NYLON: Ten years after Ali's disappearance Hanna Marin is now a fashion powerhouse balancing her time between two fashion meccas but she's not just juggling two cities, she's also juggling two lovers.
LANDED IN LONDON: Hanna's meeting with the European designers doesn't go as planned and she's forced to delay her return to the U.S. but it becomes a blessing in disguise when she runs into a sexy Brit from her past.
NYLON ~ CHAPTER TWO ~ LANDED IN LONDON
Hanna opened the door of her car and paid the driver before stepping out onto the curb, lugging her huge overnight bag behind her. She slammed the door shut behind her and hurried over toward the table her friends were sitting at on the patio of their favorite café.
"Sorry sorry!" Hanna apologized sitting down between Emily and Aria. "Work is insane…and don't hate me but I have to catch a flight in an hour."
"That's fine," Aria assured her, "I've got to pick Daisy up at 4:30 anyway. Those girl scout moms are so bitchy if you're late."
Aria and Ezra had married almost immediately after she graduated high school. Byron wasn't pleased, he probably still isn't, but the happy couple was still together after seven years and with two children no less. Daisy was six and her brother Jeremy just turned four. Emily hadn't fallen far behind. Her daughter Alison was born two years ago with help from a sperm donor.
"Then we'll talk fast, I guess," Emily said opening her planner and taking charge. "Spencer's only free the Saturday or Thursday before her wedding. Those are the only days we can have her bachelorette party. What does everyone's schedule look like?"
"I can do Thursday," Hanna replied. I'll be on a red eye back from the UK that Saturday."
"I'll have to hire a baby-sitter," Aria said, "but I can do Thursday too."
"Well," Hanna smiled, "since we have that out of the way, can we just order drinks and catch up now?"
"Hanna," Emily scoffed, "we still have to figure out a venue, a caterer, and guest list in just an hour. We can't be getting drunk in the middle of the day."
"Fine," Hanna groaned. "You two have totally turned into squares since you've had kids. We used to have fun and now all we talk about are parent-teacher conferences and baby food."
"You'll understand later," Aria assured her. "Just wait until you have your own kids."
"Stuff it sister," Hanna laughed. "I don't do kids. Now let's get back to the work at hand. Emily can take care of the guest list, Aria will book a venue and a caterer, and I'll hire a stripper. Done!"
"It's not that simple," Emily reminded her. "We've only got a month to plan this and we need to make sure it goes smoothly. None of us want to see Spencer go off her rocker."
"That's actually a good point," Hanna said. "How about we throw it at my office and hold a trunk show? I can use all of our usual vendors. If the two of you can handle the guest list and invites I'll take care of everything else."
"That's actually not a bad idea at all," Aria smiled. "We might have a deal."
"See?" Hanna laughed feeling pleased with herself. "Excellent."
"Okay seriously," Emily said grabbing her bag, "if we have this all worked out, I should probably go. I don't like leaving Alison at daycare for so long."
"You're leaving?" Hanna sighed. "I thought we could catch up."
"We'll catch up at Spencer's wedding festivities," Emily told her. "Right now I really need to be a mom."
"Okay," Hanna leaned over to kiss Em's cheek. "Bye sweetie."
"Bye," Emily waived leaving the girls.
"So," Aria turned toward Hanna, "now that Killjoy is gone, tell me what's going on in your life."
"Seriously," Hanna laughed, "when did she turn into such a raving bitch?"
"Alison's in the terrible twos stage," Aria explained. "Remember? I went through it too. Plus she doesn't have anyone really to help her out."
"I just wish she wouldn't be so righteous about it," Hanna replied. "I hate being the bad guy just because I don't spend more than a week in the same time zone."
"Forget about her," Aria said. "Tell me, who're you bringing to the wedding?"
"I don't even know," Hanna sighed. "Your wedding was the last one I went to and I didn't really need a date since we were basically just on the verge of college."
"Well isn't there anyone special?" Aria asked.
"Not really," Hanna replied.
"Come on," Aria coaxed. "Who's that guy you keep jetting off to London to see? I know there's something waiting there other than your designer meetings."
"Wow, I uh…" Hanna wasn't sure how to respond. "I don't even know how you guessed that but it's totally not serious. We're just two people who have amazing sex together when I happen to be in town."
"And there's no one on this continent you're interested in?" she asked.
"Nope," Hanna smirked checking her watch. Then she turned to Aria. "Shit, I really should get going but I'm glad we had a chance to catch up. I'll call you about the party when I get back."
"Bye hon," Aria said before Hanna picked up her bag and headed straight for the airport.
After traveling for eight hours through five different time zones, Hanna finally planted her feet on the soil. With her bag firmly situated over her shoulder, she followed the throng of people moving through the airport in search of an exit. Exhausted and bleary-eyed, Hanna grabbed her phone and sat down on the first bench she saw. She dialed a number quickly and heard the familiar voicemail message.
"Hey," Hanna said into the mouthpiece. "I just landed in London and I've got a meetings pretty much all day. If you're free tonight I'd like to see you. I should be back at my flat around seven or so."
Hanna slammed the phone shut and proceeded to follow the crowd going through customs. After spending nearly the entire morning in the airport, Hanna finally arrived at the international offices to meet with her team of designers. She sat through hours of meetings only to learn that the entire line was behind schedule and she'd be back in the LDN in no time to check up on the progress.
After a long night of traveling followed by a long day at work, Hanna was more than happy to hail a taxi back to her part time studio overlooking Hyde Park. Dragging her bag behind her, she hailed a cab back to her flat and lugged her bag up the porch steps before pulling out her key to unlock the door. Hanna swung the door open and looked inside to find the lights already on and dinner cooking on the stove.
"Hello?" she called out stepping inside and closing the door behind her.
"Hi darling," a masculine voice called out from inside the pantry.
"Wren?" she laughed when she saw him. "What's this?"
"I thought I'd make us dinner," he replied. "I'd be willing to bet you didn't eat a thing today."
"This whole making dinner thing," she explained, "isn't very conducive toward a friends with benefits type situation. You're treading into boyfriend territory."
"Oh I'm sorry," he teased. "Would you like me to scrap the food and skip straight to bed."
"Yes, normally I would," she replied matter-of-factly, "but since you've gone to so much trouble I guess I can let it slide this time."
"Come here," he smiled snaking a hand around her waist and planting his lips on hers. Hanna wrapped her arms around his neck and he hoisted her up letting her melt in his arms.
RELIVE THE PAST: Hanna gets to work finishing the dress for Spencer's wedding but feels blindisighted when she runs into her old high school sweetheart. Is she ready to bury the hatchet? More importantly, is he?
P.S. Thanks for the reviews! For those wondering, this is definitely a Wrenna vs Haleb story. If you've read my other stories, you know I'm a huge Haleb fan but I'm willing to take this story either way. If you have a preference, leave it in my reviews or PM me!
