Chapter 7: Bad timing
Much to Stella's surprise, the roles had been switched around. It was now her waiting by the front door for Musa, who was hyperventilating on her outfit choices. After all, this was going to be no ordinary get away for her.
She wasn't worried about how she would look when she faced many of the world's greatest bands; she was more worried about how she'd look in front of her supposed life partner.
"I should've left myself more time!" mumbled Musa as she moved through her room which was in great disarray. It wasn't until Stella screamed at her when Musa decided to pick up the pace. She soon gathered what she thought to be decent pieces of clothing and accessories and stuffed them into her suitcase. She wouldn't call it a job well done but at least she was done with her worrying until she unpacked.
Musa was also satisfied that Stella and the girls were coming with her. That meant she could borrow their clothing if she figured that she didn't approve of hers.
Stella ran a hand through her hair after shouting at Musa. She jumped back when the sudden knocking at the door sounded, it had startled her.
She took a deep breath to calm herself down before going to open the door to Andy, who was obviously early. Stella hadn't made a special effort to look good or anything, she had enough assurance that she always looked great, but the main reason was that she didn't want Musa to get suspicious.
The door swung open, revealing four very giddy looking fairies.
"Hey, Stel. You guys ready?" greeted Bloom as she walked past a disappointed Stella.
"Looks like she's out of it, again." Layla rolled her eyes and proceeded with smacking Stella on her arm.
"Hey," Stella groaned, not showing any signs of pain in her voice, even though Layla's hard hit did make an impact on her. "If anyone decides to whack me again, then I swear..."
"Stella, please would you calm down." Tecna said, walking away from Stella's gradually narrowing eyes.
Flora sighed, knowing the usual banter of the girls would never cease until someone changed the subject to a more serious one. "Is Andy here yet? I don't want to be late for the departure."
"Don't sweat it, Flo. Andy's very punctual." Musa declared as she hauled her suitcases into the living area.
"Well, if he is, then he should be here...exactly, now." The door bell rang just as Tecna finished her sentence. The girls giggled.
Musa was just about to head for the door but Stella stopped her. "I'll get it!" she smiled sheepishly, before lunging at the door.
Within a few clicks, it was wide open.
"Hey, Andy." Stella smiled shyly, not forgetting to bat her eyelashes at him.
"Um, uhh, hey." He ignored Stella and let himself in. "Musa?"
"Right here!" Musa announced, making her way through her friends.
Andy's eyes sparkled as she came into full view. "You look great," he passed his compliment with ease.
Musa grinned and did a little twirl. She wore an aquamarine number that ended three quarters of the way down her thighs. It had a deep V-neck, stopping at the start of the stomach; there, it was belted with a chunky black belt. For her shoes, she wore a pair of patent black heels that matched her belt perfectly.
"Thanks," Musa replied, her cheeks flushing scarlet.
Stella restrained herself from punching Musa. She had thought that after the previous night, Musa wouldn't lead Andy on any further and leave him for her. She was evidently wrong.
She sucked in a sharp breath after watching the girls exchange mischievous glances after observing Andy and Musa. "Shall we go now?" she asked in the sweetest voice she could churn out.
"Sure." Andy turned to face her, flashing a pearly white smile her way. Stella swore she melted.
She smiled back and gestured for him to lead the way. She hoped he'd be a gentleman and ask the girls to go first. Then she'd get her chance to walk beside him when he exited the apartment after them. But guess what?
"Come on, M." Andy looked at Musa, holding his hand out. She happily accepted and they walked out hand in hand.
Stella's eye twitched but she grinned and let it go.
The rest of the girls didn't notice any of this, they couldn't even sense the jealous vibes emitting off the blonde.
Soon, everyone crammed into the big car the radio company had sent them and before they knew it, they were off.
The journey to the airport was awkward. Everyone was quite; no one knew what to say. Of course, Flora and Bloom attempted to make conversation but no one seemed interested. There weren't even any comments about how excited they were or what they hoped to do. Listening to the droning sound of the radio that was failing to get signal as the car drove further into the outskirts of the city, was all that occupied everyone's time.
The scene the girls and Andy were met with after they exited the car was nothing like they'd expected.
People were bustling. Workers were pushing luggage trolleys to their correct destinations. There relieved and tearful goodbyes from relatives and friends of passengers and airship hostesses were hurriedly making their way to their assigned flights. All in all, everything was in a bit of a frenzy.
"They should really have more of an orderly way of getting around here."
"I agree with you, Tec." Layla shook her head as she dodged a woman chasing after her boyfriend.
Flora nodded, linking arms with Layla because she was a bit frightened of drowning in the sea of people.
It took sweat, blood and tears and about fifteen minutes just to get to the check in counter. Stella ran off to the nearest toilets to perfect her make-up, while everyone else piled their suitcases onto the conveyer belts and handed the inattentive woman their passports.
She eyed up everyone carefully. Her pace of doing thing was slower than one of a snail. The queues decreased while her queue remained the same.
Layla began tapping her foot in annoyance hoping it would have an effect on her, but it appeared as if she was deaf. People behind the group let out exaggerated sighs and rude comments, but the counter lady paid no attention to them.
Musa was just about to pass a mouthful to the woman but the woman beat her to it.
"Are you two a couple?" she asked Musa and Andy in a dull tone. The pair of them stood shoulder to shoulder, glancing at each other every so often.
Stella heard this as she joined the back of her group after coming back from the bathrooms. Layla and Bloom raised their eyebrows and stared on in surprise, whereas Tecna and Flora snickered into their palm.
Musa froze.
Andy struggled for words.
The question itself was simple to answer, he just couldn't get over the fact of someone, more specifically a stranger, assumed him and Musa were a couple.
"W-why?" he blurted out, dazed.
The lady shrugged and went back to flicking through passports. "Just asking. You two look good together."
Musa went crimson and bowed her head.
Andy saw Musa's embarrassed state. "We're not a couple. Anyway, can you please hurry up, we're late already." He said quickly.
Musa stepped away from Andy, disappearing into her group of friends. Stella quickly dragged her out and pulled her away to have a private word.
"Ow. Get off me!" Musa pushed Stella's brutal grip away.
"What are you doing?" Stella said with wide eyes.
"I have no idea what you're on about. I haven't done anything." Musa replied defensively. She was truly oblivious to her actions as many people are.
Stella didn't know what to say to this. The location they were in wasn't a good place to have a heated argument. Stella took a deep breath before replying. "Musa, just stay away from Andy? Last night you said you didn't like him but now you're acting like a couple, even that lady thought so."
"How are we acting like a couple? We're not holding hands or kissing, are we? The lady was just delusional for thinking that we were." Musa crossed her arms and pouted.
"I'm beginning to think we're not best friends. Not with the way you're acting after knowing that I like him." Stella spat, raising her voice just a little.
"Look, I'm not doing anything wrong, and I amn't ruining your chances. Andy just doesn't know you so he's always with me. If you really liked him, you'd be able to see that." After Musa finished, she strolled back to the group, who were marvelling over the cheapness of a good looking cafe.
"Where did you go?" Tecna inquired.
"We were just talking and scanning the area for shops." Stella answered for Musa. She casually walked past Musa and linked arms with Tecna. "Let's go."
"Good idea. We're late, so we better hurry before the gate closes." Andy agreed, leading the way. This time, he forgot to ask Musa to walk by him. This made Stella smile, not only had he agreed to her idea, but he'd also left Musa behind.
Everyone was worn out by the time they got to the other end of the airport, which was where the gate was.
Musa puffed. "That was some walk."
Everyone nodded and then quickly handed the impatient looking air staff their boarding passes.
"The ship's that way," the woman jut her thumb out, signalling to the tunnel that would get them on board.
"Thanks." The girls beamed and hurried off, forgetting to wait for Andy who was having a hard time keeping the boarding passes from flying out of his hands.
The girls ran down the tunnel, chasing each another to the airship. It was only then when Stella noticed they were missing a certain someone. She told the girls to go ahead and stopped for Andy.
He gave her a stunning smile as he witnessed her waiting for him.
"You didn't have to wait," he said coolly.
"It didn't kill me." Stella didn't come across as flirty in that sentence, which is what she intended.
Andy just smirked and carried on walking beside her.
A boring silence hung between the two of them. Stella frowned, not very happy with the fact that Andy wasn't trying to make conversation.
In the end, she decided she'd say something, assuming that he needed a little encouragement. "So...when did you start playing the guitar?"
"Hmm?" Andy turned to her. "I think I was about eight. I never went to the lessons willingly; it's just that my parents forced me into going."
"But if you didn't like playing, then why are you a guitarist now?" Stella asked, not sounding nosy, just curious.
"Turns out that I had a flair for it and I fell in love with it as I got older."
Stella smiled in return.
"Plus, if it means spending time with people like Musa..."
Stella furrowed her eyebrows, slightly angry. "Meaning..."
"Well, she's famous and gets me known, meaning I get more offers to play for other people." He explained, not catching on to the fact that Stella was angry.
She quickly laughed sheepishly, dismissing the topic. "Do you plan to do just that for the rest of your life? Don't you want more out of it?"
"I do. I've always dreamed of having a little villa by the seaside, to myself and my girlfriend."
Stella's heart sank. She was in too much shock to have tears pool in her eyes. If Andy had a girlfriend, then why didn't Musa tell her? "You have a girlfriend?" she blurted out, her voice sounding pained.
Before Andy could answer, they got to the end of the tunnel, but all they could see was the brightness of the noon sun.
"Where's the ship?" Andy almost shouted in alarm. His eyes went wide just as Stella gasped. They both looked at each other in fear and worry.
"It's left without us!"
It's short, I gathered. I hope you enjoyed it anyhow.
Reviews are always loved.
