Bigger Boys and Stolen Sweethearts - Alex Turner/Arctic Monkeys fanfic

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Preparing for America had been more difficult than I'd imagined. I was going to be in the states for almost 5 months, and I had no idea what to take. I'd woken up really early on Thursday so I could get as much done as possible before Friday came. I drove my beloved mini into Sheffield and changed some cash into dollars, though I had nowhere near enough to last me nearly 5 months I knew the guys would be taking some so we'd chip in for food and stuff. Once I got back home I began properly packing. I'd dug out a couple of bikinis but they were from a family holiday years ago and I could barely fasten the back, so it looked like I was taking another trip to the shops.

I drove to Meadowhall, and bought a couple of swimsuits, a vintage Barberella silver one from a designer outlet and one from Topshop. I got a few more essentials, toiletries, shampoo and conditioner ect but just for the first month or so because I'd probably run out.

As I was leaving Meadowhall I remembered something: I hadn't actually told my family that I was going away. I couldn't say I was going on tour with the Arctic Monkeys, they wouldn't believe me for a second, and the only way I could explain that would be to say 'I've been going to wild house parties with them and waking up with a foul hangover every day'.

My sister Louise lived near to Meadowhall, so once I was in the car I dropped her a text saying I'd be coming over.

*

I pulled up outside her house, she was already stood outside with a cigarette.

"Lana!" she came rushing over as I got out of the car. She pulled me into a smoky hug.

"Hey Lou," I grinned.

"You go in, I'll just finish this," she nodded towards the door. I was greeted by the familiar barking of Hedwig the dog. We'd all loved Harry Potter when we were young so our dog was called Hedwig, he loved Louise the most though, so she kept him when we all left home.

Louise came in after some time, and joined me in the kitchen.

"Do you want a cuppa?"

"I was gonna make one but you've got no milk," I said. She'd always been so dilly-dally. Her head was up in the clouds most of the time.

"Oh well, we can have some green tea," she said, pulling a packet from the cupboard.

"It doesn't matter Lou, I came round to tell you that I'm going to be going away for a while," she raised her eyebrows.

"Oh yeah, where you off to?"

"America," I said without hesitation.

"Really? When do you go? You told Mum and Dad yet? How long for?" I was immediately bombarded with questions.

"Yes really. I leave for the airport tomorrow night. No I haven't told Mum and Dad, and I'm there for nearly 5 months," her jaw dropped.

"As if you haven't told Mam and Dad! I'd be off driving to Hope right now," she said.

"It's a long drive, I could just ring them."

"Are you kidding me or something?" 'here we go' I thought, "You're going to America for 5 months, and you're not even going to see your parents in the flesh before you leave?! Please tell me you're being sarcastic."

*

Driving into Hope (that's the town name; kind of ironic as I'd lost all of mine at the moment) I pulled into a small cottage driveway. Mum and Dad were sitting outside on the bench, enjoying the view, doing whatever old people do (although, to be fair, they're only in their fifties). As soon as I got out of the car, Mum ran over and basically rugby tackled me into a hug. I hugged her back tightly, the aroma of lavender bringing back childhood memories.

"Hey Ma!"

"Oh hello Lana, how are you?"

"I'm fine thank you, you?"

"Oh you know, same old same old. The gardening club came round yesterday to look at the petunias and I said well why don't-"

I let her talk on for a few more minutes. I missed Ma's rambling, in a small way.

My dad came up behind my mum and hugged me, almost signalling my mum to stop.

"Hey sweetie."

"Hi Dad."

Once again, childhood aromas flew off my dad.

"Got a boyfriend yet?" he smiled.

For god sake, does he always have to ask that?!

"Noooo, not yet," I laughed. Dad looked convinced, but the glint in Mum's eye told me she hadn't been fooled.

"Right dear, aren't you popping off to the shops now?"

Dad checked his watch, before smiling back at me.

"Your mum wants her gardening magazine, I presume." He rolled his eyes as he walked past me. "If I don't see you later, have a good day!"

We waved him off as he climbed into his car and drove down the road. Mum turned to me.

"Who is it, how long, what's he like?"

I laughed nervously. Whether I should tell my mum or not was debatable...

"What do you mean?" I asked, walking into the kitchen and sticking on the kettle.

"You know full well what I mean missy! I don't care who this boy is, but if he's messing about, you tell me right now!"

I turned around to get the tea out of the cupboard, hoping my mum wouldn't notice the slight redness in my cheeks.

"There's no-one mum, honest!"

I couldn't tell her. Not yet.

~~~~

Hi everyone sorry about the length of this chapter but it's just a filler so we can get onto writing the better stuff so just stick with us because we have so many ideas for this story :)

Thanks and ily all :) xx