It was impossible for a text message to change a life. Wasn't it?

Bright lights flashed in Chloe's face, sending white spots dancing across her vision. Her eyes burned in response. Still, despite having only three hours sleep the night before and wishing she was somewhere else – anywhere else - Chloe kept her smile face-achingly wide. 

It was all so ridiculous. From her fake smile, to the thick layers of makeup, to the giant oversized plane ticket propped in her arms, she had never felt less like herself.

One text. Just one. That's all it had taken to transform her into the main attraction of Terminal 4.

Every traveller slowed their walk as they approached, their eyes lingering on her face for a few seconds too long in hopes of spotting a celebrity.

If only. Maybe then there would be a reason for this farce.

Chloe adjusted her grip on the giant plane ticket, gritting her teeth as her arms ached in protest. Unsurprisingly, it didn't feel quite so light as it had forty minutes earlier. 

"For our listeners today, Chloe, how many times did you enter our competition?"

"Just once." She replied through clenched teeth, her overbright smile still firmly in place despite answering the same question eleven times already.

At her lacklustre reply, the radio presenter didn't miss a beat. Forcing a smile upon his crooked lips, he continued, "AMAZING. Isn't that incredible, folks? With just one simple text, Chloe took home the grand prize of our Summer Giveaway."

It didn't feel bloody amazing. Chloe kept smiling, her enthusiasm waning as quickly as her caffeine high. She had never hated someone so quickly in her life. Ronnie's smooth voice had dragged her through many essay marking sessions and yet, it was quickly becoming like nails on a chalkboard.

It's too early for this shit.

Though, was it too early to wish some deity would come and strike her down?  To put her out of her misery. Or,at the very least, bring her more coffee?

She drew in a deep breath and forced her smile wider, her cheeks throbbing in protest.

Be grateful, Chloe. You're going to the Maldives. Just think of the holiday.

She repeated the words over and over in her head like a mantra even as she wished she was somewhere else. Anywhere else.

Well, almost anywhere.

A spectacle for strangers was still preferable to supervising the annual school camping trip.

She shivered. No, fucking thank you.  Been there. Done that.

"Now, if you want to be just like Chloe, about to head off on the trip of a lifetime, make sure you check out our competitions page on our website for details on how to enter." The man frowned and repeated the spiel several times over and over again, determined to get the perfect take. 

Chloe ground her teeth, the cardboard plane ticket biting into the palms of her hands. More lights flashed in her face. Maybe the camping trip would have been better than this?

A sudden commotion forced the presenter to a stop, his mouth half agape so that Chloe got a front row seat to the wad of chewing gum in his mouth. Her nose wrinkled in disgust just as there was another camera flash.

Just fucking perfect.

"Well, this is turning out to be a day." The radio presenter muttered, his head swivelling to watch the progress of a dark-haired man in dark jeans and a leather jacket through the terminal.

The lone figure moved past without breaking his stride, a large suitcase wheeling along beside him. He was like a one-person storm cloud. He wasn't even rushing. He gave off so much major 'fuck off energy' that he parted the sea of holidaymakers before him without a single word.

If Chloe ever got a superpower, she wanted that one.

Still, some seemed to be immune to his lack of charm. Instead, a scrabble of camera wielding men and women hurried in his wake, their voices getting louder and more urgent the longer he ignored them.

The man's steps didn't falter even under the barrage of questions. Instead, he moved with purpose, head down and headphones on as he strode towards the check-in desk with barely a glance at his audience.

Was he famous?

Chloe tilted her head to the side. He did kind of look like the main bad boy on the vampire TV show that Leah loved so much. It had to be him. Maybe. It was hard to tell without the ghostly makeup all of the cast were forced to wear.

Exhaling loudly, Chloe used the distraction to drop oversized plane ticket onto the floor. Massaging the aching muscles in her arms, Chloe looked towards the doors as another wave of passengers entered. Where the hell was she?

Pulling her phone from her pocket, she swiped her finger over the screen. It lit up, the time causing her heart to skip. 

"Any sign of your friend? We'd like to get a promo shot of the both of you before you head through check in."

She shook her head, "I have no idea." 

As if summoned, her phone started to vibrate in her hand, her best friend's name lighting up the screen.

Chloe's stomach churned even as she answered the call. "Please tell me you're almost here."

"I'm so sorry, Chloe."

Chloe's eyes fluttered shut. She should have known. It was too good to be bloody true. Even through the phoneline, Chloe could hear the unhealthy rasp to her best friend's voice.

"I'm not going to make it. I feel like absolute death." Leah groaned, her voice cracking over the phone line. "I've been up half of the night praying to the porcelain God."

"Oh no, are you okay? I can come to you. The taxi is gone but I'm sure I can find another one."

The presenter's eyes widened, a sweaty sheen breaking out on his forehead as he rapidly shook his head back and forth.

Like she had seen him, Leah barked out, "NO."

Chloe jumped, pulling the phone away from her face so that she could rub at her ringing ear. "What? Why not? You can't really expect me to go on my own?"

"Chloe, you listen to me and you listen to me well. You are going to check in for that flight and get on the damned plane for the both of us. You've won a week in bloody paradise and I refuse to let you miss out because I've got the lurgies." She broke off for a moment, faint sounds of coughing and dry heaving echoing down the phone line. "Sorry."

"Are you sure you are fine? I don't mind cancelling."

"You listen to me Chloe Morgan. You are not cancelling. Get on the damned plane and enjoy the trip. This kind of thing doesn't happen to us. When will you get the chance to do this again on a teacher's salary? Never. That's when." She huffed, and Chloe could almost picture the scowl on her face. "I know this is scary but, if you can't do this for you,  do it for me. Take lots of photos and give me all of the gossip when you get back."

Chloe chewed on her lip, refusing to look at Ronnie's sweaty face hovering in front of her, his hands waving wildly as he tried to grab her attention.  "If you're sure?"

"I'm sure."

"Okay." Chloe blew out a slow breath and shook her head. "I can't believe I'm doing this."

"You've got this. Now, babe," Leah paused and drew in a few deep breaths. "Don't take this the wrong way but I've got an appointment with a toilet bowl I'm late for. So, have fun and send me lots of texts. Mwah."

Chloe opened her mouth to respond but she was already gone. Her friend's distant prayer to a deity echoed loudly in her ear. She stared at her phone for several more moments before depositing it in her pocket.

"We're good to go?" The radio presenter breathed out a sigh of relief at her nod before snagging a golden envelope from his assistant and depositing it firmly into her hands. "Great. Now, here are your boarding passes and transfer details. You've got the full five-star treatment."

"Great." Chloe replied, trying to inject an ounce of enthusiasm into her voice but falling flat. Her clammy hands gripped onto the envelope like a lifeline.

"Now, as you're travelling solo, we'll get some last shots of you going to check in and then it's all you. Oh, and don't forget to take some photos for our social media."

She bit back a wince. Great. More photos.

Instead, Chloe nodded her head. Then, twenty-three times in a row, she walked away from the man. Chloe had never really thought about the way she walked but, by the end of the ordeal, she had a full-blown complex.

Finally, a breath of relief hissed out between her teeth when he confirmed she was done. Chloe hesitated for just a moment but, when presenter looked as if he may change his mind, she spun on her heel and hurried to the check-in desk.

Leah's right. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity and she would be a fool not to make the most of it.

Tearing open the golden envelope, she pulled out her boarding pass for she could change her mind.  Then, with a last glance at the presenter and the crew, she headed towards security.

Time between check in, security, and the boarding gates opening all passed in a blur. It was only as she was waiting to board that she finally read the front of the ticket. A furrow formed between her brow. Surely there must be some mistake?

"Calling rows one to four."

With a glance at her ticket, Chloe stepped forward, the boarding pass trembling in her hand. Surely, they'd realise the mistake and kick her to the back of the queue. Yet they didn't. Instead, the woman at the gate took her ticket and passport and then, after they had been scanned, she handed them back with a bright smile.

"Have a great flight."

In a daze, Chloe stepped past the desk slowly, her eyes wide as she stared at some of the other airline staff. She could almost see it in her mind; getting tackled to the ground for the sheer audacity of daring to enter First Class.

Chloe trailed behind some of the passengers down the tunnel. She swallowed loudly. Her feet paused as she stepped onto the craft.

Then, for the first time in her life, she boarded the plane and turned left.

Her mouth dropped open into a small 'o', her feet still moving forwards. It was like stepping into another world. Chloe had only ever experienced economy class, where everyone was packed in like sardines and it was rare to make it through a flight without someone encroaching into her personal space. Here, she was definitely out of place, and she was almost certain the other travellers could tell.

Chloe quickly found her seat and slumped down with a sigh. She watched the other first-class passengers file past over the top of the inflight magazine. Most were suited and booted, exuding effortless elegance.

Then, there was him.

He was a class of his own, passing in a cloud of woodsy cologne. He dropped into a seat two rows in front.

It was him.

Tall, dark, and handsome from the terminal. The celebrity she had no name for. 

As if sensing the weight of her stare, his head turned towards hers. Her breath stuttered in her chest. For a brief second, their eyes locked across the aisle and she found herself ensnared. She couldn't look away even if she wanted to.

Then, unable to stop herself, Chloe's lips curled up into a smile.

For a second, she thought he would smile back. Instead, it was like the spell had been broken. His features twisted up into a scowl and then, with a shake of his head and a parting glare, he turned away.

"Champagne?"

Chloe startled back in her seat, the magazine dropping from her hands and onto the floor with a pitiful flap. She winced. Then, very slowly, she lifted her head. 

The air stewardess was the epitome of professionalism as she hovered at Chloe's side, not a hair out of place.

Chloe's cheeks grew hot, red swiftly blooming up the sides of her neck and across her cheeks. Had she seen? Seen whatever that was?

"Champagne?" The air stewardess asked again.

"Oh. Yes, please." Chloe accepted the glass and without preamble, took a large swig. It was tart on her tongue, the bubbles rushing up her nose and burning uncomfortably. Still, she took another smaller sip and sighed softly.

The aircraft rumbled to life beneath her as the engines started. Chloe drew in a deep breath and released it slowly. 

It was really happening. She was really doing this alone.

The terrified part of her wanted to go home and forget the day had ever happened.

Yet, she didn't.

She couldn't.

Leah was right. Chloe would never get this opportunity again. She  had to enjoy each and every moment of the trip while it lasted. Not even tall, dark, and moody was going to ruin it.

With that thought in mind, she raised the glass to her lips once more and drained the last of her champagne in one fizzy gulp.

Then, as the seatbelt light switched off ahead, she relaxed back into the chair with a grin. "Maldives, here I come."