Mmkay, this is gonna be a longer chapter... so yeah, sit back, relax, and I hope you enjoy!!
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I started to go through the week as if I was half-asleep. I couldn't pay attention, my mind would wander elsewhere when I tried to focus. I was loosing sleep and I could tell that my appearance was getting more and more dishevelled. I had to do something... I only had so long before Lexie died... I had to do something with her, spend her last months with her... Fletch came up behind me and cleared his throat.
"Ehm, Tom, I received this in the mail... I think you might enjoy it..." He handed me a brochure.
The front of its glossy cover advertised a four-week trip around the world between January and Febuary, called "Heaven and Earth". Hmm, that sounded interesting, and I started to browse through it. The tour, complete with a private jet, would go to the Mayan ruins in Guatamala, the Incan ruins in Peru, the stone carvings of Easter Island, the Polynesian Cook Islands, the Killing Fields and the Holocaust Museum in Phom Penh, Cambodia, the Taj Mahal and Amber Fort of Jaipur, India, the stone cathedals of Ethiopia, the Hypogeum and other old temples in Malta, and then finally, at the end of the trip we would go to Tromso, Norway to see the northern lights.
I read them over and over again. These were the places that I knew that Lexie had always wanted to go. I knew I should, I knew I should... But what about McFly? They needed me too... Right now, I didn't have the time. But neither did Lexie. I looked up at Fletch.
"Uhm, do you mind if... do you mind if I went on this trip with Lexie? It could be the last thing I ever do with her..." I asked silently.
He nodded encouragingly and smiled. "Of course. It was the other boys that talked about it before showing it to me. They really want you to go, Tom." Just as he said that, Danny, Dougie and Harry walked in.
"Soooo, what do you think? Will you go?" Danny asked, rubbing his hands together.
"You don't mind that I'll be gone for the next month?"
They all shrugged. "Dont worry, mate, we think you should... I mean, this is a big thing, about Lexie and all..." Dougie said slowly.
I smiled. "Thanks, guys, that means alot to me... I think I'm gonna call Lexie up..." I pulled my phone out of my back pocket and pressed my speed dial #4. I heard it ring a couple times, and then the familiar, cheerful voice of Lexie rang out.
"Hey Tom! What's crackin'!"
I bit my lip, trying to not cry. She sounded so happy... she didn't know... "Well-" My voice cracked. "Well, I have something I think you'll be interested in."
"Oh really? Please do tell."
"Fletch gave m this brochure and well.. anyway, to make it short, I was wondering if you wanted to go around the world with me. Next month."
There was a pause, Lexie thinking about it. "What kind of trip is it?" She finally asked.
I spent five or so minutes explaining it, flipping through the brochure as I spoke. When I finished, Lexie was very quiet on the other end.
"Really? And McFly's gonna let you go? What about the band? Don't you have a tour coming up?"
"They said I could," I hesitated. "Look, I know that this is a really big decision, and I dont really need an answer right now. Talk to your parents and stuff and see what they think. I dont have to confirm it now, not yet. A month is really a long time."
She paused again. "I think they'll be ok. Its my doctor I'm worried about. He keeps on making pointless appointments on my head every so often. It's not like I'm mental or something. But I'll check and see anyways."
I swallowed hard. "All right, sounds great. Do you want me to send this brochure to you?"
Lexie laughed on the other side of the line. "Well duh, silly. I should probably know what we're gonnna be doing, huh?"
"I'll send it in the post today." I said. "Oh yeah, and Lexie?"
"Yep?"
"This is gonna be the most amazing trip of our lives."
"I'm pretty damn sure it'll be, Tommy." I could tell that she was grinning on the other side. "It will be."
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I said my goodbyes to Danny, Dougie, Harry and Fletch. "Call us, eh? And take pictures, too." Harry said, slapping my back.
"Alright," I smiled, and we all hugged goodbye.
"See ya, mate!" They all yelled, and I stepped into the walk-way.
A couple hours later I landed in Miami, where the tour was supposed to begin. I retrieved my luggage and waited at Lexie's baggage claim. I called the guys to tell them I made it, and then I found a seat where I could wait.
Twenty to thirty minutes later, Lexie wasn't too hard to spot. Tall and beautiful, she had a knack for standing out of the crowd. The second she saw me across the terminal, she waved her arms above her head. I knew what was coming and cringed.
"TOMMY, MY FRIEND! I HAVE FINALLY ARRIVED AND MAY THE FESTIVITIES BEGIN!" Her voice carried out through the whole building. Strangers turned to stare at me in shock.
"Obviously she doesnt get out that much," I said under my breath.
Moments later, in the crowd that had suddenly given us lots of room, we were hugging.
"You seem to be feeling really great, Lexie."
She grinned at me. "Had a coupla cocktails on the plance. Had to get in the party mood."
I raised an eyebrow. "Is that safe in your-" I stopped myself.
This time, Lexie raised an eyebrow at me. "Why wouldn't it be safe?" she questioned.
"Oh, uh, nothing..."
As soon as we stopped hugging, Lexie's eyes seemed to brighten even more. "Can you belive it?" She asked, "In two-and-a-half days, our adventure begins!" Lexie wrapped an arm around my shoulder. "Are ya getting pumped up yet?"
"Of course" I couldn't belive that this over-energetic person was actually suffering from a brain tumor. It seemed nearly impossible. And the fact that she would die was breaking my heart.
"Oh, no you're not. This-" She pointed to herself, "is what pumped up looks like. You don't look pumped."
I forced a smile. "I'm pumped on the inside."
She rolled her eyes. "How was the flight from London?"
"Great, you?"
"Amazing. Got to sit next to the Bryan brothers. You know, the world ranked doubles team thingy? Pretty awesome, actually. We started talkin' and I mentioned you and the trip. They were pretty amazed. And they're also your fans."
I smiled, a real one this time. It was always Lexie to make friends in a matter of seconds. "Wow, sounds cool."
She grinned. "Wow, I gotta unwind... gotta stay in shape, ya know? I'm gonna be doin' quite a bit of hiking."
I looked at her confused. "you are?"
"Didn't I tell you?" her voice began to rise. "I'm going AROUND THE WORLD WITH MY MOST AMAZINGLY BEST FRIEND!" The crowd parted even more, I think some were frightened now.
"Are you hungry?" she suddenly asked.
"a bit. I had some tea on the flight."
"Oh you're so British. Tea, tea, tea... well, I'm starved. Wanna drop off our luggage at the hotel and then get a bite to eat?"
"You got it."
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We found a restaurant in downtown Miami, where we ate outside as cool mist sprayed around us, watching people walk to and fro. We talked back and forth until Lexie stopped. She leaned back in her chair, and put her hands behind her head, and squinted at me.
"What?" I asked.
"You're still not getting into this, are ya? I mean, what we're doing?"
"I'm getting there." In truth I was still feeling terrible that I knew about her fate and she hadn't a clue. I hurt so badly inside...
"Did you ever consider you could be depressed?"
How did she know? "I'm not depressed. Just busy." That was true. Busy with McFly and worrying about her.
"Are you sure?"
"I'm not depressed."
"They ahve medication now. It might do you some good, actually."
I rolled my eyes. "I dont need medication."
"Denial is an ugly thing, Tommy."
"I'm not in denial."
"see what I mean? That right there is denial, buddy boy."
"You're a pain, you know that?"
She grinned at me, and popped an olive in her mouth. She chewed, swallowed, and grinned even wider. "So why are you depressed? You're most deff not excited 'bout this, and we're about to leave on this trip. So talk to me! I'll be your shrink."
"I'm not depressed, I'm just... swamped. Under stress. You have no idea how much stress I've been under."
Lexie wiggled her eyebrows at me. "yeah, having girls rip off your shirts is most deff a component in your stress...C'mon, stress is something that you choose to put on yourself. And if it's your choice, accept it. If you're getting stressed about it, don't grumble; you made that choice. In the same way, you can choose to get pumped about this trip. Its totally up to you."
I frowned. I was being killed on the inside about her tumor. She had no idea about it, and frankly, didn't care who she was hurting. I looked, away, shaking my head. "It's not as easy as you think." I said slowly. "Life can throw you curveballs when you were guarenteed a slow ball.
"You don't think I don't know that?" She asked softly. I looked up. Did she really know about her condition...? "Look, just so you know, this trip is going to be brilliant. You just wait. And when this is over, you'll look back and be glad you went. And then you'll thank me for bringing you along."
"Actually, I invited you to come, remember?"
"Oh yeah. Right." She shrugged. "Well, be a good host and dont ruin my moment." Lexie got our waitress' attention. "This man needs a margarita." She said, pointing at me.
Despite my feelings, I laughed.
