I honestly don't know why, but I get seriously nervous before posting a chapter to this story. Thanks to Kimmy and Laura for their reviews, you guys are amazing :) And what happens to them at the airport, happened to me in Sydney airport. Quite scary :/
Chapter 2- Changes
I was looking forward to seeing all of them again. Especially Zac. And some tiny part of me was pining to see Dougie again. To talk to him. To hug him. He had been on my mind ever since we left. Did I really love him? It still played on my mind every time I glanced at the photo frame hanging on my wall. Every time I thought about it, I would change my glance to the photo of me and Zac sitting on my bedside table and immediately I would feel stupid and ridiculous, feeling guilty for ever thinking that I liked Dougie more than a friend. It was confusing and frustrating.
Sophie had gotten over Nate quickly. It was like she'd never spent more than six months together with him. Or that Nate had been the one to deflower her in the last week of tour. We only found that out after we went home. But from the fights they'd been having, it wasn't hard to realise they were not meant to be. So for once, I finally had something the other two didn't. A loving boyfriend.
After I got back from tour, I ended up getting counselling to help deal with losing Dad, suggested by the four guys and my sister. It helped and now, I don't dream. I don't cry. I don't feel depressed. I get out the letter from the boys. Or watch the DVD they'd given us of the tour. Or email one of them. Or look at all the photos and videos and remember the fun times we'd had. It was good to feel happy most of the time for once.
Before we all knew it, we were walking through the terminal, waving to our parents, humming Air Hostess under our breath as we took our seats beside each other. A pang of nervousness rushed through me as the door was shut and the air hostesses began going through the safety procedures. I still worried about being in another place away from Mum. And even after five weeks of being with no one but the four of them, the thought of being with McFly for another week was daunting. We hadn't seen them in more than half a year. Who knows what could've changed since then. I know for a fact that the three of us had changed dramatically.
Vanessa finally stood up to her mother and quit all of her athletics and sport. She didn't enjoy them and now she would much rather spend her time going for a no-pressure jog or something, not being forced into it. She's less boy-insane and hasn't had a new boyfriend since we came back. But there is no way she would ever lose her stubbornness that was Vanessa.
Sophie grew up. She no longer got shitty at people for nothing and lost her "princess-ness". She hardened up after the split with Nate. She'd never lose her girlishness or her determinedness, because that was who she was. But she's a much more pleasant person to be around now. Her Dad got a new job, closer to home, so that relieved the pressure of her parents fighting.
I stared out the window as the plane took off. It was going to be awesomely fun. We would enjoy it. But there was still that lurking feeling in the back of my mind as Sophie and Vanessa giggled and grinned and squealed excitedly as we took off. I'd made a fool of myself last time in a lot of ways. Were they going to come back to haunt me this time?
As that played on my mind, more things popped into my head and I felt more uncertain of this trip than any other one we'd done. Okay, sure the first one was hard and we tried our best to make a good impression, but this time was different. They knew us. Well. What if we'd all changed too much for them to like us anymore? What if when Zac and I saw each other in real life again, the spark completely fizzled out? What if we fought again, or my feelings for Dougie became stronger and even more difficult to push aside? The real question was- what had changed and what was going to happen because of that. I guess change scared me. I reckon deep down inside, change scared everyone. The thought of having one special thing, then suddenly something got tainted and it was gone, completely terrified me. Like that year at school. All the form groups changed, as did the friendships and cliques. It just didn't seem right anymore.
But I guess change was a part of life. It wasn't going to go away. As all the quote-worthy people say, life without change would be boring. Then tell me why it was so damn hard to adjust to them?
'You alright Luce?' Sophie asked, her and Vanessa looking at me with worried faces.
'Of course,' I said, forcing a smile onto my lips. They smiled back, leaning back in their seats as the announcement that you could use electrical devices came over the PA.
We had no stopovers, so we were there in the twenty-three hours or so that we planned. The plane ride was giggly, loud and hyperactive and we barely slept, we were that excited. The plane FINALLY touched down at Heathrow and we were the first ones out the door with our hand luggage and began bouncing through the terminal, all giggling and grinning and holding hands as we half walked-half skipped-half ran through the passage and out to the lounge. There were people everywhere and we stood on our toes to see over their heads.
'There're not here...' I said, my heart beginning to sink.
'Tom said they'd be here...' Sophie said, looking around again as all the other people left the plane.
'Anyone see McFly?' Vanessa shouted above all the greetings and yells.
'There!' Sophie exclaimed, pointing to our left. Sure enough, there were the four boys and Zac sprinting towards us from the direction of customs, undone jackets flying behind them as they ran as fast as they could, dodging people and luggage. Dougie came inches away from falling headfirst over a pram, much to the amusement of us. We dumped our luggage on the floor and met them, throwing myself into Zac's arms, Sophie and Vanessa tackling the other four.
'Bloody hell you three, if you hadn't of come to us I wouldn't know who you were!' Danny exclaimed, running his blue eyes over all of us and hugging Sophie again.
'I missed you baby,' Zac grinned, pressing his lips against mine. It felt awesome to kiss him again. I felt a grab from behind and Dougie tugged me into his arms, laughing as he did so.
'God you look different!' he exclaimed.
'So do you!' I said, admiring his newly light brown hair. They all looked different. Danny's hair was styled completely differently, as was Tom's. Harry looked similar, but there was something in their style that was different. Zac's hair had turned browner and he looked hotter than ever.
'Sorry we're late. We got mobbed,' Tom said, walking to pick up our hand luggage.
'Well, to be honest we thought you'd forgotten us,' I smiled as Zac slipped his hand into mine.
'We wouldn't do that,' Dougie laughed, picking up my bag and bringing it along with him as we began to walk to the baggage carousel. Ours finally came through and we walked through customs and out to Tom's and Harry's cars parked in the underground parking.
'Right, who wants to come with me and Danny?' Tom asked, leaning against his car and grinning as Harry loaded our bags into the boot of his. Vanessa and Sophie nodded and got in with him.
'I'll see you soon,' Tom said to Harry as he closed the door and started the car, driving out of the car park.
'In the car Luce,' Harry smiled, shutting the boot and walking around to the driver's door. Dougie jumped in the passenger seat and Zac and I got in the back. I noticed a catalogue of suits on the floor in the back.
'How's the wedding planning coming along?' I asked as Harry went the same way as Tom.
'Pretty good. Tom's on the verge of a nervous breakdown because they've had to change our suits a week before and they've forecasted torrential rain for the day, but it should be awesome,' Harry smiled, glancing at me in the rear vision mirror. 'Wow you've grown up Luce. You look so different.'
'In a good or bad way?' I asked with a nervous laugh.
'Good by far,' Dougie said quickly and I smiled.
'You look tired. Did you sleep on the plane?' Harry asked, slowing to a stop at a red light.
'Not much,' I admitted, smiling at Zac, who leant over and kissed me again.
'Oi, I can see you two,' Dougie exclaimed and Zac quickly pulled away.
'No, I'm joking. You haven't seen each other in months. Snog away,' Dougie said with a wave of his hand. Zac grinned and pulled me close again.
