Chapter 2
The plane lands on the runway abruptly, shaking me awake in a slight panic.
I grab my arm rest and clench it, turning my knuckles white.
As soon as the plane stops moving, everyone bounces up from their seat, hectically pulling their bags down from the overhead lockers.
As Coco always said,we’d all eventually get off the plane no matter who got off first.
I sit there, waiting for everyone to leave the plane, leaving me alone.
The well put together stewardesses wave me goodbye, their ruby lips showing off their very white teeth.
I drag my small suitcase through the airport, making my way straight to the taxi rank.The perks of only bringing hand luggage are not waiting round for my bag.
As I leave the airport doors, the warm air hits me and the sun falls on my face.
I turn to the taxi rank to see Nora standing there, sunglasses on and cigarette balancing on her lips, laughing along with the taxi driver.
From what I’ve seen of this woman, I wish I had the confidence to just talk to any and every stranger.
Nora looks over to me, notices me staring, and waves her hand just a little.
I wave mine back and smile before being interrupted by the taxi driver.
“Taxi?”
the man in a blue polo shirt, hanging out the driver’s window, says. “Yes please, Sunset Hotel?”
The driver nods, getting out of the car and putting my bags in the boot. I get in the back and admire the views as we drive to the hotel. The rugged cliffs and wild nature surrounding the rocky
BEYOND THE BLUES
roads until we reach the shoreline. Then there it is. The beautiful white buildings, contrasting with the deep blue glimmering sea, peacefully singing as the waves crash against the beach. I can see why Coco always wanted to visit this place. She always loved blue, and it seems here, there’s a bit of blue dotted everywhere.I remember in her light blonde hair there were blue streaks highlighted throughout, matching her blue shell necklace she always kept on. I fiddle with my matching pink shell necklace, heart heavy with grief. A tear falls down my cheek slowly, and I try to hold back my emotions. I’m doing this for Coco. Coco would want me to be happy.
Before I know it, I’m flooding this poor man’s taxi with my tears, his confused eyes looking at me through the rear-view mirror.
*
Aged 16
Coco lies on my lap whilst I braid her hair, and she speaks about a new film she thinks we should watch.
“I just think you’ll really like it, Ophelia!”
“I’ll never like the films you like, you see. I like dramas and romances and you like nerdy stuff.”
Coco sits up jokingly offended and throws a pillow from the bed at me. We fall into a pit of laughter, stomach cramping from how hard I’m laughing. As she lays her head back down on my lap, a sense of calm washes over us both. Her big green eyes stare up at me. Coco was the real life Rapunzel look alike.
“You know what film we will both agree on, though?”
We smile at each other.
“Mamma Mia”
we say in unison.We both sing loudly, out of tune, of course, to every song that comes on. Coco and I have watched this film well over 100 times.When it first came out, we begged our parents to take us to the cinema three times during the release week. We knew every line, we laughed and cried every time we watched the film.‘Slipping through our fingers’ plays and Coco shoots up off the bed, lip syncing a dramatic adaptation of it.The further along the song gets, the more passionate she gets. She prances around the room, picking up a hairbrush as a microphone. Her face radiating pure happiness, her cheeks flushed from laughing. When Sophie’s part starts, I
*
join in, hand in hand, with Coco dancing in the middle of my room, now singing in unison. As the song ends, we stand there, out of breath in the middle of the room and chuckle to ourselves.
“I love you.”
Coco says.
“I love you more.” I reply.
“We’ll go to Greece one day together, live out our Mamma Mia fantasy, yeah?”
Coco holds out her pinky.
“Pinky promise.”
*
The driver subtly places a pack of tissues on the back seat, and I take a couple, patting my wet eyes dry and thanking him. We pull into the hotel’s car park.The hotel has classical white Greek buildings dotted around, fairy lights dangling all over the place and fuschia flowers blooming from the bushes. I check in at reception, petting the cheeky cat that has sneaked into the building. A little grey cat with white markings purring against my hand, making little happy chirping noises.
“Well, you’re a cutie, aren’t you?”
I say to the cat, the cat looks up at me with its big green eyes. Green eyes like Coco’s; which I know she’d be up in heaven laughing at me for even having a small inkling that this cat is her. I let out a small chuckle, the cat meowing at me in response. The receptionist hands over my room keys and guides me to my room. I walk into the fresh room overlooking the pool and the beach in the distance and decide I should head down to the pool since it’s only midday. I put on a bikini and grab the necessities, sunscreen and a book. After all, I am simply just a book nerd who burns way too easily. I lay down my towel on a sunbed and apply sunscreen in a thick layer all over, trying to get it on my back, but clearly missing the mid section.
“Need some help?”
A familiar Irish accent says, I turn around and see Nora there wearing a black scoop neck bikini and green palm tree swimming shorts.
“Wait, are you staying here?!”
My mouth falls into an O in shock.
“No, I just thought I’d stalk you for a day and then go back home to London.”
Nora remarks, that same smirk appearing on her lips. I roll my eyes, smiling,
BEYOND THE BLUES
and hand her over the sunscreen. She rubs it into her hands and then puts her warm, firm hands on my back, rubbing the cream in. Then it slowly turns into a shoulder massage, seeming to get every knot in my shoulder just perfectly. A small hum falls from my lips.
“Nice?”
Nora says, and I realise that sound should’ve stayed in my head. I pull away from her hands and turn to face her again.
“Lovely, thank you!”
I blurt. Nora leans her head to the side and smiles. “What? Is there something on my face or something?”
Nora nods and places her thumb on my nose.
“Forgot to rub that bit on your nose.”
She rubs her thumb gently on my nose.
“I think it’s been a few too many times of embarrassing myself in front of you and you only bumped into me, What, about 6 hours ago?”
“No, no, don’t worry, it’s grand. I’m enjoying it.”
Nora states.
“So, you’re enjoying my downfall?”
I joke, hand to my chest as if I’m offended.
“No, it adds a bit of character.”
Nora smiles.
“Can I lie on this sunbed?”
Nora points to the sunbed next to mine. I nod. She lies down, spreading her arms above her head, hands veiny over the top of the sunbed. The freckles don’t just stop on her face, they trickle down her body. I take a deep breath and turn my vision to something else, ignoring the small flutters I’m feeling. Where they are, I’m not entirely sure.
“Why’d you get that tattoo?”Nora rolls onto her side, reaching her hand out and tapping my exposed wrist. The tattoo of a wave sits there. For Coco, of course.
“It’s for Coco. She loved the sea.”
“Loved?”
Nora questions, eyebrows furrowed then dropping with realisa-tion.
“Oh, shit, I’m sorry. I always speak before I think.”
“No, it’s fine.”
I wave my hand elusively in front of my face.
“I heard she passed, It just crossed my mind how close you guys were”
Nora adds. I nod, unable to form words. How could she not remember we were close, we were attached by the hip? But I guess we were in university, things change. Nora notices my awkwardness and jumps to a distraction.
*
“At least you don’t have this bad boy.”
Nora pulls down her swimming shorts slightly, revealing her bare hip. My breath hitches. I look at Nora’s tattoo of a badly tattooed smiley face, one eye bigger than the other and the smile lopsided.
“It looks like you!” I say.
“What?!”
Nora laughs, pulling up her shorts again.
“It’s smirking, like you always do.”
“I do not.”
Nora responds, sitting up on the sunbed, crossing her arms over her chest like a child having a tantrum.
“Sure”
I nod slowly, eyes wide. We both erupt into a fit of laughter, the families around the pool looking over, confused. I cover my hand over my mouth, trying to hold back my cackle.
“You’re easygoing. You know Ophelia?”
I clear my throat and smile gently.
“Thanks, you too.”
My thumb strokes my tattoo on my wrist.
“I can’t believe we didn’t speak more at university!”
Nora adds.
“I think we only spoke like once, but somehow we were always in the same room a lot.”
I remind Nora.
“Always noticed me, did ya?”
Nora smirks.
“You could say that, I guess.”
I shrug. But yes, I always noticed the attractive female in the same room as me.
“Dinner later?”
Nora asks confidently “Is that a date?”
“It’s whatever you want it to be.”
Nora says deadpan.
*3 years ago*
Coco and I go to a freshers party. We walk in and already the room smells like drugs, sex and vodka. I scrunch my nose in disgust. Is this what university is going to be for me?
“I met a couple of people earlier today. Let me introduce them to you!”
Coco shouts over the music.
“You’ve literally just started uni? How have you already met people?” I ask.
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“It’s my magic.”
Coco winks and then pulls me through the crowds of people. When we arrive at this group of people, Coco hugs them as if she’s known them for years.
“Guys, this is Ophelia, my best friend!”
They all say hello in unison.
“Hi, my name’s James.”
A tall guy, with beautiful dark eyes and shoulder length curls. He shakes my hand politely.
“And my name is Eva!”
a short, blonde girl with micro bangs and piercings all over her face interrupts. Similarly to Coco, she pulls me into a tight squeeze.
“Coco, I haven’t introduced you to Nora yet!”
Eva exclaims, dragging a blonde girl towards us. When she stands in front of us, I’m taken aback by her freckle-covered skin, long and healthy blonde hair, and wearing a button-up shirt and jean shorts that fall just above her knees.
“Hi Nora, I’m Coco!”
Coco pulls her into a hug, and her blue eyes land on me.
“Nice to meet ya, Coco, and you are?”
Nora scoots her way around Coco, standing by me.
“I’m Ophelia. Is that accent of yours Irish?”
I ask, feeling stupid as soon as it came out of my mouth.
“It indeed is.”
Nora smiles. We hold eye contact for a few seconds before she turns to look away, flexing her incredible jawline.
“Nice to meet you, Ophelia.”
Nora adds, taking one more look at me before approaching a different group. I watch her walk away, even her walk is hot. Coco leans into my ear and whispers,
“Best wipe that dribble from your mouth before she notices.”
“Shut up Coco!”
I laugh out loud, feeling embarrassed that Coco caught me, but not too embarrassed because it was only Coco who caught me.