"What brings you to New York ma'am?" asked the driver that was transporting me to the hotel. His American accent was so thick that I was somewhat surprised from hearing a regular English accent.
"Just a holiday," I replied. Was it?
"Long journey from home isn't it?" he watched me from his rear view mirror. "Is it a whole day on the plane or something?"
"No, only 10 hours if you're lucky to have no stopovers."
"Oh, you're not Australian?"
"Glad you picked that up. A lot of people guess that my accent is Canadian or something. I am, but I live in London."
"I understand why they'd think that. You don't sound like a typical Australian. You know, no use of slang and very sophisticated."
I chuckled.
I was in New York and felt excited to be at a place that I have only heard and saw in movies. It did disappoint me that I have been here before but cannot remember that event, but I did not want it to ruin my stay here. Therese and Gina has booked in the same hotel as Tom's except my room was not as luxurious as his would be. I was booked in for four days. That was the time they expected me to kiss and make up with Tom. I was not that sure of it happening but nevertheless, I was grateful to have my surrounding change for a few days.
Looking up through the window of the car, I was slightly agitated that I could not see the sky as much due to high-rise buildings left, right and centre. The pedestrians on the streets were bustling about, not aware that they could not see much of the sky in such a crowded city filled with skyscrapers that created a different earth from the natural one. Were they not aware of the sky and the beauty in it? Were they aware but did not fuss about it because they loved what the city had to offer them? Did they ever see how beautiful sunsets could be? Did they wake up in the dark just to go to the beach or a hill to watch the sunrise and suddenly feeling so grateful to be alive? I pressed my lips together as the car drove passed the oblivious crowds of people. Maybe they did but forgot the feeling.
I do not think I could live in New York or even in the city because of the lack of nature around me. I liked the open skies and looking up to see the sun, clouds during the day and stars sparkling at night. I was glad to choose a place on the edge of the city of London, where there were parks and the sky was clear at night to see the stars.
My hotel was not as bad as I have expected for what a middle class working citizen can afford. It had a TV, fridge, small balcony, bathroom with straightener and dryer and a big comfortable bed, which I was laying in. I did not think a 10-hour flight could bring out the energy out of me. It was such a short flight compared to the 24-hour flight to London from home.
I was about to fall asleep when the door knocked to my hotel room. I sat up quickly and my disoriented self suddenly became alert. The door knocked again and this time a soft voice was heard, "Room service."
I did not believe it since I felt that paparazzi's must have noticed that I have entered the hotel. They were still camped near the entrance of the driveway, which was a safe distance away from the main entrance. It was dark when I arrived to New York, so I was positive that they could not identify me as I entered the hotel. Tom's fans have disappeared but I knew that they would come back in the daytime with scandalous posters and signs declaring their love for him.
It created a slight burning sensation in my chest. These fans that are anonymous to Tom have openly declared their love for him and here I was afraid and foolish to kick him out of my life. I may admit that I was foolish but it did not mean that my pride had subsided long enough for me to walk into his hotel room as beg for forgiveness. Not one bit.
I slowly slid off the bed and tiptoed to the door. Thankfully there was a hole to leak through to see who was knocking. It was a short, blonde young woman dressed as a maid. I still could not be so sure if she was or paparazzi just dressed in the attire but with a shrug, I opened the door.
The maid beamed at me. "Miss Riley!"
"Lara."
Her grin became wider, "Lara! I'm here to help you!"
I looked at her with eyebrows raised and one eye squinting.
She looked down both sides of the corridor, "I mean I'm here to help you clean and unpack."
"I don't need help," I looked down at the maid.
"Just let me in! Please?" She looked down the corridor again as if someone is watching her.
I gave her a stern look for a long moment before deciding that she was harmless and letting her inside.
"I don't need help unpacking," I told her again as I walked inside behind her.
"That's fine," she turned and jumped as if she had just seen the love of her life. "I'm here to help you with something else."
"You're scaring me," I stepped back.
"With Tom, silly!" she giggled loudly. "I know you booked this room so the paparazzi outside don't notice and now you're trying to see if the coast is clear so you can sneak into his room."
"Not really," I crossed my arms against my chest. I was calm now. This girl was obviously some sort of fan of Tom's and wanted to help out in the love compartment.
"I know you need to lie about it but that's fine. I'm here to help you get there. I haven't seen him in person but I'm hoping I will after escorting you there," the maid did not look any older than a senior student in school. Tom really did have young fans.
"Just tell me the way and I'll go there myself."
"No way! You will so get caught! Just quickly find an outfit and I'll take you."
"What's wrong with my outfit?" I looked down at my tights and shirt. Sure I looked really casual but I stopped dressing up for Tom a long time ago. He preferred the natural look anyway.
"Makes you look sluggish and tired," she shrugged. "I mean if I was seeing him I'd go for the cleavage revealing and making the bum look great outfit."
"You do realise that I've been dating Tom for awhile, right?"
That made her think before she nodded and agreed with me. "I'll take you now before my boss realises that I've disappeared."
"That's fine, just tell me the way."
She laughed and grabbed my key card that accesses into my hotel room that was conveniently placed on the dresser right next to her. "I get you. You're not supposed to tell people what you're up to and that's fine with me," she then grabbed my hand and with huge strength, dragged me out of my hotel room.
"Please, can we do this another time? I'm really tired!" I whined as I stumbled behind her. My footsteps were clumsy compared to her direct footsteps.
"You won't be when you see him."
"He told me to rest and see him tomorrow!"
She looked back at me with a grin, "There's nothing wrong with a surprise."
"I don't want to go."
"Why would that be?"
"I don't know… we just…"
"You're nervous!" she stopped when we arrived at a new floor. We were climbing stairs through the fire escape and we were both slightly puffing from the unpredicted exercise. "It's cute."
She pulled me into a much larger corridor and kept walking.
"115, this is his door. I have been dreaming of seeing him for so long!" she said with starry eyes. Without saying another word, she knocked the door.
I felt my heart drop into my stomach. I could collapse right now and forget that this has ever happened. I was not ready for this. Hearing the doorknob click and turn sent adrenalin throughout my body and I did what any 5 year old would do. I ran beside the door and pressed my back to the wall hoping I can camouflage with it.
"Mr Hiddleston! It is so very nice to finally meet you!" the maid grinned. I thought her jaw was going to break from how wide her grin was.
"It is nice to meet you too. What is your name?" I heard his voice. It has been awhile since hearing it and the sound flooded my body with warmth. I was excessively sweating. I felt my hands that were holding onto the wall behind me for dear life slide slightly.
"Anna, could I get your autograph?" she handed him a plain white cloth that I did not realise she was carrying with her.
"Yes, of course."
"How is your stay going? I hope it's great, we like to provide extra comfort for our customers."
"That's very nice of you Anna. My stay is quite lovely and comfortable thank you," he handed back the cloth. I could only see his hands and a rush of anxiety jolted through me. He was so close to me but was not aware that I was here. I did want him to take a step out and see me but I also wanted him to close the door and never see me. I could not do this. What could I even say?
"I'm happy about that," Anna glanced at me and her face changed as she remembered what she has initially come to his hotel door for. I shook my head at her hoping she understood and acknowledged me. "I brought you a guest. As you would know, she booked a room a few levels below and when I recognised her, I immediately did what anyone would do. I brought her here. She refused but I think she did that to cover her identity and the reason why she is here. I always am up to date with you guys and I know that you have her around wherever you go, it is so adorable."
"I'm not sure what you're talking about."
She laughed and pulled me over to her, revealing the fact that I have been hiding this whole time.
I did not want to see what facial expression Tom had on his face so I ducked my head down, "Hi," I squeaked. This was even worse with a random maid around watching eagerly.
"See what I mean? She's putting on this act. She should become an actor like you," she giggled and roughly pushed me into him.
The familiar smell of his skin hit me like a truck and I felt like I was home. I did not like the way people described how a person could be like home to them, but it was true. I felt that feeling within me and I was warm, comfortable and slightly relaxed.
"You two are so cute!" I heard and soon after a shutter sounded as well. "Sorry, had to take a picture," she said and ran off before I could say anything to her.
The shutter sound from the camera brought me back into reality and out of that warm homely feeling. I stepped back and dared to look at him. He was dressed in a singlet and tracksuit pants and still looked good. His face did not give anything away what he was thinking but his eyes had a slight spark in them.
"I didn't want to be here," I told him and stepped back again.
"But you're here now," he grabbed my arm and pulled me into his room.
I hope till now you all liked the way this story was going.
Please review about anything.