Jeronimo "the car guy" made all the reservations, so we just need to make ourselves look good and get into the cab to the airport in time.
My skinny Lizzy went over to the kitchen to warm up some plant milk – the unavoidable influence of Chloe onto my friend and then, like a respiratory disease, onto me. But, hey, it is fun to explore the vegan world! I was deeply thrilled by the variety of non-dairy milk we have in a local ASDA store and positively shocked by the fine taste of the “weedy” one.
I have never made any proper research before but surprisingly some doctors make scientific connection between dairy products and early osteoporosis. And as for my own humble observations: my skin is definitely better without cow’s milk. Although I sometimes still go for the above mentioned when no plant milk options are available.
– Hey, lazy butt, have you gone through todays comments already? – the voice of my conscience comes from the kitchen.
– Oh, shoot, – I squick to myself grabbing the laptop, – I am onto it right now!, – the confidence in my voice slightly less than I was heading for.
– If we lose followers, I will go to Barcelona alone and you will sit here enjoying the two-minute sunshine a day if lucky. So, please, answer them all and don’t write anything I wouldn’t write.
– I have already packed and Jeronimo has already paid for the two of us, so save your threats for another trip, would you?
– There won’t be another trip if you don’t answer them, or you might simply not live to the day, chubby!
I love the sincerity of our conversations. Warmth of the words selected and the complete mutual understanding and respect.
– Tomorrow is your turn, toothpick, – I shout back, – can’t wait to see you after some sangria trying to remember the hotel/bus/pants/earrings and whichever else prices people will be asking about in their comments.
At that precise moment I hear the “Stay away from Chloe” music and the sound of something breaking in the kitchen.
– Good Lord! – exclaims Lizzy running into the room with a two bowls full of milk, – I hope you hated a little red dotted mug I gave you for Christmas last year.
– I really did, thank you for saving me from it, – I laugh and make some more space for her to sit down. Not that it was needed though, cause Lizzy is a blue-eyed, short haired toothpick – not less than 178 cm tall and 150 of it might just be the legs.
She used to be a full time model, but her stubbornness has scared off most of the agencies, plus, her proper upbringing didn’t allow any nudity even a too-open dress. I really am proud of her – she never puts money first, choosing the one and only HER way things must work out. Not that it is easy but definitely worth it – Lizzy always has this air of confidence and tranquility around her, one just wants to stick and learn how she does that. Her zodiac sign is cancer and truly she carries its best traits always searching for someone to love, feed or listen to. Lizzy is my precious rebel.
– Soooo, are you ready to see Robert again? – she asks eyes glued to the screen on purpose.
– To see whom? – I asked almost choking on a piece of my wheat cereal and trying to figure out if I have ever met a Robert in my life and if I did why am I to see him again, and why is it being asked in such a sarcastically casual tone.
– I googled everything for you! Don’t bother to thank me. The guy from the last episode – Matthew – d’you remember? Cute? Dark eyed? Made you spill coffee without even swearing? Does this ring a bell?
At first it really didn’t, but then conveniently the screen showed him in all his glory. Oh… I blushed. I BLUSHED.
Lizzy laughed so hard she almost fell from her side of the sofa.
– Well, – she continued, – the good thing is that he is…tadadada…British. Being British is always the best thing in a guy, you know. Aaaand, even more, he is from Oldham! But don’t get your hopes high …
– What hopes, Lizzy, are you crazy? – I tried to interfere without any success, of course. – … cause he originally is from Oldham, but he lives and works in the States now. – Lizzy, are we still in 7th grade or what? Do I look like a “fanateen”? Do you expect me to fall in love with a movie star and go chase him all the way to wherever in the States he is?, – I stared at her waiting for reply but then the actor began to speak and I felt chills running down my spine.
What the heck?
– Relax! I am just trying to make you laugh, girl. You have been in your lows for a long time now, – she added with a sad tone, – thought you might as well get yourself virtually blown away by a positive handsome character.
Just as I was about to protest, my phone rang bringing “Before you go” to the room.
–Hiya, how is my girl doing? – shouted Kevin from somewhere that sounded like a nightclub.
– All good, honey, just chilling with Lizzy.
– Plant life? Lame show? – he laughed.
– Weed milk, cute actors! – I said in defense of my friend.
– How cute? Can’t be cuter than your boyfriend, tho, right? – Course not, you’re the one. – I said calmly, smiling. – Ok, then, just checking. We are shooting for a music video and I don’t hear you straight. Will drop by in a couple of hours, would appreciate some take out! Love you!
And he hang up right as I was saying that I loved him back. Ok, will save it for later. He sounded really uplifted, there might be a very good evening to be looking forward to.
Meanwhile on the screen Matthew was asking Chloe to join him for dinner right after having saved her from falling into a community pool. Don’t ask, those storywriters must have worked in accident statistics department.
I took a long glance at Matthew/Robert again trying to see a person behind the actor. The feeling of knowing him from somewhere before arose like a hot wave and made my throat dry. If he was from Oldham what are the chances of us having met during our youth? I mean he looks a little over 30 and I am 24 and a half to be precise. Could I have seen his photos on the wall of fame in Oldham college where I studied travel and tourism? There were several sport courses there, where I can easily see the guy. Or art and performing? He did start somewhere in that area, didn’t he?
Living among the other 234 000 people of Oldham, couldn’t there be a moment where our lives collided? Difficult to tell and really not worth thinking. Get real, Ally. Go drink some coffee. And as I stood up to do that I saw the final titles of the series: “starring – Robert Castle”. Oh, well, now I know his surname. Not a big deal. PS: Chloe chose some light-haired handsome lad called Mike and didn’t take Matthew’s offer. Why do I feel so good about it?
Episode 9
Chloe loses her dog and I dive into the Mediterranean
“Noticias de Espana de ultima hora…” – told us a dark-haired smartly dressed woman from the tv screen.
– Shoot! They don’t have the channel, Ally!! – Lizzy almost cries in despair holding onto the remote control as if it is her airbag and obviously forgetting that nowadays you have a million and one way to watch something online.
– Don’t you worry, una mujer hermosa, your best amiga has it covered!
– You sound like that lunatic from Manchester who tried to shake money off us pretending to come from Argentina while having a perfect British pronunciation.
I laughed and searched for “Stay away from Chloe” on the internet.
While my aim was to find an open