eloped.

Prologue

♡

The sun is hiding behind thin clouds when you step out of the plane, but the air is hot and damp like Tom warned you it would be. The airplane engines make your ears buzz as you pass by the crew in their daily routine, buried in the murmur of the crowd rushing to their next destination. Feeling a heavy breeze against your face, you try to ignore the odor of jet fuel, thinking of the aroma of sand and sea that you would meet soon.

As you walk into the airport, there's a banner above the door in the local Arabic and French languages, with the English translation in a smaller font right below it.

Welcome to Casablanca

You've come to Morocco because Tom is officially off work since yesterday, having finished filming his current project. He spent the past two weeks in the desert for something like war scenes, not that you knew much about it. He did want to tell you after he got cast, but you stopped him before he could, saying you preferred to be surprised. "I know I'm going to enjoy it either way, but I'd like to feel like my breath's been taken away from the first impact, y'know?"

Tom nodded then kissed you, proceeding to spend the rest of the day texting back and forth with his friends. You knew he was talking to them about what he would be working on, and you couldn't help but admire the bright grin he had on his face the whole day.

That's only a short memory that goes through your head on your way out of the airport. There's a sign with your name written on it and you approach the person holding it, studying their naturally tanned features and kind eyes. They greet you before they guide you to the car then drive you to the beautiful hotel right next to the sea. The reservation was made in one of Tom's fake names so that nobody could track him, and you had strict instructions to wait for him in the lobby.

Won't be long now, Tom's last text message reads, sent only a few minutes ago. You smile, replying that you're already here.

Can't wait to see you, he texts back with the two hearts emoji at the end. It's your trademark heart emoji, and he knows that so well.

As you wait, you think about what's going to happen after today. Tom is going to travel here from where he was staying for work, about an hour away from Casablanca. You'll be staying at this hotel for two nights so he can get some proper rest, and then youʼll go on a ten day escapade to Cyprus. It might be Tom's last opportunity to enjoy some time off in a while, after he spent Christmas and New Year's with his family. You accepted his invitation without a second thought and arranged everything back home so your daily life wouldn't be affected by these days off in paradise. Well, maybe not paradise since it's only January, but any place would be warmer than London this time of year.

You're lost in your musings when someone clears their throat to your right, calling out for you.

You look up and the same friendly face that welcomed you at the reception earlier is staring back at you now, smiling politely as they turn back around so you can see past them.

And there he was. Tom in baggy jeans and a stamped white hoodie, a backpack hanging off his shoulders, smiling expectantly.

Tom.

♡

The wrap party was a blast. Everybody was exhausted, but they all had fun. Tom paid for dinner, again, not that he would ever brag about it to anyone. It was the only way he could thank the wonderful team that worked with him and treated him so well on this film. That and the heart-warming messages he had handwritten to every single one of them, cast, extras or crew. Truth is, he would always do everything in his power to make them feel useful and appreciated.