Lana Greenwood quickly walked out of the airport doors into the London air and took a breath.
'I finally made it,' thought Lana, as she hurried to the line of taxis waiting.
After a twelve hour flight, nothing sounds more enjoyable than a long bath. Lana, with the help of her driver, packed her luggage in the backseat.
"Where to, miss?" ask the taxi driver, as they both settled into their seats.
Lana gave him the address on the envelope in her hand. The taxi pulled away from the curb and into the airport traffic. Though she would have liked to start snapping pictures, she wasn't ready to put the envelope down, or be considered a typical tourist.
The name Alexander Birmingham was quickly scratched above the address she had given the driver. It was hard to believe that it had been three years since she had seen him. He was one of the reasons she had braved an airplane here. The other being her best friend, and Alex's younger brother, James was getting married in six weeks. She was supposed to be here in another two weeks, but she didn't want to wait anymore. She had thought about calling but surprises were always better.
Her necklace shift and she, unconsciously, placed her hand on the ring that rested on her heart. Three years had been too long to have seen either of them but Alex had sworn, when he came to college in London, they would get married after he graduated.
Though they were the same age, at five-years-old, James was the cool boy who would play house and dolls with her while Alex, then eight-years-old, was the big meanie that always teased her about being ugly, pushed her, and hid her toys from her. While she was in 2nd grade, he had even cut a big chunk of her hair off, just because the other boys wanted to see her cry more. For Lana that was the day she learned never to cry or show pain in public. Alex's parents had grounded him for two months.
The years from 3rd grade to middle school were bliss for Lana. She got to see James every day and not have to worry about Alex being up to any of his tricks. She would visit, or stay the night at the James's house only to hear that Alex would be off somewhere friends. "I don't want to be around when a noisy girl is in the house," is what Lana was told he would say. That sat just fine with Lana. But as time went on, and puberty hit, Lana knew it wouldn't be too long before she had to see Alex again in high school.
Lana smiled to herself. The memory of seeing Alex's reaction when she walked across the auditorium to James had made all the years under his torture worth it. Before they went to join the rest of the 9th graders, Lana had turned to him and said "Suck it", leaving him, and his friends, with dumbfounded faces. Three months later, Lana and Alex had gone on their first date.
It didn't make sense to Lana either but there it was. Alex had even confessed to liking her since elementary. They continued to date up until her graduation three years later. During those years, Alex had attended a community college then decided to transfer to London. Before he left, Alex had given her the ring and asked that they get married after his graduation.
Originally, James had wanted to travel the world fresh out of high school. "I don't want to be tied down just yet," he had said. Lana giggled again. If only she could go back to that moment and say, "Says the guy who is going to find his soul mate the moment he steps out of the airport on his first stop."
Lana had been floored when James called her to say he was staying in London. He had fallen in love with the handsome British ballroom dancer named Charles Hayward. Love at first sight he had said. At first Lana was worried, but after a few calls, Skyping and messaging, she wished him the best and now they were to be married in six weeks.
"Almost there, miss," said the taxi driver.
Lana came out of her thoughts and looked around. Identical houses lined either side of the street. She shoved the envelope into her purse. The taxi pulled up in front of the house second from the end and Lana, so much in her excitement, paid the taxi driver and ran from the car to the door.
Lana heard the cries of the driver but she ignored them as she searched a nearby bush for the spare key Alex said would be there for her when she arrived. She hoped that he had put it out there when she had called him a few days ago. "You might be busy later, just do it now. That way you won't have to worry about it," She had urged.
Success! She quickly opened the door but stopped dead in her tracks as she stared down the hallway to the kitchen. There was Alex. His back to the door, pants around his knees, and thrusting into a girl, who was screaming for more.
Sick. She felt sick.
"Oi!" yelled the driver, starting up the walkway.
She didn't turn to the driver but Alex did and the look on his face turned from pleasure to horror.
Lana let out a sigh, locked the door from the inside of the house, and placed the key on the side table before slamming the door and heading back to the taxi.
"Look, I don't car-" the taxi driver began, carrying her bags.
"I'm sorry to inconvenience you but could you please take me somewhere else?" Lana said, passing the driver, not waiting for an answer.
The driver started to fuss again but stopped when the front door to the house opened.
"Lana, wait!"
Lana took the bags from the driver, tossed them in the taxi and got in. The driver hurried to his seat.
"Where to?" the driver asked.
"Anywhere but here, please," she managed before her throat closed up.
As, they pulled away, she ignored the shouting and banging on the taxi from Alex and focused on not thinking about the emotions she wanted to lash out. This was only her first day in London and already it was turning into a nightmare.