Chapter 12: Being British

****Caroline's POV****

After getting fresh and catching up with dad for an hour or so, Aaron and I were all set to go! Hey, that rhymed! Well, I couldn't help it as I was so pepped up with all that happened today...It seemed like jetlag hadn't affected either of us as we headed out to the open streets of Kensington High Street.

I was in my best British outfit that included a brown leather jacket, a grey pullover and black skinny jeans. I had also worn knee length black boots and it felt so comfy! I smiled in content and clung onto my brother's arm as he whistled like all the stress that he had previously was off of his shoulders. Such a happy go lucky guy! He beamed at me and placed a quick kiss on my forehead before resuming to whistle again. My parents were walking hand in hand and the gesture made my mind go back to Kevin but I sternly warned my 'mental album' to not open its gallery. No sadness and no remorse. Was that too much to ask on my first day here?

Dad said that he was taking us to Oxenholme Lake that was not only famous for fishing but also for its picnic lawns. The place was beautiful and peaceful according to him. We took a cab as we drove off to the place. We soon reached an open spacious lawn that had a canopy of trees surrounding it and the view...beautiful appeared to be an understatement!

It was such a breathtaking view that I let out a sigh of contentment. The joy I felt was so new to me! Yards and yards of dandelions sprung from the evergreen ground and the sparkling crystal clear water looked so fresh and heavenly. As we walked towards the lake, there were other tourists as well who were lining up near certain boats and the kids were playing around. This place was a complete stress buster! I glanced at my dad gratefully and he caught my eye. He mouthed an "I know I'm the best" and I laughed at his playful cockiness. Oh, how much I had missed him!

Dad said that he would keep the touring for tomorrow because there was so much to see. True that. We hurried our way towards the boats as there were very few left and the visiting hours were not for long. Plus these guys didn't entertain large crowds.

Choosing a red colour boat, we set off fishing. Dad began playing the radio and it belched out the golden olden hits. Most of them were famous, like the ones by Elton John. We sang along to the song and that was when Old McDonald began.

"Who in the world sings that anymore?!" Aaron sniggered.

"Oh, c'mon! Don't be such a killjoy! Sing along, Aar!" I urged, teasingly.

Rolling his eyes, he continued, "and the cow goes moo..."

"And the frog goes croak..."

"Eeya eeya ooo!" Mom and dad cooed as mom distributed sandwiches.

After almost half an hour of talking and singing, none of us couldn't catch any fish! How awesome was that?! Dad and mom were trying at the farthest end and Aaron and I at the other. None of us wanted to go home empty handed!

"C'mon, fishy!! Fishy fishy...where art thou?!" I whined as I rolled the string further into the water. After 10 minutes of patiently waiting which included plenty of whines and curses, I finally gave up. "Fishing sucks." I spat. Aaron chuckled beside me and took the rod away from me. I narrowed my eyes at him. "What? It's not your cup of coffee." He said innocently.

I huffed and stuck out my tongue at him. "Real mature, Carol. Real mature." He chided. "Stop talking like a 60 year old!" I stated. "Calm your horses and look outside. Stop focusing on the damn fish and enjoy mother nature. You hardly get to see stuff like this!" He added.

For once, he was right. The view was too mesmerising to avoid. I watched the farthest hill as the sun kept setting slowly. We were here for a pretty long time by now.

"You know, Carol, I'm glad I came here. Helps keep my mind...off things..." He trailed, his voice sounding far away. I nodded in understanding and leant my head on his shoulder.

"Carol? You awake?" Aaron whispered, side glancing at me. His eyes seemed guilty. Oh! He must've thought he had woken me up or something! "I wasn't sleeping. I'm right here. I was thinking...about stuff..." His eyebrows scrunched together inquisitively. He scooted closer and wrapped an arm around my shoulder. "Stuff? What sort of stuff?"

"I was thinking about what a douchebag you're and how you're a plain burden." I said nonchalantly, fighting a grin to form on my face.

He punched my arm playfully, chuckling. "You know you love me and that you need me." He said pompously. I smiled and hugged him.

"You know I'm always there, right?"

I looked at him and beamed, "Of course 'cause I'll be troubling you until I'm 70."

"Thinking out loud..." He teased as we lay on our backs, laughing.

"But hey, I was saying that dad's certain friend is coming to meet us today. On one of the tables on the lawn. They'll be here for dinner."

"Who's this certain friend now?" I asked, my fingers twirling my locks.

He shrugged his shoulders. "No idea."

"Hmm..." I pondered.

"Kids! C'mon! The Alberts will be here soon!" Mom called out for us.

Alberts? Such a familiar surname...

We got up and moored the boat towards the bank. Setting up a mini anchor, we climbed out and thanked the owner. It was truly a blissful experience...

"Mom?"

"Yeah?"

"Who're the Alberts?" I asked as Aaron walked by my side, looking at mom too.

She giggled like a teenager and that made my nose scrunch up. No offence there but I didn't understand her girly giggle at all. Aaron's and my eyes met, just like the usual connection we had and we let out a puzzled eye roll.

"Do you know what she's talking about?"

"Nah, genius. Let me ask. We'll see."

Our minds communicated through telepathy and we nodded at each other. "Mom? Would you please explain?"

"The Alberts, honeys! Don't you know them already?!" She squealed.

Our silence was her answer. She continued, her eyes watching us with disbelief. "William Albert is the Co Founder of one of the top notch companies! Albert Cooperation! His son Hayden is Hollywood's heartthrob and don't you girls swoon over him and listen to his songs?! Don't tell me you guys don't know him!"

My breath hitched at her words. "Hayden? H-Hayden Albert?" My breathing stopped in shock as my eyes jumped out of their sockets and mom assumed it as though I was fangirling over him at that very moment. She chuckled as she walked further to catch up with dad. "H-Hayden?" I was still paralysed as a hand rubbed my back soothingly. "I won't let that bastard get anywhere near you, sis." Aaron snarled. My hands shivered as my throat went dry. My inner conscience urged me to call Kevin but I stopped myself. There was no need to and besides, I could handle this. I could, right?

I slowly walked my way with him and got seated near the table where I saw caterers bringing up heavenly aromatic food that made a bit of my nervousness go away. We sat with my family and I unconsciously smoothened my clothes. It had some creases anyway.

Just then, a car rolled by a few tables away from ours and out of the dark black Porsche came a tall burly man who had a black sweatshirt on with jeans. He had an ever-glowing smile radiating above his firm square shaped chiselled jaw. His black curly hair made him look young and his blue tinted eyes made him seem sweet and amusing. He made his way towards us as a female with a Spanish radiance towed alongside. She was wearing a yellow oversized sweatshirt with light blue leggings and what looked like Vans. Her hazel brown hair with blonde highlights made me smile at the memories I had with the woman. Her angelic face glowed brightly as she rushed towards our table making William laugh at her enthusiasm.

His dad...he was so close to me...The last person to walk his way was the last person I wanted to see. Hayden. Dear Lord of all the Earth! He made his way to us all high and mighty. He had the aura unlike anyone I had ever seen but Kevin was way better! His strut shouting out 'I'm fucking proud of myself, scumbags!' was enough to get any girl kiss his feet. His muscles stood prominent through his sweatshirt. His chiselled jaw pulled up to a smirk as he saw us and he ruffled his hazel brown hair making it more dishevelled than ever adding to the 'sexy' effect.

How in the whole wide world was I his girlfriend?!

He reached our table and before he could greet the others, he pulled me towards him quickly as his hand landed on the small of my back. His familiar peppermint cologne hit my nostrils as he inched his face closer to mine. My breathing turned erratic right there and the past whizzed in my mind. "H-Hayden?" I whispered as my heart told me to step aside but my conscience told me to stay because I actually longed for this. Before making a decision, his deep husky voice beat me to it.

"Long time no kiss, Muffin..." Murmuring that, his lips landed on mine as my eyelids shut and I surprised myself by letting out a contended sigh. Smiling at my response, he deepened the kiss as he bit my lower lip. His lips moved with mine in sync. That was always how we would kiss each other. His touches would always send shivers down my spine.

While kissing him, one thing was very clear. The feelings that I had buried deep inside were springing up again just like caged animals being set free. The reason I cried that day after I had met Kevin at the party was because I didn't want to lose him too just like how I had lost the guy who was kissing me...This was just so bad. So bad.

How could I tell this to Kevin?! I couldn't betray him! The poor guy had already too much weight on his shoulders...

I made a decision that only after sorting out my feelings for him would I talk to him again. 'I'll always be yours, Kevin. No matter what.' I promised myself as I gently pulled away from the kiss. Hayden's sea blue eyes wandered on my face as his hands cupped my cheeks. "I've missed you so much...life has been so difficult without you...I'm so sorry..." He whispered as his forehead leant to touch mine. I looked at him and his eyes were closed, his expression morphing into one of pain and longing. I tilted my head for a better look and searched his devilishly handsome but angelic face. There were no traces of deceive but rather guilt.

I gulped down my saliva as I stood on my toes and kissed his forehead. He opened his eyes and a grimace made its way on his lips. We were lost in our own world when the clearing of throat rather 'throats' made us come back to the present. We smiled bashfully at each other as we turned towards our families. Hayden snaked an arm around my waist and brought me closer to him like always while I stood there blushing like hell!

I wanted to push him away but it would look awkward in front of our people especially after our oh-so intimate moment. Plus, it was confirmed that one part of me longed to be his girlfriend. I was so mean and uncaring. Why was I feeling that way?! 'What sort of spell did you cast on me, Albert?!' I groaned as my expression morphed my thoughts and Aaron, who was already looking as baffled and angry as ever, raised his eyebrow pointedly. He knew how my weak heart behaved to whatever that came about Hayden.

While I was moving on or say 'trying' to move on, Kevin came into my life and I seriously was intrigued by him. I was hopelessly crushing on him like crazy before I even knew it! There was something about us that made us seem so perfect! I could feel it...but who knew that a girl like me...who was not so experienced in the field of romance and flirting would go insane by meeting her ex in London?! That too on her first day?! Why the fuck was this even happening?!

Just when I thought I had very well moved on from Hayden, he had to show up and prove me wrong...

I was so doomed...