Okay I know it's practically been a decade since I last updated, but I've really tried to focus on my final exams (A Level will actually be my COD btw) and I kind of had writers' block so.

I'm really sorry for the delay but I promise to try update all my stories more frequently now that summer is like, a few weeks away. Also, I've just made a Wattpad account and I'm writing a new story on there so if you'd like, please go check it out! I don't know how I plan to balance my time and write 3 stories all at once, but I'll pull through, trust. Anyways my account is kingcroissant and the story title is Sunset with Mia. Please don't hesitate to give me feedback and as much positive criticism, it'll really mean a lot to me. Thanks! 3

CHAPTER 12

It was around one AM when I landed in JFK airport and I was practically trudging through the crowds of people, functioning on the half hour nap I managed to get on the plane. Normally I fall asleep fast and easily on flights during shoots, waking up only once throughout the entire journey, but in this five-and-a-half-hour flight I found it unusually difficult to sleep. Now, I don't want to be those people in denial that act like they don't know the cause of their conflicts, I know exactly why I found it difficult to fall asleep on this flight to Manhattan and I can only blame the soon to be Twenty Eight year old man that's waiting for me somewhere in this very airport. Just the thought of seeing Helia again is enough to start up the butterflies in my stomach, add to it the fact that I'm going to be living with him for at least a month – well, it's safe to say I'm a nervous wreck really.

Following the crowd of people to the baggage claim, I braced myself for the ten-minute wait for my suitcases to come. I pulled out my phone and switched it on so I could message Helia that I've passed Immigrations and shouldn't be long.

ME:

Hey, sorry if I kept you waiting, just waiting for my bags then I'll be out

HM

: No worries, I just got here anyway. I'm waiting by the information desk

I smiled at my phone before tucking it back into the pocket of my joggings, the bags had started strolling in and thankfully mine was amongst one of the first and it wasn't long before the second one came rolling in. I quickly took the bags through customs before heading for the exit, the butterflies in my stomach not giving any signs of calming down, much to my dismay.

It wasn't difficult to spot Helia; with his tall and lean frame I'd be blind if I hadn't seen him standing there with his white hoodie and sweats as soon as I walked out. He seemed to have noticed me at the same time because the corners of his mouth tilted upwards when my eyes found his over the heads of a group of school kids, before he gave me a full blown Helia-smile and it took every last bit of the remaining energy in me not to trip over my two suitcases and just collapse onto the floor. As I made my way to where he was leaning against the wall, it was like the last few years never happened. And the way his dark eyes never left mine showed that he felt the same way. As I reached him, I couldn't help but throw my arms over his shoulders, without giving it so much as a second thought. And he wrapped his arms arounds me with no hesitation and pulled me in even closer. He felt warm and familiar and like everything that I was missing in my life and I just simply buried my face in the crook of his neck, brushing off the fact that we weren't together anymore. I didn't care and it seemed like he didn't either because he just simply squeezed my waist and nuzzled his face against mine. On God if I didn't feel like, in this moment, everything was right again in this world, I don't know when I ever would.

Helia was my Home, and the past five years were simply just a little detour.

All too soon he pulled away and flashed me a lopsided grin; "Welcome to Manhattan, Flo." I grinned up at him, feeling all recharged and energised after one simple hug.

"It's a lot colder than I thought it'd be," I stated, pulling the sleeves of my sweatshirt over my hands and reaching for my bags, gratefully handing the much heavier one off to his waiting hand. He laughed and lead the way to the car park, and I followed behind him, tuning out everything that was happening around me and just focused on how good his hair looked under the light of the streetlamps. It was literally Two in the morning and he still managed to have my heart racing while I probably looked like I just salsa-ed through a tornado. But in all fairness, he didn't travel across the country so.

He popped open the trunk of his sleek, black Audi and together we heaved my luggage into its surprisingly spacious boot before he walked 'round and opened the passenger door for me. I shot him a thankful smile before diving into the warm leather seat in hopes that he wouldn't see how flustered his chivalrous act had gotten me. He leaned his head in and reached across me, fiddling with the buttons and the next thing I knew, there was warm air blasting my face and immediately calming down my shivering body. He turned his head slightly and shot me a wink before straightening up and pointing over his shoulder, "I'm just going to go pay the parking metre and we'll be on our way, alright? Oh, and Flo? Try to fall asleep, yeah? You look like death." He smirked before closing the door and walking away. I let out a soft chuckle before making myself comfortable in the seat, the new car smell and the faintness of Helia's cologne doing everything to calm my nerves and I really did feel myself drifting off to sleep.

When I woke up awhile later, we were driving through an intersection, passing streetlights and the faint headlights of the stand-by cars being the only source of light in the car. I watched how the yellowed, yet bright light played in the droplets, somewhat hazy from my sleep. Waiting for my vision to regain focus, I watched the gleam play in the droplets, showing this deluge, this flood from the sky, in apparently solitary droplets.

"Morning sleeping beauty," Helia's deep, amused voice drew me out of the slight trance I happened to have gotten in.

I hummed in response, stretching my arms out in front of me, "How long have I been out?"
"Not long, about twenty minutes or so?"
I blinked in surprise, it felt much longer than just twenty minutes. "How much longer till we get there?"
"Just a couple of more minutes, are you hungry? We can stop by somewhere to get something to eat," He offered, and just as I was about to decline his offer, my stomach let out a loud rumble, answering his question for me. I groaned, feeling my cheeks heat up and he burst out laughing, "Well that settles it, there's a Twenty-four hour McDonalds about a block or so away, are you okay with that?"
I scoffed, "When would I ever say no to McDonalds, Helia?" I asked rhetorically and he shot me a smirk in response.

"Forgive me for thinking you might've changed in these five years," He shrugged, glancing over at me for a brief second before focusing his attention back on the road.

"Well, as far as I know I haven't changed much," I mumbled, leaning against the window and sliding my finger through the fog that my warm breath made on the glass. He didn't say anything to this and we both seemed content with the comfortable silence that enveloped us after the brief conversation came to an end.

This so-called "reunion" didn't go anywhere near my expectations. I was scared it would be awkward and tense, and the conversations would be forced and uncomfortable, but it really feels like nothing has happened between us. And a part of me knows we should really discuss the Elephant in the room, especially if we want to move on past it – but is it too much to just want us to act like none of that existed for a while? At least until I'm comfortable discussing everything that went on. I know we briefly touched the topic that day in Gardenia, but it goes a lot deeper than that. It should, right? I mean we were both hurting, it shouldn't be this easy, but it is. And that worries me slightly. We can't just ignore everything that happened, pretend all is good again. As far as I know, that's not how relationships work and if we do get back together, I don't want our past to come back and I don't know, bite us in the ass or something.

But for now, I was very much content with just enjoying his company and the anti-awkward atmosphere that came with it.

Five minutes later, we were at the Twenty-Four-hour McDonald's drive thru. "Hello, can we please have two McChicken burger meals and a box of chicken nuggets,"

"Sure thing, what drinks would you like with those, sir?"
"I'll have a coke and she'll swap her soda for a caramel macchiato please, thanks,"

Helia handed over some money before driving to the pickup point. I turned to him in my seat and raised an eyebrow at him. He glanced at me at the corner of his eyes before rolling them, giving me a small shrug; "What? You said you hadn't changed right? I was just making sure." I couldn't help but laugh at this and give him a small shake of my head. Get you a man that remembers your McDonald's order.

Once we had collected our food, we headed to what I assume was his apartment.

"I'm trusting you with the food, Flora. If I see a couple of fries missing from my box, we're going to have some issues,"

I grinned cheekily at him before sticking my hand into the bag and pulling out a couple of fries out and shoving them into my mouth. He let out an exaggerated gasp before reaching over with his one hand to try and pinch my face like he used to do when we were kids and I let out a half-squeal, half-laugh sound and swatted his hand away, scooting further away from him.

He shook his head at me, shooting me a small glare but even he couldn't keep the makings of a smile off his face; I was practically beaming.

A few moments later, he pulled up in a parking spot with his name printed on a silver plaque hanging on the wall. I raised my brow once again and he shrugged and simply shook his head, "Most residents have one, it's a reservation. Everyone gets four parking spots under their name for their personal vehicles when you buy an apartment,"

"So, what happens when you have guests over? Where do they park?" I ask, unbuckling my seatbelt and climbing out of the car. He follows suit and I hear the thump of the door closing before he appeared by my side and helped me remove the bags from the trunk.

"In the visitors parking," He nodded his head towards the ramp leading to what looked like a basement. I nodded, seemingly impressed so far – of a parking lot.

He led me towards the big glass doors where he had to scan his thumbprint to open the doors, again I raised an eyebrow at this but didn't comment. He's a millionaire, did I really expect anything less than top-notch security and reserved parking spaces?

"I'll get Eric to put your fingerprints on the system, you'll need it when you're coming in and out of the building and I'm not around to buzz you in," Helia states before pressing the button to the lift and getting in when the doors opened less than a second after. He pressed the button to the Eighteenth floor – the highest floor, of course – before turning to me. "When is your shoot?"
"On Tuesday I go for fittings and then Thursday is the shoot, but if we don't get a lot of good shots in then we'll go again on Friday."

"Alright, I have to go to the office later today, but I'll be back in the evening. Then we can sort out dinner, how does that sound?"
"Wait, you have to go to work? Omigod I hope I didn't disrrupt your sleep, what time do – "
"Oh please, I offered to pick you up, Flora. Besides I could still get at least four more hours of sleep, don't worry about it."

"I could've still gotten a cab," I mumbled, not satisfied with his reassurance. He rolled his eyes at this before grabbing the handles of both my suitcases and dragging them out of the lift.

"Well I wanted to pick you up so drop it." He said with finality in his voice and like a fool I listened because I was too much in awe with the sight in front of me.

I mean, I knew Helia was well-off, but nothing could have prepared me for the fact that he's managed to fit an entire mansion in a penthouse suite.

"Holy hell, don't be surprised if I extend my stay, your "apartment" is GORGEOUS!" I breathed, taking in everything that my eyes could get a hold of. He smiled at me and shrugged.

"Thanks, it wasn't cheap, but it was worth the expense."
"This is your HOME?"

He turned and looked me directly in the eyes, his expression going so serious that I began to worry that I said something wrong, until; "Well, it is now."

…

Even though its short and probably wasn't worth the wait, I hope you liked it! Please review, it really helps keep me motivated when writing chapters.