Heyy!
So a new story! In case you guys haven't heard yet but I am not going to be continuing my story 6 Snobby princes, or 6 old friends. To know more about it I've explained it over there. Sorry to all that I've disappointed or upset! I hope you enjoy this story though?
CHAPTER 1
"All passengers getting off at Gardenia, please proceed to the exit located at the front of the vehicle. Be sure to mind your step and carry all your belongings with you."
She pulled the earphones out her ears and stuffed them into her bag before hastily standing up and walking towards the door. The two heavy metal doors hissed as they were pulled apart letting in a cool breeze that caused her whole body to shiver.
"Thank you for travelling with CityHop, I hope you have a pleasant stay here in Gardenia." The announcement echoed throughout the bus as passengers arose from their seats and rushed towards the front.
Pocketing her phone, she quickly jumped off the bus, pulling her suitcase behind her and began making her way down the sidewalk. With the gentle breeze whipping her hair behind her, she tugged at her coat in attempt to seclude as much body heat as possible. She wasn't exactly used to the cold anymore. Not after living in sunny LA for the past 5 years.
She turned the corner at the end of the street and a smile immediately erupted her pale pink lips at the familiarity. As much as she dreaded coming back, she couldn't deny how much she missed this place. After all, it was her home for the 23 years she lived here.
Not wanting to draw any attention, she picked up her pace and made a beeline to her childhood home. Her heart beat increasing by every step. She climbed up the porch steps and stood in front of the large oak door, straightening her posture and patting down her hair, she took a deep breath before softly knocking on the door. She may not have regretted moving away, but it was safe to say that she hated leaving her family behind. But she did what she had to do and her family just had to understand. But at the same time she hadn't wanted to upset them – she knew how much her dad had wanted her to open her very own vet clinic here in Gardenia. And up until a few years back, it was her dream too – she'd been saving since she was 8! But things changed when she was scouted by a modelling agency in LA. That's when everything changed.
It took a while for someone to answer, but she went unaffected as she was too busy trying to calm down her nerves and withstand herself from having a panic attack out here on her parents porch.
Soon she heard footsteps getting closer to the door and her heart rate picked up. Just as she was about to make a run for it, the door swung open to reveal a tall, slim brunette female clutching on to the door handle.
"FLORA?!" The female screamed, shock and confusion tumbling out of her mouth.
"Myla…" She whispered looking down at her converses, too scared to speak because she knew if she so much as looked at the figure in front of her she'd lose control and have a meltdown on the spot.
"You're, you're here…?" Myla squeaked, her voice thick with emotion.
With this Flora's head snapped up and her eyes focused on the young woman in front of her. She swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded, still not trusting herself to say anything.
Myla shook her head slowly before closing her eyes shut. She let go of the door handle and placed her palms on her forehead, her head still shaking. Before Flora could do anything, she felt a weight being thrown at her and when she opened her eyes all she could see was strands of thick sandy brown hair belonging to not her, but her sister. That's when she lost control of her emotions, she could already feel the saline water brimming on her waterline before she closed her eyelids shut and let the tears run down her cheeks. Hearing her sister's own sobs, she tightened her grip on her back, not wanting to be the first to pull away.
"You're really here," Myla cried into her shoulder. Flora nodded in response.
"I've been gone too long I should think," Flora smiled as they finally broke apart. Wiping the tears from her pink cheeks, she reached for her sister's face before doing the same to her.
"I've missed you," Myla muttered.
"I missed you too, Myles."
"Do mum and dad know you're back?" Myla asked reaching for her older sister's suitcase.
Flora shook her head no; "I didn't know how to tell them that I'm coming back for a visit,"
"Oh," Myla spoke softly, she turned around and headed into the house, Flora following right behind her.
"Well you came back at an awfully wrong time," Myla said as she began climbing up the staircase, "Uhh, not that I'm not happy you're here, it's just that…well, you'll find out soon enough,"
Flora laughed before nodding, "Right. Wow, nothing's changed huh?"
"You're joking? Flora! How could you be so oblivious? Oh my God where are your glasses when you need them? We got new curtains! Look!"
"GOD Myles, I thought I overlooked something important," Flora frowned shaking her head causing Myla to giggle as she came to a halt in front of a white bedroom door.
"Well Gardenia hasn't been the same since that day, it's like there's this huge cloud hovering above us all – okay technically there is, but I meant metaphorically. Gardenia has literally been split in half in that stupid cliché movie way."
"What do you mean?" Flora asked as she pushed the door open and froze.
5 years.
A smile tugged at her lips as she slowly strolled into her bedroom. It had been 5 years since she'd entered here and all the nostalgia and memories hit her like a wrecking ball. She had to place her hand on the wall for support in case she fell over from the overwhelming image that was her room.
"Well, after that day, people have decided to take sides – some of them refusing to believe that you'd do something like that and others merely disappointed," Myla explained, "But forget that because we know the truth. Who cares what a bunch of dramatic assholes think, right?"
"Well, I did." Flora whispered.
"Yes but you're Flora Maxwell now. Freaking Victoria Secret model with a net worth of 13 million US dollars so I apologize if I sound snobby right now, but if anything, they should be fretting over what you think about them."
"And he's Helia McGregor. CEO of a multi-million dollar cooperation with a net worth of 18 million US dollars so I apologize if I sound like a wuss but no, I most definitely should care what they think of me."
"Gosh Flo, you're too soft. He's your ex, and trust me when I say this but you've seriously done the most to make him regret leaving your ass by working for the biggest American retailer of Women's lingerie. If I was him I'd be crying my ass off every night."
"You're so extra Miles. But whatever, I've got Mason now. We're making a year soon!" Flora grinned turning to face her sister.
"Ugh, that loser? You're still together?" Myla scoffed tugging at the white sheet spread out on top of the desk and scrunching up her face at the amount of dust that clouded around her.
"Well I mean if we weren't, it would be all over the media wouldn't it?" Flora pointed out, "And he's not a loser!"
"Flora, he's a professional golf player. GOLF! Besides, you can't call it 'being together' if you're never really 'together',"
"Hey, golf is a pretty cool sport," Flora argued causing Myla to raise an eyebrow. She sighed, "And it's not our fault our jobs require us to constantly be on the move,"
"You barely get to see each other Flo!" Myla groaned shaking her head at her sister.
"That's not true! We see each other plenty! Sometimes we even get to tag along with each other!"
"What? You mean you get to travel to different countries and watch him lose miserably?" Myla scoffed disappointedly.
"That's unfair, he tries really hard. He's just going through a bad phase, most players get slumps. It will pass."
"It's been 8 months!" Myla cried trying not to wince at how terrible that sounded, "And first of all, you hate golf."
"Well golf isn't so bad once you get the wraps of the game, and anyway I love him and that's all that matters right? Besides, he still earns a lot."
Myla gasped, "Florence Evelyn Maxwell, you did not just say that. Once upon a time you told me 'Myla, as an older sister it is my responsibility to teach you about relationships and stuff – so number 1; the most important thing; MONEY IS NOT IMPORTANT."
"Well that was when I was like 17 okay, in the real world money is probably the most important of them all. Like yeah I earn a fair amount too but his contributions make a hell of a difference. And I can't believe you're questioning me on my love life! Iker isn't any better!"
"Hey! Iker is great! He's sweet and caring and doesn't just disappear to Scotland for some golf tournament."
"He's a mailman!"
"That's very judgmental sis, mailmen are great, and they're pretty great in bed too."
"Oh my God! Myla Rose Maxwell you did NOT just say that!"
"What it's true!" Myla laughed.
"Iker Massena, the Mailman slash sex God slash keeper of my sister's heart."
"Jesus Flo!" Myla groaned causing Flora to burst into a fit of laughter.
Flora picked up her suitcase and flung it onto the bed causing a cloud of dust to puff into the air. The two Maxwell sisters began coughing and swatting the air around them.
"Have you like refused to clean my room since I left or something?" Flora wheezed.
"What? It's your room remember? Clean it yourself." Myla winked before waltzing out of the room and down the hall into her own.
"Thanks sis! I feel the love!" Flora called at her retreating sister's figure. She closed the door and headed towards her suitcase. She pulled her phone out of her back pocket and plugged in her earphones. Unzipping the bag, she began unpacking the neatly stacked piles of clothes from inside. When that was done she sorted it out into her surprisingly dustless closet.
Hearing the front door bang shut and a couple of voices downstairs, Flora removed her earphones and giddy with excitement, flung her door open only to come face to face with Stella Andrews.
"FLORA!"
"STE-" Before Flora could even blink, she was tackled by the blonde and found herself sprawled out on the floor with the weight of her lifelong best friend on top of her. Nonetheless she made no attempt of pushing her off as she was too caught up with her emotions to do so.
So the 2 girls just laid there, on the dusty floor that was Flora's room, tears of happiness escaping their eyes.
"God Stella, thanks for physically attacking me," Flora joked in her ear causing Stella to chuckle and roll off.
"Sorry 'bout that Flo, it's just that, GOD it's been SO LONG!" The blonde female whined.
"Too long, how did I survive in this scary world without you?" Flora grinned standing up and pulling her best friend up with her.
"Well you sure as hell survived, I mean look at you!"
"Look at me? Look at you! My best friend is going to be a mother?" Flora squealed placing her hands on the small bump that is Stella's stomach.
"3 months Flo! Can you even believe it?" Stella beamed placing her hands on top of Flora's.
"What I can't believe is the fact that you married my idiot of a cousin."
"Oh you mean that day you refused to come?" Stella scowled causing Flora to wince and look at her converses again.
"About that, Stella I'm REALLY sorry. I just," Flora exhaled, "I couldn't," She whispered.
Stella cupped the brunette's cheek and slowly pulled it up, "I know Flora, I understand. It was too soon for you to come back. Not that many people really wanted you back," Stella frowned as she said the last part. Flora shut her eyes and sighed.
"Yeah but your wedding! How could I miss your wedding?" Flora groaned walking over to her window seat and throwing herself on it.
"Darling it's fine, it was 4 years ago! It's all in the past now, right?"
"Is it Stell? Is it really?"
"Of course! Well partly, some of these people are just profound haters," Stella shrugged rolling her eyes causing Flora to giggle. She shifted her legs to create space for Stella to sit, which she did, and smiled.
"Thanks for that. Myles told me about the whole 'split of Gardenia' thing," Flora scoffed pulling her legs to her chest.
"Gosh that was just too dramatic I tell you. I mean we're neutral obviously – we can't exactly blame Helia for this, he was pretty much as heartbroken as you were too. But it's most definitely not your fault. Gosh that witch Krystal – thinking she can just sweet talk the whole of Gardenia into loving her. My left foot! We hate her! She's like a tornado full of rotting carcasses coming to ruin this town."
"Stella!"
"What it's true!"
"Okay I guess…but it's still rude."
"Who the hell cares? That bitch ruined your life! You should have seen yourself Flo, you were a mess."
"Gee thanks for that," Flora muttered sarcastically causing Stella to grin sheepishly at her. "Anyway, that's all long gone. I'm fine now. Good thing I won't bump into any of them here, it's the middle of autumn so they won't be here right?"
"Right well actually, about that –"
"Exactly. So no worries. Now, where is this soon-to-be-a-dad cousin of mine?"
"Wait Flora, I need to –"
"Drop it Stella, I don't want to hear his name for the rest of my visit here, okay?"
"But-"
"Great! Now where's Brandon?"
Stella sighed, "He should be here soon. He was out with Heeeel- some friends."
Flora raised a questioning eyebrow but dropped it and shrugged.
"So, tell me, how's everything been? I heard about your new spring clothing line for next year! It sounds AMAZING!"
"And guess whose modelling it?"
"Umm?"
"You!"
"NO. GET OUT. REALLY?!"
"Of course! It only makes sense that the biggest nature geek wears my floral print collection right?"
"Gosh Stell! Thank you!"
"Ugh please don't. Brandon is the one that suggested it."
"Wait Brandon? Doesn't he like…hate me?"
"He does." Flora frowned at the blonde, "But he loves you even more,"
"We can only hope. He's refused to reply to my messages and calls,"
"Yeah, he was really upset when you left. But he'd um, he always listen in on our conversations when we'd talk on the phone or skyped,"
"I wouldn't have expected any less to be honest," Flora laughed at her cousin's stubbornness.
"He'll come through eventually, you know how he is. We had to lock him in the house to stop him from going to the McGregor's' to give them a piece of his mind. He actually wanted to beat up his best friend." Stella chuckled. "Well to be fair, I wasn't much help stopping him." She winked causing Flora to grin and shake her head.
"Well, their loss right?"
"Definitely!"
Soooo, how was it?
Please leave a review to let me know what you think about the storyline.
Much Love, shwetz2002