Our time in London has come to an end and we are now waiting at the airport for the private jet to be ready for lift off. Mara and DJ are joining us but DJ is not returning to work yet. His recovery has been going well but he is still in a lot of pain from the burns; his company is for Mara and not to work which we will constantly have to remind him.
Mara was kind enough to pack extra clothes for Hero and I because most of our clothes for London are for cooler weather and we are about to travel the world, London weather is not consistent throughout the world.
First thing I do when I get on the jet is give DJ a gentle but meaningful hug. "How are you feeling?" DJ moves his head down to my level and whispers in my ear, for Hero and Mara not to hear him, "No need to thank me. I'm glad I could help you and I'm especially glad I can help Hero. That boy cannot be without you." He lifts his head back up and I smile at him, acknowledging what he's said to me and make my way to the couch on the plane. Hero sits with me and questions me for thirty minutes about what DJ said to me but I choose to ignore him. The pilot then makes an announcement, "First stop: New York!" My heart sinks. Hero taps me on the shoulder, knowing how close we are going to my old home. I choose to forget that my family's home is only a short drive away from our first stop, and I choose to instead just enjoy the plane ride with everyone.
* * *
When we leave the airport, it is clear we are no longer in London. The air is foggy and smells of pollution, the streets are overly crowded and it is very hot. The limo picking us up has it's AC on which helps because I'm in pants and a long sleeve, waiting to change when we get to the hotel. It's only 1PM when we get to the hotel—of course we get the luxurious presidental suit. Once we are settled in, Hero asks me, "Do you want to go to Providence today? We have time and the interview isn't until noon tomorrow." I am slightly ignoring him but also thinking of whether or not I want to go. I do have old friends there but then again, most of the people from my home town probably hate me.
My parents were very involved in their community. They always participated in community events and they were well off, so they finically supported the communtiy as well. I used to love the community Fourth of July BBQ, we would close off our street, everyone would take out their bbqs and we would all flip burgers and hot dogs. My parents supplied food and decorations for majority of the street and everyone pitched in for booze. When I turned 16, I stopped going with my parents and started going to my friends' parties instead. After they passed, the first fourth was really depressing.
Hero manages to convince me to take him to my hometown, as long as we remain on the down low. "You know that I'm with you. Staying on the DL will be impossible with me." I try to talk him out of it but he is set on going. Hero calls the limo to meet us out front, the street is covered with screaming fans as we drive away. The fans are every where all the time, always screaming. London was nice, we could walk outside without being approached and even if we were approached, no one was screaming. It's like in London, people know that it is his home and they respect him but here there is no respect for his privacy.
It takes us a little over an hour to get to my home town, traffic was a bitch in the city. I stare out the window of the limo, watching as we pass by all the familar streets; the park I use to swing at as a child and the secret spot I used as a makeout spot with all my past boyfriends. We drive past the place where my first kiss was; behind the row of trees that outlined the school yard. His name was Carter Wallace and we were only in grade five. He was a skateboarder and I liked the way he'd wear his snapback hat backwards. We were playing soccer on the field and Carter asked me to go with him, so I did and on our way to the trees, he put his snapback on my head and the grade five butterflies filled my stomach in that moment. I'll never forget that. Once we were hidden from the teachers on duty, and both our friends stood guard, Carter peaked my mouth with the fastest and yet, one of the most memorable kisses I'll ever have. After grade 7, Carter moved and I never saw the boy that took my first kiss ever again.
The limo driver asks for directions and as we go on, I eventually tell him to turn right onto Brier Court. All the houses look the same. In between two homes, is an empty lot and I ask the driver to pull over. Once the car is stoped, I regrettably get out of the car and stand in front of the empty lot. Hero gives me a few seconds alone before leaving the car to stand by my side. I stare at the empty lot where a house was once built on. "This was it, wasn't it?" He asks but he already knows. I nod my head and Hero takes my hand in his. The moment his skin touches mine, relief fills my body and warmth takes over the pain and anxiety I was feeling at the sight of the emptiness of this lot. I take a deep breath in and within seconds, before I can release my breath, the moment of relief is taken away from me.
"Madden?" A voice calls from behind us. "Is that you?" I recognize the voice, she's very nazely, as if she always has a cold. I turn to face the nameless voice, the voice of the girl I grew up with; my neighbour and old friend. Her face has aged but it could be from all the makeup she is wearing; her blonde hair is no longer short, it's grown past her shoulders now. She steps closer to Hero and I; I look up at him, squeezing his hand in mine as tight as I can, looking for that feeling of warmth again. "It is you?" I can hear the uncertainty in her voice; she never expected me to come back. "Sofia. Hi." I don't have anything to say and even if I did, I don't have time nor do I want to catch up. I just want to leave right now. This was a bad idea. The two of us, stand awkwardly looking at each other and for once Hero isn't noticed. Luckily, Hero breaks the silence, "Hey, I'm Hero Tomlin. Madden's boyfriend," and he sticks his hand out for a shake. She shakes his hand, her small grin turns into a full on, teeth-showing smile. "Sofia Veras, Madden's...old neighbor." Hero takes a step back again, to be in line with me. Sofia tries to break the silence by bringing up Noah being in jail but I nod my head to say no, as in do not speak of him.
It's odd, standing here in front of the empty lot where my house once stood and I am paralyzed by complete silence; having my childhood bestie stand only inches from me. Sofia used to come over every day so we could jump on my trampoline and then we would go to her house for dinner because her mother was the better cook. There was not a single day that we didn't spend together until I left for college. Sofia stayed here, taking a year off to help her mother who became very ill with cancer. I abandoned my best friend, for a chance to live on residence, without my parents and instead found myself in a disaster that cost me everything. If I took the year off with her, like we had originally planned, I wouldn't have met Noah. Then again, if I stayed here, I probably would have never met Hero and that thought scares me.
"I better get going. It was nice to see you again Madden. I'm glad you are happy." As she begins to turn away, I blurt out, "How's your mother?" She turns back to face me again, tears fill her eyes; I've asked the wrong question. "She passed two months ago." My face says my condolences but the words don't seem to leave my mouth. I watch as my once before friend walks into her home and it's as if all of our memories fade when she shuts the front door behind her.
* * *
I rest my head on the pillow and cannot get myself to sleep. Hero tries to ask me what's going on in my head but I avoid the question. I don't really know what I am thinking; I don't really have any thoughts. Instead of getting any sleep to prepare himself for his interview, Hero turns on the light and takes out cards. "Time to destress!" We both sit up, and he sets up Spit, my favourite card game because I am ultimately the best at it. We play five rounds and each time, I win. It's now past 3AM and Hero is suppose to be up by 9AM in order to prep for the interview. We take another shot at sleeping and without any issues, I find myself drifting into the darkness with Hero's warm and barely clothed body pressed against mine.
YOU ARE READING
Temptation
FanfictionHe's the celebrity everyone knows and loves, at 22 years old he's the highest paid actor in America. A British boy who lives under the spotlight falls madly in love with a woman who cannot be seen by cameras. For months she's been hiding from her pa...
