Girl Online (15 page)

Noah chuckles. “Sorry, Autumn Girl—I've got to go back to the venue and make sure everything's set up for tomorrow. Dean loves a good debrief.” I must not be doing a very good job of hiding the disappointment on my face, because he's right up close to me, his face soft with a smile. “We've got Magical Mystery Day tomorrow, Penny—a whole day, just you and me. I promise it will be amazing and completely cake-fuelled.” He kisses me on the lips before I can reply.

“How could I forget?” I say, when I'm able to take a breath. How can any human being be
this
charming and desirable? It's going to end up killing me.

Then, against my wishes, my mouth opens into a yawn so big I could almost swallow Noah's head, messy hair and all. I'm embarrassed, but Noah just pulls me tight into his chest—which is shaking with laughter.

“You look as tired as I feel,” he says. “You have no idea how much I want to just stay here with you, but you should get some rest . . . you're going to need it for tomorrow.”

I feel my heart flutter at a million miles an hour as he turns to head back down the corridor.

“Goodnight, gorgeous!” he yells as he skips off and disappears round the corner.

I collapse in a giggly heap on my bed. The biggest smile creeps across my face and I feel myself almost well up with happiness. I let out a huge sigh and roll over onto my stomach and kick off my Converses. I grab my laptop from the bedside table and open up my emails. I start typing an email to Elliot.

From: Penny Porter

To: Elliot Wentworth

Subject: RE: Re: Re: Re: THE ELLIOT REPORT

Wiki, Wiki, Wa-Wa-West,

I think I'm on cloud nine and I can never imagine myself ever coming down. I've just had the best night with Noah. I watched him perform, he was amazing (as always), and then he dragged me out into the crowd to watch The Sketch perform with Leah Brown. She was actually pretty amazing. Noah and I danced and held hands and sang as loud as we could right up until the end, and I DID NOT PANIC! Amazing, right?

I've had one of those pinch-me moments about how perfect Noah is and how lucky I am to be here with him, supporting him and watching his success grow before my eyes, and that I'm the one he chooses to share this with. I can imagine you retching at the screen as you read this, but I really am SO happy right now. You'll also be pleased to know that I'm exploring Berlin tomorrow with Noah for MMD!

Will of course fill you in once I'm back.

Missing you a lot, but also having the best time!

Pen xxx

So, I know you're all dying to know the details, and guess what? I've survived my first day of life on tour! Not only that . . . I actually enjoyed it. After he'd finished his set, Brooklyn Boy took me out into the crowd to watch the headline act, and we danced all night until we were sweaty and gross. But it was wonderful.

I feel like I've learned so much already, even though I've only been on tour for a day! Here are my top tips so far.

1. Snacks are your best friend.

There's almost no time to have a proper meal when you're jetting from bus to hotel to venue and back again. I'm going to line my pockets with muesli bars in case I get peckish.

2. There are people EVERYWHERE backstage.

Who knew so many people were needed to run a tour? There's not just Brooklyn Boy's manager and band, but also his security guard, publicist, photographers, makeup artists, hair stylists, stage manager, his manager's assistant, his manager's assistant's assistant, and about a million roadies who all seem to know
exactly
what to do.

3. Sleep when and wherever you can.

Everyone seems to. Today I saw somebody fall asleep on top of a speaker that was blaring music from the stage! I feel like it's a warning of the lack of sleep that is to come . . .

4. Don't expect to fit in much sightseeing.

Even though tomorrow Brooklyn Boy and I are going to see as much as we can of Berlin, his schedule is so jam-packed that I can't even imagine how he's been able to carve out any time for me!

It's all so exciting and scary! But I'll try to remember to keep the blog up to date.

Girl Offline . . . never going online xxx

Chapter Twenty-One

The next morning my alarm goes off at 8 a.m. and I scramble around for an outfit that is comfortable yet cool and chic. I settle on a loose white T-shirt tucked into a pleated black skirt, and I make sure to wear my delicate gold-chain necklace with the words
AUTUMN GIRL
written in cursive on the pendant. It was my Valentine's Day present from Noah this year, and it's my favourite thing to wear. Noah texted me soon after he left last night and told me to meet him downstairs for breakfast at nine this morning to start Magical Mystery Day off properly.

I grab my camera and head down in the lift to reception. The lobby is what Elliot would describe as uber-modern—all glossy black countertops and white walls, with a bright, bold graffiti print hanging behind the reception desk. It's packed, and I walk past the long queue of people checking in, most of whom are trailing big suitcases. I start wondering what kind of adventures these people are on, or what adventures they've had.
Are they here alone? Have they been on a romantic European city break?

I take a seat on a plush velvet sofa in the reception lobby and a beautiful spray of orchids catches my eye. I can't help myself—I lift my camera and start snapping away. Orchids are one of my favourite flowers, particularly white ones. Elliot once bought me an orchid for my birthday and it sat proudly on my dressing table, looking elegant and fresh. Unfortunately, its beauty was short-lived—I quickly realized how difficult it is to look after them, as I overwatered it and it died. The year after that he bought me a cute succulent in a miniature hanging pot and told me if I managed to kill that then I could never own another plant again! Thankfully, it's still hanging in the corner of my room, holding up despite the fact that I don't pay it any attention. That's about the level of care I can handle, and Elliot knows it.

I look down at my phone—it's 9:20 a.m. I look back up and scan the reception lobby for any sign of Noah. Nothing. Just the hustle and bustle of a busy Berlin hotel, but no sign of my boyfriend's trademark scuffed jeans and sparkling white smile.
He must still be getting ready
, I convince myself.
Or maybe he has something up his sleeve that involves a bit of planning?
I recline onto the sofa and wait a further ten minutes, watching people start their day.

“Oh, hey, Penny?”

The voice startles me out of my people-watching. I crane my head over the sofa and see a rather sorry-looking Dean, bloodshot eyes peering at me over the top of his gold-rimmed Ray-Bans. “Why are you hanging around in reception? Have you had breakfast yet? I think they stop serving at ten, so you should get in there quick if you want
a croissant. They get snapped up pretty quick.” His husky laugh turns into a cough. He really does look rough.

“No, I'm waiting for Noah. We're having breakfast together, then heading out to explore the city.”

Dean cackles so loudly that it echoes throughout the lobby and a few people turn and stare at him with bemused looks on their faces. When he finally recovers, he says, “You won't be seeing him until at least midday. The boys were out until about four a.m. last night. It could've been later—I gave up at three thirty.” He slumps down onto the sofa next to me. “It got really crazy, to be honest, hence the sunglasses. Man, I need a coffee. And I wouldn't say no to a bacon sandwich.”

My heart sinks. I try to maintain a smiley demeanour while Dean is still beside me.

“Oh, of course. Silly me, I completely forgot. Noah did mention something about it changing to midday.” I stumble on my words as I struggle to think of anything to say that will make me seem less of an idiot.

“Do you want to grab a bite with me instead? I mean, I'm nowhere near as good-looking, but I can play a few chords on the guitar.” Dean stands up and tries to usher me over to the dining area but I shake my head.

“Actually I think I'm going to head back up to my room. I just realized I have to call my parents and let them know I'm still alive. You know what parents can be like . . . they forget you aren't ten anymore, and if they don't hear from me they might send the police, or the army . . . or at least my brother, Tom. But you enjoy your hangover cure. I'll see you later.”

Before Dean can try to persuade me to grab some food with him, I jump up and head for the lift. Once inside it, I
press my floor number and collapse against the wall, resting my forehead against the cool glass. I'm not sure what is more upsetting—the fact that Noah never told me he was going out, the fact that he didn't think to invite me, or the fact that he went out
and
still couldn't meet me for the one day we had together that he promised would be so special. I check my phone to see if he has tried to call or text me, but I already know there's nothing.

As I walk along the corridor from the lift, instead of taking a right along to my room, I turn left and head towards Noah's. I stand outside it and go to knock, but, as my hand is hovering inches from the door, I change my mind and walk back to my own room. Noah's never given me a single reason to worry before, and I don't want him to think I'm turning into one of those clingy girlfriends who needs to know my boyfriend's every move. What if he is still getting ready? What if he
does
have something else planned? He may not have invited me out last night, but I suspect it was all Blake's idea anyway and, knowing Blake, Noah wouldn't have had much choice in the matter.

When Noah's ready, he'll come and find me—nothing is going to ruin our Magical Mystery Day.

Chapter Twenty-Two

The clock ticks past midday and I accept that Noah probably isn't busy getting ready or planning something for the day. I've already painted my nails (fingers
and
toes) a summery coral pink that I'd been saving for the trip, checked Instagram and WhatsApp about a million times, updated my Snapchat story with clips and photos of the hotel room, and done everything I can to distract myself without leaving the room in case Noah turns up.