"Addie here are the keys. Lock the door."

"Yes mum." Adalyn took the keys from Laura's hand and locked the door of the café. After Michelle had gone, suddenly a lot of people had arrived in the café. So to help things move efficiently, Adalyn offered to help her mum with the evening rush. It was 9.07 pm, and Adalyn was just locking up the café.

After locking up, Adalyn and Laura walked up to Laura's car and began their drive to their home. Mocha Aroma was a little far from their home, so it was going to be atleast a 15 minute drive, you know, if there isn't much traffic.

"So Addie, how did meeting up with Michelle go?" Laura asked. Due to the evening rush, the mother daughter didn't have any time to discuss the afternoon's events.

"It went great. She is really amazing. I was a little nervous in the start, but I got more and more confident as I talked more and more with her. Michelle was easy to talk to. I think if something will be troubling me during the internship, she'd be able to help me. Oh, and she also asked about dad. I told her everything. Is that alright?" Adalyn asked while biting down her lip.

"Yes Addie it's completely fine. It's important that Michelle knows about you. So we don't have anything to worry about." Laura said, while turning her face to the left for a second to look at Adalyn, who was resting her head on the window.

"Okay mum." Adalyn picked up the AUX cord and connected her phone with it. Then she played some music, Ruel to be exact.

You and I
We used to walk the streets at night
Our parents didn't know
Kept the TV going
Left on all the bedroom lights

"Aah Ruel. He's pretty cute don't you think?" Laura said, teasing Adalyn.

"Muuuuum!" Adalyn said, while elongating the word 'mum'. She felt some heat rush to her cheeks so she covered up her face with her hands, trying to hide her blushing self.

"Ooh you'll be with Ruel. For two weeks. In London." Laura said while smiling.

"Everything will be strictly professional mum." Adalyn said.

"Mhhmhhm. If you say so." Laura said sarcastically with a smirk on her face.

"Mum you're the worst. I hate you." Adalyn joked.

"Aww thanks hun. I love you too." Laura said with the same smirk.

There was a moment of silence. Adalyn's cheeks began to lose the heat and Laura's face began to lose its smirk.

"You know Addie, if Ruel's a nice guy and there's something between the both of you, you can date." Laura said.

"Mum I don't think so. You're moving way too fast. I haven't even met him yet. And besides, you know I don't really appreciate the thought of dating." Adalyn said.

Let's talk about Adalyn's love life, shall we?
She's never had a boyfriend. She's never even had a crush. She never noticed the boys in her school that way. Lorelai thinks she is afraid to love. But that isn't true. Adalyn has seen couples around her, like Laura and Jacob; they were deeply in love. She has seen that people in love can be so happy. But she isn't afraid of love, no. She's afraid of the heartbreak that follows. She's seen people happy in love, but she has also seen depression. Sometimes love doesn't work out, so people are sad and depressed. Like, both of them fall out of love or it was all fake or it never meant anything to anyone; it was shallow. Adalyn was afraid of it. She doesn't want to be left as a crying, depressed mess. So she doesn't resort to dating at all. And Lorelai, she had a boyfriend at the age of 15. His name was Ross. But Ross had to move all the way to the US. Their relationship was long distanced in the start, but both of them began to fall out of love. They both understood and respected each other's feelings, so they had a happy ending. Lorelai was a little sad, but she got over it soon. She and Ross are good friends now.

"I think the most I'll be is friends with him." Adalyn said.

"Okay that's no problem. But remember, everyone is meant to be with someone." Laura said with a wink.

"Mum, I'll think about all of this when I'm older, not now." Adalyn replied.

"I'll support in whatever you do." Laura smiled.

Ring ring

Adalyn's phone began to ring. She brought the screen closer to her face to see that it was Lorelai who is calling her. She swiped her thumb across the screen, accepting the call.

"Hello?" Adalyn said.

"Addie tell me everything! How is Michelle like? Did you meet Ruel? How will the internship unfold? Tell. Me. Everything." Lorelai kept on asking questions which made Adalyn laugh.

"Michelle is amazing! She was really easy to talk to. I can't wait to work with her. And no, I didn't meet Ruel. Michelle came alone. She said that we both will go to London together and the rest of the team will come to London from Sydney, so I'll meet them there only. The internship includes clicking pictures for Ruel in his concerts and photo sessions."

"That's great! When are you supposed to go?"

"Well, I don't know the exact time but I will be going on 11th of October."

"Oh 'kay."

"Oh and Michelle followed me on Instagram. She pretty much liked each and every post of mine." Adalyn let out a small chuckle. "And she wanted to see how good am I at clicking pictures of people, so I showed her the pictures I clicked of you."

"Oh really! What did she say?"

"She loved it. Michelle said that she will teach me about everything I need to know about."

"That's great. After the internship you'll become an even better photographer."

"Yeah. Oh, how was your lunch today?"

"It was great! Aunt Lee bought some amazing sweets. And Tina and Monica were amazing." Tina and Monica were twin sisters. They were Aunt Lee's daughters. They both were a year younger than Lorelai.

"Did Jessie have fun?"

"Yeah. You know how much she loves the twins." Lorelai said with a laugh.

"Yeah. I know she loves them."

"Aunt Lee was asking about you. I told her about your internship. She gives you her best wishes for it."

"Aww that's so nice of her. Tell her I say thanks."

"Yeah I will. Oh I gotta go. Mum's calling. Bye."

"Okay bye." And with that Adalyn hung up.

After the call ended, Laura and Adalyn had reached their home. Laura parked the car and both of them got out. Adalyn opened up the door with her house keys and her mum followed her inside, closing the door.

"Mum I'm going to have a shower." Adalyn said.

"Okay. Addie I am so tired, I really don't want to make food. Can we order pizza?" Laura said as she laid down on the couch.

Adalyn laughed. "Of course mum. What sorta question is that?" She continued to laugh as she went to her room upstairs.

"Okay, you have a shower, I'll order for the both of us." Laura said.

"Okay." Came Adalyn's voice from upstairs.

She kept all her stuff on the bed, precisely her camera and phone. Then she picked up her towel and her chosen clothes and went in the washroom to have a shower. After spending 15 minutes in the shower, she dried herself and wore her clothes and came out. Then she picked up her phone and went downstairs.

"So, I've ordered one extra large pizza along with garlic bread. That will be enough right?" Laura asked as she moved to the left from her previous position on the couch, to make some space for Adalyn to sit.

"Yes mum that's enough." Adalyn said as she sat down.

Suddenly her phone vibrated with a notification.

Michelle

Hi Adalyn.
I was viewing plane tickets for the
both of us for 11th of October. I found
seats for 5.30 am and 12.00 noon. If we take
the 5.30 am one, we'll reach at 9.00 am aest.
The problem is that the 12.00 noon one is
almost filled and the seats which are left are
the expensive ones.
If we take the 12.00 noon one, then we'll
reach at 3.30 pm aest. Just tell which one you're
more comfortable with. I am not booking the
tickets right now. I'll need your passport
and everything to book them. I think I'll
prefer the first one. But if you're a late riser,
then the second one will also work.
Text me ASAP.

"Mum read this please." Adalyn said, showing her phone screen to Laura. Laura read the whole message, taking 20 seconds.

"Go for the first one. I know it's early, but you'll reach their soon and will get to see around. Why to spend money for the 12.00 noon one? And besides, you'll be able to wake up early. You'll be extremely excited." Laura laughed.

"Yeah you're right. Okay, I'll tell her." Adalyn said.

Michelle

Hey Michelle.
I am completely fine with the 5.30 am one.

That's great! So, I need some specific
details of yours. I am planning to book
the tickets tomorrow, so I'll ask you all
the things required tomorrow.

Okay. That's alright.

So, have you ever traveled in a plane?

Once, when we had to go to Perth for a
family reunion. But it was 2 years ago.

It's no problem. So I'll text you tomorrow,
preferably after 11.00 am.

Okay Michelle.

'Kay. Good night. :)

Good night (:

"So Michelle will text me tomorrow to ask for all the details and everything." Adalyn said.

"Okay."  Laura said.

Ding dong

The doorbell rang. Adalyn got up to open the door. It was the pizza delivery guy. She took the pizza and garlic bread and paid him. Then she kept the boxes on the table in front of the couch and bought two plates. She sat down, handing one to Laura. They both began feasting while having fun discussions. After eating, both of them went to their rooms, freshened up and went to bed.

_____________________________

Next day
Current time: 10.00 am.

"Here you go. This is your passport. Keep it safe." Laura said.

Adalyn woke up and when she searched all around her room to find her passport, it was nowhere to be seen. She went down to Laura's room to ask her about it. Apparently she had kept that with herselves only in a drawer along with her own passport.

"Thanks mum. You should have told me you have it. I was panicking that I have lost it." Adalyn said.

"Sorry Addie. I kept it because I was afraid you will lose it." Laura said with a cheeky smile.

"Mum I am not irresponsible." Adalyn cried.

"Addie I know I know. Sorry." Laura said while laughing.

Adalyn went to the kitchen and sat down at the chair and kept the passport on the table. Laura came out and began preparing the breakfast. It was Sunday and their Sunday breakfast comprised of waffles. She made the waffles for the both of them along with Adalyn's help. After preparing they both began eating, discussing the day's events and plans.

"What about your school Addie?" Laura asked.

"What about it?" Adalyn asked, eating the small piece of waffle stuck on her fork.

"During the internship are you going to study or not?"

"Well, I can do online schooling. In that case, my studies will be done side by side. If I won't do online schooling, then all of my work will be accumulated and it will be hard to do."

"Okay, that's fine."

After finishing their breakfast, Laura got up and picked up her and Adalyn's plate and went in the kitchen to put it in the dishwasher. On the other hand Adalyn's phone was buzzing with notifications.

Michelle

Hi Adalyn.
So, I need a picture of your passport.
Basically I need that for your full name,
date of birth, parent's/guardian's name,
your email address and age.

Okay.

Adalyn clicked a picture of her passport and sent it to Michelle.

Michelle

Thanks. What's your email address again?

Its [email protected]

Great, thanks again. You'll receive a
mail soon of your ticket. Once you receive it,
confirm with me once.

Got it.

And sure enough, within 30 minutes of the chat, Adalyn received an email of her plane ticket. It did nothing but make her more and more excited for her internship.

_______________________________
Author's note

This chapter was long, but I'm planning to keep it my regular word limit, as when we read it, it doesn't seem that long. Looks like Adalyn will be going to London soon! And she'll get to meet Ruel 😏. I apologize if the details of the plane journey are somehow missing or wrong. I have only travelled in a plane once, and that too within my country. Stick around for more. And don't forget to follow me for updates and to click on the star!

With love through health and sickness
Keziah