my adventure to begin.

        I made my way into the hotel. From the outside it looked intimidating and posh. The golden lettering of the name swirled over the red velvet canopy. La Romanichel. Even the name sounded lavish and overawing. I followed the cobblestones up to the door and pushed the glass against my pale palm. It swung open easily and led into another daunting room of chandeliers and lush carpets. I felt very underdressed and ugly in the crystal lights. I kept my head low down and stepped quietly and carefully through the silent room to the check-in desk which remained empty. Not wanting to draw attention to myself I hesitated a second before smacking my hand against the old-fashioned bell on the desk. Almost immediately a young man with blonde hair, dressed in a tux, came to the desk smiling broadly at me, his eyes slightly twinkling.

"How can I help you, madam?"

"Er, umm" I fumbled momentarily pulling out my letter that showed evidence of my allowance to stay here. "I, uh, have this, to stay here..." I handed it over to him and he quickly scanned it as I chewed on my lip nervously.

"Yep, everything seems to be in order, let me just collect your keycard." He folded up the letter and handed it back to me before dissapearing into a room behind the desk from where he came.I quickly shoved it into my back pocket and regained my composure slightly.

"Here you go, room 275 on the 4th floor." He handed it me gently, passing me a pleasant smile as he did so.

I returned the smile."Thankyou."

"No problem."

I dragged the handle out of my suitcase and headed  for the elevator. My stomach turning over and over as the thoughts of what my next few days would bring churned through my head.