"Ding!"

The doorbell chimed my entry into the diner. I stopped at the door and took a deep breath, shaking from the cold and nerves. I took off my rain soaked coat before walking to the bar. I sat down on the stool and looked at the waitress whose back was turned to the coffee maker. I admired her light brown hair flowing with curls and see the exhaustion on her face. I lose my train of thought and send myself back in time.

"Aislinn! Let's go! I want to make it to the train on time!"

"I'm coming down, Berlin!"

I was 22 and Berlin was 21. We were getting ready to go on an adventure of a lifetime to Europe. Especially to Scotland. We planned for months and were finally able to go. We had left the states, flew from Hartfield Jackson in Atlanta to Heathrow in London. When we stepped off the plane we couldn't keep down our excitement. Berlin and I were best friends. We had met in college in our history class before I dropped out to help my aunt. She had radiant light brown curls with a glistening of gold shining in her hair. Her eyes were as blue and dark as the deep sea. As we were running through Heathrow, she looked back at me and made me laugh at her free spirit soul. 

As we finally made our way to the taxi and got to do some sightseeing along the way, we finally arrived at the most gorgeous hotel in London, Rosewood London. As the taxi came to a stop, we got out and admired the old architecture of the building while the driver was getting out our luggage. I tipped the driver and grabbed our luggage and wheeled them into the hotel.

As we got checked in and our luggage taken up to the room, I wanted to surprise Berlin with the suite of the room that overlooked London. She had thought we was getting a simple room but figured why not, let's just splurge on the adventure of a lifetime. 

"Oh my god! Aislinn, you didn't do this did you?" Berlin gasped.

I smiled, "Of course I did! I wanted to surprise you! Only for my best friend. We deserve it! "

We hugged each other tightly and I told her to go into the bathroom and our dresses were hanging in there. She was so excited to see the dress and ran in the bathroom to grab it. She came out with it and said,

"I am going to look like a hoe or a princess in this dress".

I went into the bathroom and said

"You'll look like a queen in this dress!" 

Once we got ready, She had on a dark blue long dress with a slit on the side all the way up to her thigh, with heels and dark red lipstick. Her hair lightly flowed over her shoulders. I was wearing a long black dress with heels and nude lipstick. 

As we left the room,

" Aislinn, I'm so excited! This will be the best trip ever." She squealed while smiling.

Me too! I am super excited to spend this adventure with you." I smiled back. 

We left the limo and walked to the restaurant I had reservations for a nice dinner and wine. We finished our meal and just a short walk away was Big Ben and the London Eye. There was a little bridge in front of Big Ben that I wanted to stop at to be able to look at it closer. As we got to the bridge, we stopped and looked at the clock.

"Oh it's so beautiful!" She awed at Big Ben, having seeing it for the first time.

I looked at it and said,

"It is. It's definitely something else. I wonder-" 

Berlin screams and I did the same as gunshots rang out and I jumped up to look around to see where they came from and look back at my best friend holding a hand over her bleeding heart and collapsing into me.

Coffee cups shatters nearby, shaking me out of my memories. The waitress was standing towards me trying to get my attention to take my order.

"Hello, ma'am, can I take your order?"

I stared at her looking at her face and hair, and realizing that no one would look like my best friend, Berlin. It's been 3 years since it happened.. The shooter was never found. I sighed, and said,

"Oh, I'm sorry, yes.. Can I just get a cup of coffee?"

I hear the doorbell chimed and a voice say,

"Miss I will take a coffee and apple pie please!"

I turn around and see Natalia walking up to the bar with pity and sympathy in her eyes. She sits down and sets her purse in the chair next to her.

"Aislinn you alright? What happened?"

"I had a flat tire, and then as I was walking, some truck decided to try to run me over." I say with a flat voice.

"WHAT?! Where is the bastard I will run them off the road before they run you.."

"Nattio! Stop.." I start to laugh at her as she has the expression of getting ready to kill someone.

I chuckled and drink my coffee while she ate her pie and turn to glance at her.

Natalia is a spitfire, has her own opinion about everything which is why she's a hell of a partner in the business. She's tall and a beauty. Everyone stares at her, men and women. Although she enjoys the women's looks more than men. She is a tall, slim, dark brown hair with hazel eyes that can stare and win every single investors that we have had to meet for IRE.

"Yoohooo..Aislinn.. You ready to go home?"

I blinked out of my trance and stood up, grabbing my jacket.

"Yeah let's go. I'm ready to get home."

As I walked to the door I heard her whispered,

" I know today was the day.. You know.. I am here if you want to talk about that."

I froze and tears welled up in my eyes and I whispered,

"Let's go home, Nattio. I've had enough to deal with for one day."

And we walked out the door into the freezing rain.