Chapter 3

I was sat on the floor of the building hallway, leaning against the door across from mine, banging the palm of my hand against my forehead. How could I not remember my key had been in my shoes! The dogs were getting restless and starting wrestling with each other in the cramped corridor. "Dead!" I shouted and both dogs suddenly dropped to the floor like they had been shot. I smirked.

The door I was leaning on was suddenly wrenched open and I fell backwards. Looking up I saw the upside down figure of who must be my neighbour. I smiled timidly and she did the same back noticing my awkward position on the floor. "Sorry about that but I heard someone shout dead and came out to investigate" she said with a hint of a southern American accent. "oh don't worry about it" I said pulling myself up and dusting myself off "I was shouting at my dogs, they were a bit hyper" I carried on looking towards the dogs who were still laid on the floor not moving. She shrugged and smiled back at me "My names Aubrey, are you my new neighbour?" she said sticking out her hand. I took it "yes I am, my names Albi, I just moved from England yesterday".

"Nice to meet you Albi, sorry to sound rude but why were you sitting outside my door?" she asked looking more curious than annoyed.

"Oh, it's a long story but to put it shortly I've lost my key and am therefore locked out" I answered scowling to myself.

"Damn, I've done that too many times! I'm so forgetful, why don't you come in and have a coffee whilst I call the building owner and get you a new key?"

"Oh god, that would be amazing thanks! Can my dogs come too, I can't leave them out here all dead" I added with a smirk.

"Nahh they are fine, yall come on in!" she replied gesturing to us.

I nodded. "Up, in" I said quickly to the dogs who followed me straight into Aubrey's apartment.

I could see straight away it was the same layout as mine, just more decorated and homely. Aubrey smiled as she watched me and the dogs follow her in slowly "gee, you sure do have those dogs well trained" she said crouching down to stroke Zeus who instantly nuzzled against her. "Yes, well I moved out here to become a animal trainer so they are kind of my test subjects" I said joining her on the floor where Nook had now joined her and Zeus. "This one is Nook" I said stroking him "and you are stroking Zeus" I finished. She smiled as a thank you for the information and straightened back up again.

She grabbed her phone off the counter and dialled a number. "Hi Steve.. No I haven't broken the air con again.. No its my new neighbour, the tenant in room 33, she lost her key. Can you send a new one over please?.. Thankyouu bye!" she finished the call quickly. "He loves me really" she said giggling, clicking on the kettle.

"So are you going to tell me the whole losing your key story?" she asked pouring the water into two mugs.

"Right okay, here goes. Well this morning I went for a jog along Venice beach and I didn't have any pockets so I put the key in my shoe" I said laughing at my stupidness. "Whilst I was jogging back down the fishing pier I slipped and fell straight into the sea knocking myself out."

I paused seeing Aubrey's shocked expression. "Jesus! Are you okay!" she asked surveying me for damage.

I laughed "yes I'm fine, I was saved by a handsome stranger" I told her winking.

Her eyes widened "oooh who are they? Did you find out?" she blurted out in a slightly more southern drawl.

"Well this is the amazing part! It was Josh Hutcherson the actor! And I spent the rest of the day after I got out of hospital at his house which is why I didn't realize the key was missing!"I said quickly.

Aubrey squealed "Oh my Gosh! He is so sexy; I cannot believe you met him".

I laughed "I know right! And he gave me his number! What shall I do?"

Aubrey grew silent and her mouth dropped open. "Do you like him?" she asked seriously. I nodded "then go for it, you've got nothing to lose!" she said and I nodded again.

"You are right! Oh my god, I think you and me are going to be great friends Aubrey!"


We spent the rest of the time waiting for my key talking about ourselves and our lives. I found out that her name is Aubrey James; she's originally from Alabama but moved here to fulfil her acting dreams. We talked for just over an hour but with no one else out here that I knew it felt like we had known each other for years! Soon my key arrived and I left hers with the promise I would call Josh and tell her all about it.

Walking into my apartment I was greeted by a bare fridge and cupboards. I would have to shop tomorrow as well as unpack. I picked up the phone and ordered a pizza using a delivery number I had remembered seeing earlier today. Yeah part of the reason I'm so smart is that I sort of have a photographic memory. After 15 agonizingly slow minutes my pizza arrived and I wolfed it down. Luckily Josh had given me some dog food just in case I hadn't had time to buy some so I gave the dogs that and for the second night in a row climbed straight into bed and slept.


I awoke the next morning to the buzzing of my mobile. It was in the same place I had left it the night I arrived. I hadn't looked at it for over 24 hours. Rolling over I grabbed it and picked it up. I clicked unlock to reveal the screen. I had 5 missed calls and 8 texts. Still laying in bed but now joined by the dogs I went through the texts most were from friends asking about how the US was but there was one from Harrison that sounded urgent it said 'heard what happened, you ok? Call me please!' I laughed, such a protective brother! I then looked at the missed calls, 1 from dad, and 1 from mum and 3 from Harrison. I really couldn't be bothered to phone them all so I sent a collective text saying 'sorry I haven't replied, this is the first time I've actually looked at phone since I arrived. Everything's ok! Love you.' I then picked up the piece of paper with Josh's number on it and entered it into my contacts.

When I was finished on my phone I decided the first thing I would do was have a quick shower and go straight out to the nearest supermarket to get a load of food in. I also wanted to look for some homey items. I definitely needed a TV, radio, kettle and a toaster. My parents had given me money for stuff like that as well at the car that I would look around for today.


After I showered I left my hair to dry and curl naturally whilst I dug around in one of my suitcases for clothes. In the end I dressed in some denim shorts, a dark red vest with a light red and blue checked shirt over the top. I pulled on my white converses and did the laces up. Out of the case I also pulled my small messenger bag in which I put my purse and phone. I had lost my iPod in the sea yesterday.

When I was all set I opened the windows slightly and told the dogs to be good before walking out the door and across to Aubrey's. I knocked quickly. "hey Aubrey, sorry to disturb you but I need to go shopping for food and homey items if you know what I mean but I don't know where the nearest shopping center is?" I said as she opened the door. She smiled "oh just grab a cab and ask for the mall, they will know where to take you. It's huge and will have every shop you need.


I did what she said and she was right, the cab pulled up right outside the biggest shopping center I had ever seen. And I lived in London! Opposite the mall was a second hand car dealer. Just my luck I thought before paying the cabbie and quickly crossing the road. At the car dealers I was harassed by the owner. He wanted to sell me a two seated convertible but I wasn't having any of it. In the end I got a good deal on a fairly new ford Pickup. I paid with my debit card; my parents had put enough money to buy everything new out here plus more in one account. I would have to start another account for work. Pleased with my purchase I put my new door key onto my new car keys and promised to buy key chain so not to lose them. I drove from the car lot across the road around the back of the mall and straight into a huge car park. As I was walking from the car I pulled out my phone and started a new text. It said 'Dear Josh, yesterday was great, thank you for saving my life and all of that. I would love to hang out again if you want to and are not busy. Love Albi.' I sent it, locked my phone and slipped it into my pocket just as I entered the mall


The first shop I entered was a supermarket. I picked up all the essentials, Milk, bread, eggs, fruit, veg and cereal. I then gathered everything else I needed for that week including dog food and lots of pasta. I walked out the shop with too many bags to carry so decided to carry them all the way back to my truck. Putting them in the backseats I locked up and started the long walk back again. Only then did I remember my phone. I unlocked it as I pulled it out but my face fell as my messages were empty. I went to put it back but before I could it vibrated in my hand. I turned it over and opened a message from Josh. I smiled reading it 'Dear Albi, thanks for the text and yeah yesterday was great. What are you doing now?' I quickly punched in the reply that I was at the mall home shopping.

Minutes later just as I was entering an electronics store it vibrated again. 'Great, I'll come meet you and help you shop, give me the name of the store you're in and stay there!' I laughed as I read it. I typed the name of the shop I was in and went about browsing. I quickly found a toaster and kettle I wanted and asked a shop assistant to put them behind the till for me whilst I looked some more. They did so happily. I think they were amazing by how much I was spending. As I was strolling past the TVs trying to decide on which on as voice behind me appeared. "I would get that one" the voice said revealing a hand that pointed towards a 45 inch HD LCD television for $599. I laughed and turned around "hey Josh" I said as he pulled me into a soft but nice hug. He was dressed in chinos and a tight green shirt. He also had on a cap and sunglasses. He noticed me looking at his new accessories and laughed "it's so we don't get mobbed" he explained. I smiled at his thoughtful cuteness. As we were walking round the store I listed everything I needed to get, he listened and offered his opinion on brands and stuff like that. I was stood looking at the radios with him next to me when he reached over and took my hand in his. I looked up at him and smiled, he squeezed my hand in response.


After an hour I had required a new TV, radio, kettle, toaster, blender (josh talked me into for some reason), IPod, dock and headphones. I made Josh push the trolley with all the electronics balanced precariously back to my truck. Josh then took me to what he called his favourite pet store so I could get new stuff for the dogs and my job. Lastly I bought new pillows, bedding and anything else that caught my eye for the apartment. It was now 1:30 and I was starving so Josh proposed we drop all my stuff off and then he would take me for lunch.

The drive back to mine was hard. I was in my new truck but the seat was on the left opposed to the English right side. I also had to drive on the opposite side of the road with was extra hard considering I had only been driving in England a year. I had to navigate through the traffic trying to keep up with Josh who was leading the way in his own car.

We reached my apartment and Josh parked outside whilst I drove down into the resident parking underneath the building. I parked in my assigned space quickly and rode the lift to the ground floor to find Josh waiting nervously in the lobby. "I don't know which floor you are on" he said when I appeared.

"That doesn't matter right now because you have the unlucky job of helping me bring everything to my room!" I shouted to him from the lift and motioned to him to get in with me.

Once underground once more we set about grabbing the biggest items first. Josh grabbed my TV and I piled the Pillows on top of it. I then grabbed as many electronic boxes I could manage and we walked back to the lift. We arrived on the third floor and I still walked behind Josh admiring his toned body all tensed as he carried the heavy box. We reached the door and I inserted the key and swung the door open. "Just dump in all in the lounge whilst I grab everything else" I shouted as I headed back down the hall to the lift.

Minutes later I arrived back upstairs having grabbed everything left in the truck. I staggered in through the door and dropped it all after kicking the door closed with my foot. Josh grinned "bringing someone home on the first date, you eager beaver!" he said as I walked over. I smirked back "oh I only bring the best home" I said winking. He smiled again.


We packed everything away that couldn't wait. I went to get changed but Josh insisted I looked fine how I was. We both left my apartment went downstairs and climbed into his car. We drove for a while until we reached a small car park. Josh parked the car, got out and smoothly slid over the car's hood so to help me out. I laughed at his gentlemanly actions. He smiled back before reaching for my hand again and leading the way. He led me down a busy high street talking to me about all the times he had visited this place before we turned a corner and stopped outside a cute looking Italian place. "Aww Josh, I love Italian" I said hugging him. he laughed "well I saw the amount of pasta you bought from the grocery store and kind of guessed you did" he said hugging me back.

Still smiling he led me into the restaurant and asked the waiter for a table of two. I was suddenly so excited; this would be our first official date. My first date in a different country and it happened to be with a world famous actor. Life couldn't get much better right now!

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Thank you xo