Chapter 3

Third chapter.

My first experience in Spain. Getting ambushed by gypsies at the airport. As we walk through the arrivals gate, I find that a gust of hot air brushes over me and I feel a little light headed, probably because of the drastic weather change.  We waited for our luggage at the conveyer belts and as soon as our luggage came out some suspicious looking people grabbed them and tried to get away. Security intervened and they got thrown into Airport jail. It was actually pretty hilarious.

Mum rented us a car from Hertz and we drove down to Valencia. The drive took 3 hours and a bit. The sucky thing was that we didn’t stop, not even for toilet breaks. V and Zack drove me crazy with their fighting. I tried to shift my focus to my music. I’m really into the Prince these days; Chynn introduced me not long ago. It’s only been 2 days and I already miss them so much. I wonder what they’re doing now. I wonder what Jake is doing… No wait. No I don’t. No way.

The city came into view just as I was beginning to get restless. I haven’t slept in 27 hours and the affect is getting to me. I’m probably going to fall asleep into my food tonight. Traffic started to get worse and worse, luckily I am in the back seat, and I didn’t want to be anywhere near mum in this situation. Everything was moving quite slowly so every once in a while, people would walk up to our car (in the middle of the high way) and try to sell us cheap crap for high prices. They’re actually kind of creepy. You know how you feel when someone is near you, and they have this creepy feeling but you haven’t even talked to them? Or something like that.

Zack put his Nintendo down for the first time in ages; I’m surprised it hasn’t run out of battery. “Hey mum, where are we staying?”

“Oh we are staying at Hotel Las Arenas Balneario Resort.”

“Wow that’s a mouth full…” I muttered under my breath.

V was gaping like a fish towards mum. “You can’t be serious right. Are you actually joking? You have to be kidding me.”

“No I’m not joking. I’ve been saving up for this place for ages, they’ve got great reviews and we have a view of the sea!”

V was spasming now. “AHH OMG YES. I’M STAYING AT THE SAME RESORT THAT HE STAYED AT OMFG.”

“Who?” Mum asked curiously.

“HIM. HIM HE STAYED THERE MUM!”

Probably a stupid celebrity that V adores. Knowing her. My attention turned back to the view. We were on the main stretch in Valencia, I assumed. The beach looked amazing, the water was crystal clear. Good thing it’s not school holidays in Spain or this beach would be packed up I assumed.

Mum pulled into the drive way of the hotel.  A man in uniform approached our car and mum opened the window. He said something in Spanish which I supposed was something to do with Valet parking. We all got out of the car and 3 men came and helped with our luggage and put it into those luggage carts which I always dreamed of riding on. We were showed into the main foyer and mum told us to wait on the lounges. Everything was so extravagant, nothing I was used to. Before dad disappeared we travelled everywhere (though we never managed to get to Spain) we stayed in bed and breakfasts, never anything ritzy.

After a while Mum came back with the key cards to our room. V was taking photos like a maniac of absolutely everything.  We made our ways up to our room just to find that our bags were already waiting there with a little welcome card on mum’s bedside table.

“Wait, so I don’t get my own room?” I was a bit worried because I enjoyed having my own privacy.

“Oh no of course you do! Your room is down the hall, you get the better view of the ocean because it is a single room.”

A wave of relief washed over me. I hate it when mum tries to hover. It’s not like I’m hiding something but I just feel like she’s intruding. I took my key card and walked down the hall. Room 610. I turned to knob and it opened with a click. The room was a pale blue colour with a double bed and a flat screen TV.  I opened the screen door to the balcony. My jaw went slack. The view was amazing. The crystal blue sea stretched out as far as I could see. I had to sit down on the deck chair to keep me from fainting from the heat and amazement.

I watched the ocean until the sun set over the Mediterranean.  My stomach grumbled and I realised that I hadn’t eaten anything since those delicious little toffee’s they had in bowls in the foyer. I got changed out of my travel clothes into a sweater and khaki pants. I checked my Facebook. No posts on my wall and only a notification to remove my timeline. Either no one had found out I was gone or no one cared… 

I called for the lift and surprisingly I didn’t have to wait long at all. There was a lift attendant inside and I said “Restaurant please.” He looked at me with a befuddled expression. I then realised he couldn’t speak English. With what little Spanish I knew I managed to communicate what I wanted. I walked out into the restaurant and suddenly a sense of awkwardness fell on me. Everyone was either eating with their families or eating as a couple. Mum, V and Zack had already eaten, they invited me to come but I just wanted to watch the ocean.  After a few minutes of standing in the entrance awkwardly I decided to go and sit at the food bar.

I ordered a spaghetti Bolognese and waited patiently, sipping on my orange juice every once in a while. My eyes swept over the room and I observed everyone’s behaviours. I envied all those couples, they looked so happy together. Grabbing each other’s hands across the table, smiling at each other cutely. I remember one time in year 5, me, Jacob and Jas were invited to a party at a restaurant. There was no room left on the big table so they decided to put me and Jake on our own table. People would snicker every once in a while across to us and sing the K.I.S.S.I.N.G song. I was really embarrassed but I kind of enjoyed it. In a way.

My Bolognese arrived and I started to dig in. My reflexes started to slow down and I feel that the jet lag is getting to me. Just as I am eating. How did I know it was going to happen while I was eating dinner? The last thing I remember was my head falling in slow motion into my bowl.

***

 

 

Hola? Señorita? ¿me oyes? Hola..?

My dreams were interrupted by a deep, slow voice. Someone was shaking me, I think telling me to wake up. My eyes open slowly and I smell meat mixed with cologne. All I can see is hair. The focus slowly comes back to my eyes. A guy stood in front of me with a concerned expression. He helps me sit up straight. I think I may be still dreaming. It’s like Inception.

“¿Estás bien? ¿Por qué se queda dormido?’

“Uhh sorry I don’t speak Spanish. No hable español?” I felt rather embarrassed.

“Oh haha! You speak English! Perfect, now I don’t have to pretend to know what I’m saying.” I could sense he was relieved.

“So you’re not actually Spanish?”

“No no. I’m from England. Are you from Australia? I love your accent.” He reached to touch my face and I pulled back. Then I realised he was just taking some spaghetti off my face. “My name’s Harry by the way. Harry Styles.” He stretched his hand forward, gesturing for a hand shake.

I reached out and we shook on it. “Nice to meet you Harry Styles. Yeah I’m from Australia; my family are here on holiday. I’m Matilda Garrot, but my friends call me Mati or Tilda.”

“Oh so I’m your friend now am I?” He flashed his cheeky grin at me. Those teeth are perfect.

“Well if you want to be. I just met you!”

“Hey I just met you, and this is crazy, but here’s my number, so call me maybe?” He sung out loud as he handed me a piece of paper.

“Shh! People are staring! Do you carry around papers with your number on them just in case you meet someone?” I reluctantly took the paper.

“Only girls and no I don’t carry my number with me everywhere, just when I go out.” He winked at me.

“Right. Well I have to go to sleep now. It’s been a long day. I’ll see you around.” I stood up to leave but he got up before me.

“I’ll walk you up to your room. Just in case the spaghetti has gone to your head.”

He held out his arm, I think expecting me to link mine with his but I declined. He didn’t seem taken aback from this, he just grinned playfully.

“So why did you come to Spain?” Walking with his hands behind his back until we reached the elevator.

“I really don’t know. My mum told me when I woke up that in 15 minutes we were heading to the airport and I just went along with it. And you? What brings you to Valencia?”

We stepped inside the lift and the doors closed behind us. It began to rise.

“That sounds very spontaneous. Oh I’m just passing by. I was here not long ago and then I went up to Barca for personal reasons. And I just had to come back down here. Isn’t Valencia amazing?” He looked at me. Those green eyes stared into my soul.

“I don’t really know, I haven’t really been out of this hotel since we arrived today. I’m sure it’s lovely. I’ve got plenty of time to find out seeing as I’m here for 3 weeks.”

“Really? Me too! I can show you around sometime. What a coincidence…”

The doors opened and we walked out into the corridor. It was dimly lit; I didn’t even know what the time was.

“Yes… Well I’ll have to think about that. Oh this is my place.” We stopped in front of the door. “Thank you from sparing me the embarrassment tonight.”

“Oh it was nothing really. Just helping a friend. It was nice to meet you.” He beamed.

“Pleasure. Good night Harry Styles.” I opened my door and looked back. He was leaning against my door frame.

“Good night Tilly.”

And that sheepish face was the last thing I saw before I closed the door. I leaned back against it and thought to myself Tilly… I like it.

Author's Note

ignore grammar and spelling.