We will meet again

Chapter 5

6 months later...

I sat on my bed typing an email to my mum. She had a hard time getting the webcam to work so she gave up and now we're sending each other long emails.

My phone vibrated. It was a text from Kat. "Let's skype!"

I called her and turned on the camera. She hadn't seen me in quite a while. I told her my webcam broke. A lie because I had a surprise for her.

"OMG! Aly!!!" she screamed into her laptop. "You've changed."

"No, I haven't!" I replied, "a new haircut and hair color doesn't change people. It only makes them prettier." I smirked

"OMG! You met someone." It wasn't a question.

"Again. So sorry to disappoint you."

She laughed "Oh, how I missed this" she said and I felt the tears in my eyes. For once I was glad about the crappy quality of my webcam.

"No, you don't. You're the prettiest girl in school now that I'm gone."

"You're right. I don't miss you one bit", she answered, sticking her tongue out.

Her phone rang. She looked at it and made an ugly face. "Aly, I'm sorry. I have to take this. Let's continue tomorrow. Same time?"

"Sure", I replied and waved goodbye. The picture went dark. I shut off my laptop and headed outside. The neighbors set up a lovely barbecue and invited the whole neighborhood. LB and Soph were already seated next to the greasy burgers. I smiled and shook my head. Those two could eat a whole cow and they wouldn't put on a single pound.

"Want some?" Soph mumbled in between bites.

"Nah, I'm good. I need to stay in shape" I replied.

"Party pooper" I heard someone say. I turned around and was facing Brian.

"Hey! What are you doing here? Don't you have somewhere important to be?"

"Free burgers" was all he said before taking one Soph was holding up.

I shook my head again. I wanted to leave to avoid the temptation when Brian called after me.

"Aly, wait! There's something I need to talk to you about."

After he downed 3 burgers, Brian got up and looked at me "Wanna go for a walk?"

"Sure", I said, not sure where this was going.

"Listen, Aly. I wanted to tell you this in private because I don't want the girls to get jealous."

Now he had my full attention. What could possibly be so important that he doesn't want anyone else to know?

"I got this call last night. From London."

My heart was now racing. Michael called and told him that something horrible happened to my parents. And now Brian's here to tell me. I'll probably have to pack and leave tomorrow. I felt the tears in my eyes.

"Don't worry", he said, "it's actually really good news."

I let out a long sigh. "You really scared me Brian."

"Sorry. So as I was saying. I got a call from London. Simon Cowell. I believe you know of him. Anyway, he's doing another season of The X Factor and he wants me to coach the contestants at the live audition."

"OMG! Brian that is amazing news." I said but hesitated to ask "but what does that have to do with me?"

"Well the thing is Simon told me he wants me to bring an assistant with me. I thought long and hard about it and I decided that I'm taking you with me."

"Excuse me?"

~

Excuse me?

"You heard me. We're going to London in 9 weeks."

"You sure? I'm pretty sure Mr. Cowell asked for you and your BEST dancer."

"Not exactly. All he said was bring an assistant with you. And since you've been away from home for over 6 months, I figured you'd love the idea. Now I'm not so sure", he smiled and I relaxed.

"It's just that I don't think it's fair, you know. I've been your student for 6 months only. Others have been with you longer and are better dancers." I said reluctantly.

"Such as Soph and LB? I'm sure they'll be crushed but they'll understand. But we should keep it a secret."

"Ummm... Ok."

"Listen, I'll tell them that I have to go and do this and that I decided that I'll take you with me so you can see your parents and friends again." He said, proud that he found a solution.

"I'm not comfortable with this." I blurted out.

"Let's go back and tell the girls."

He nodded, knowing that he couldn't lie to his students.

"Guess what girls," he started when we approached LB and Soph "I've landed a job on The X Factor UK and Aly here is going with me."

I didn't say a word. Just waited for the girls' reaction.

"That is so awesome, Aly. Congratulations." Soph finally said.

She hugged me. "Are you sure," I whispered in her ear. She looked me in the eyes and nodded.

"LB?" I heard Brian say behind my back.

"I think it's great" she mumbled.

I made a promise to myself that I would spend my last evening with them and have a girls night in. I had to making up to do. Especially to LB.