“And cramp Princess Penny’s style? No way.”
“Another time then.”
“For sure.” Elliot turns to me. “I can’t believe you leave so early tomorrow! I’m not going to get to see you for ages! I’m going to miss you so much.” Now it’s time for him to give me a huge hug.
“I’m going to miss you too!”
“You have to promise to write to me every day.”
“And text!”
“And call!”
“Come on, you two, it’s not like Penny’s off on a mission to Mars. She will be back in a couple of weeks,” says Mum.
“A lot can happen in a couple of weeks,” says Elliot. “You’re going to have to tell me everything. Everything. Especially about Paris. I want to know all about Paris.”
“Of course! And you have to keep me updated on every minute of your internship!” We finally release each other and I walk Elliot into the hallway. He skips out of our house and round to his house next door. He blows me a kiss before I shut the door.
“I’d better go too, Penny,” says Noah from behind me. They’re words I don’t want to hear.
“But you just got here,” I say, squeezing Noah tight.
“I know, but soon we’ll have two weeks together. I have to head back to the hotel to get everything ready for Berlin tomorrow. I’m so psyched. I’ll be back before you know it—five a.m. Bright and early.” He reaches up and pushes a stray strand of hair off my face, tucking it behind my ear. “Are you sure you’re OK? I promise you nothing like that will ever happen again.”
“I know.” I stand up on my tiptoes and kiss him gently on the lips. “I can’t wait. It’s going to be perfect.”
“It really will be. We can have a Magical Mystery Day in every stop! Except it’ll be a mission to find the best baked goods in whichever country we’re in. Germany! Italy!”
“France! I want to eat all the macarons in the world. They’re my favourite. Is that a promise?”
“It’s a deal.”
His warm, dark eyes are staring straight into mine. “I love you, Penny. Just never scare me like that again.”
“I won’t,” I say, and I mean it. Tomorrow we’re going to Europe and I’m not going to let anything ruin our big trip.
Chapter Eleven
Back in my room, I finish throwing as many clothes as will fit into my suitcase and zip it up tight. As long as I have my camera, laptop, Mum’s cardigan, and a change of underwear, everything else is just extra.
The rain has started again, battering the windows. I grab my laptop and settle down on my window seat. I imagine every raindrop is a piece of my anxiety running down the glass, onto the street, and eventually out into the sea. I don’t need to hold on to any of it.
I see an unread comment from Pegasus Girl on my latest blog post. I rush to open it.
Hey, GO!
So nice to hear from you! How did the concert go?
I know EXACTLY how you feel about your friend. I’m going through kind of the same thing over here. A friend really wronged me, and I just don’t know if I can ever forgive her. But I think you have to offer people second chances. Even if you never become the best friends you once were, because now you’re older, wiser, and won’t make the same mistake twice, it’s better to have a friend than an enemy. Plus, you don’t need that kind of negativity in your life! Accept the apology, but also accept that you won’t be the friends you once were.
PG xx
I quickly type a reply.
Thanks for your advice. How can I describe the concert? It was kind of a disaster. I had a panic attack in the audience and had to leave before BB had even finished his set.
But the one good thing that came out of it was that it gave my friend the chance to apologize. I’m not sure that I can ever trust her again, but it feels like a weight has lifted now that I don’t have to look over my shoulder at every turn, wondering what she’s going to do next.
I’m about to go to sleep, because tomorrow . . . I’m getting on a plane to Berlin! I’m nervous and excited all at once. I’m still using Wiki’s tips on how to combat anxiety. Ocean Strong is going to be on board! I’m also taking my mum’s favourite cardie with me to wrap up in.
I’ll keep you up to date on everything that happens!
GO xx
I’m just about to log off when an email pops up on my screen. I wonder if it’s a notification saying Pegasus Girl has replied super quickly. I hate leaving an email unanswered, so I open it . . . but the email address isn’t one that I recognize.
From: TheRealTruth
To: Penny Porter
Subject: Enjoy it while it lasts . . .
ATTACHMENT: image_1051.jpg
The email itself is blank, but I can see a small thumbnail of the image and immediately my stomach turns in on itself. I feel like I’m going to be sick. I double-click on the attachment and up pops a photograph of Noah and me.
My mind begins to race. Is this a paparazzi shot? Or one of Noah’s crazy fans?
But then I realize it’s the selfie that I took earlier in the car.
The one on my phone.
Chapter Twelve
My heart beats faster inside my chest and my pulse quickens, but I take a big, deep breath. I am not going to let some phone thief bully me into panicking about this. I know exactly who I can turn to in this situation. I gather my laptop in my arms and run down the flight of stairs that lead from my cosy attic room and knock frantically on Tom’s door.