MESSY
20, don't mention it

THE WATER FEELS AMAZING. the salt of the sea tickles my skin as I take a breath — looking around to the others who have decided to join me. Some further in whilst some still clamber down the path from the house to the beach.

It reminds me of Italy — although it's not sunny enough or hot enough. And the peaches from the shop that Florence brought don't pack half the punch that the fresh ones from the house orchard did.

A part of me misses it. Not the drama of it all — trying to navigate my relationship with Drew and my feelings for Callum. But I miss the sun and the people, Chiara specifically.

Yes, we talk on the phone and exchange photos of our weeks of random things that remind us of each other — the last one was when I saw a bottle of aftersun lotion in the corner shop.

It reminded me of the time she fell asleep whilst on set and woke up with sunburn all on her arms and legs. So much so she had to practically bathe in aftersun after she got home. I remember sitting beside her as I tried to not laugh at the misfortune of my friend too much. Instead decided to focus on the fact that her tan would look amazing after 'the red wore off'.

She speaks of coming to London, I've already offered up the left side of my childhood bed considering I haven't found a decent place to live that isn't extortionately priced. But schedules clash, any weekends I'm free to jet off to Italy or she to London they clash.

My hands push my hair to slick back as I smile at the pinkish sky — water shallow enough to stand in as I push the bottom of my feet into the sand which they soon sink into.

After while, I walk back up to the house — changing out of my costume. Taking the pre-dinner wine that Florence offers me before I'm ultimately shooed from the kitchen.

Stood in the garden, watching the sea as the waves ripple in front of me. I hear footsteps behind me, before I melt into the chest that is soon pushed up against me. Inhale the freshly applied cologne that stings my nostrils in the sweetest way possible.

" twenty eight tomorrow." Callum hums, as I look at him as he walks into the garden. Everyone else lingers on the decking, waiting for Florence and Taron to serve dinner ( after they too were sworn out of the kitchen).

I look at him, the sun still hot as it heats up my shoulders — I close my eyes as his flat palm runs over my stomach. My own hand lifting to sit on his. He gently pushes my back from my shoulder as his lips caress the skin of my shoulder blade.

" you're getting old." he hums and I laugh in the midst of a scoff, I shake my head " I think my free oldies bus pass should arrive by the time we're back don't you think?"

He nods his head, his lips continuing to kiss my skin as I smile and exhale his name — trying not to lose fact that our friends all stand twenty metres away.

" you taste like the ocean." he hums, as I turn my head to look at him, " yeah that kind of happens when you go in the sea." I smile as he shakes his head.

His fingers pulling down the strap of my dress as his lips gently kiss the skin up to my neck, soon it's behind my ear and then my cheek which he lets his lips brush.

" you're like some lovesick  puppy." I tell him, softly laughing as he smiles against my skin.

" only for you." he tells me " I'll never not love touching you or kissing you or just being with you."

I turn my head and meet his lips with my own, one of my hands moving to push back his blonde hair — " my little lovesick puppy." I smile softly.

" oi lovebirds!" I hear Luke's voice, my head turns as we're sworn over to the dining table. I smile at Callum,

" I like when they call us that." I tell him.

He smiles, pressing one more kiss to my head as our hands hold each other as we walk back towards the table — taking our seats at the table, chatter dispersing between us all as drinks are poured. Although I notice one table setting which is left unoccupied, although knowing Florence she hates inconsistency so most likely did it just because.

Applause and cheering are heard when Florence brings out the dishes of food — smiling ear to ear at the praise of her favourite people to feed, her friends.

But before we can eat, she reaches for her glass as she stands and smiles down from the head of the table " before we feast, I'd like to make a toast."

Her eyes waver to me as I feel bashful and push back a smile " as you all know, we come here to celebrate another of our beautiful Olympia's trips around the sun." she smiles and they all cheer at me

" so I toast to my most favourite person in this world, my best friend, my favourite critic, my emotional rock and overall probably the greatest love of my life." She lifts her glass, which a gesture everyone else joins her in. Whilst I bury my head in the crook of Callum's neck.

" To Olly!" she cheers, and soon a overwhelming repeating of my name fills my ears as I meekly lift my wine glass and sip on it.

" thank you everyone, I love you guys." I look around, met by soft smiles and blowing of kisses,

" and I know everyone booking this off their schedules is not easy work by any means—"

and then there's a voice, it doesn't come the table. " yeah, especially for me." And yet I recognise it almost immediately.

My eyes widen as I turn my head, lips parted and mouth formed into an ' o' shape as I whip around my head to look at her.

Months since we last saw each other, there in the doorway stands Chiara. Not on my phone screen but here, mere metres away. Her hair longer as she stands there with a smile equally as wide as mine.

" oh my god, oh my god." I soon push out my chair, in a flurry of adrenaline as I run over — hugging her tightly. Almost lifting her off the ground.

I hear the softness of her laughter as she holds onto me " happy early birthday Olly."

Stuck in some kind of shock I just look at her
" what-what are you even doing here, you said you were going to be on set!" I said because of course I had invited her to this weekend, because I hadn't shut up about the friend I made back in Italy since I got back.

But she said she was going to be filming some short film that weekend so wouldn't be able to make it. " someone called me and told me to say I couldn't come so I could surprise you."

And I don't even have to follow her gaze as I know exactly who she's talking about — watching as the man I hopelessly adore watches us. Stupid smile on the face which I'm going to kiss soon. fuck, I really adore him.

" I'm so happy you're here!" I grin, looking back to my group of friends who watch us " come, come and sit down!" soon beginning to lead her to the aforementioned empty seat as I introduce her to everyone.

And whilst she talks to Luke, I turn to Callum. My hand gently sitting on his cheek as I shake my head " thank you, for bringing her here." I hum.

And he shrugs it off like it's nothing when in actuality we both know it means everything

"don't even mention it," he says.

His selflessness and kindness and compassion just creates this feeling in my chest — and I shake my head once I realise exactly what that feeling is.

I love him. I am absolutely head over heels in love with him. As I pinch his cheeks and kiss him — feeling that smile grow his lips as they touch mine.

I hate that I didn't realise it soon enough — it's one of my biggest regrets. if I knew what I knew now — I would have strolled onto that set years ago and just kissed him.

I would have kissed him and held him and loved him in this capacity for the last eight years — I would have surrendered my heart to him with much less effort than I do now. Just served it on a platter with the utmost trust that he won't break it.

Because he's the greatest love I have ever known. This is the shit that the Brontë's wrote about, all the poets and the playwrights look down at us on this garden patio and smile.

Another case proven that true love exists, and it exists in the six foot two figure with blonde hair with peeking brown roots that I'm currently kissing.

I pull away, smiling at him stupidly because I love him " thank you."

And he just kisses my cheek " like I said, don't mention it."

ELLIE SPEAKS 🪄
UGH MY HEART!!!