Isabella's Last Request (12 page)

             
‘Are you sure they want us there kitten?’

             
‘Yes I’m sure Ollie, and even if I’m not it’s a bit late to change our minds now. The plane will be landing in half an hour. It’s not like if you get on the wrong bus and can ask the driver to stop and let you off!’

             
‘Obviously, I know that. I was just checking.’

I didn’t mean to snap at Ollie, I’m just a bit sleep deprived and emotional.

Isabella and Josh left for their honeymoon in Paris five days ago, and I’ve been depressed and moody ever since. It’s so horrible because I want her to have a fantastic time and enjoy some quality time with her new husband, but I just can’t help but feel jealous. I’m missing out on some precious time with her, when she doesn’t have much time left.

Isabella phoned me two days ago to tell me what I’d been up to and to see how I was, and I couldn’t hold back the tears. She said the reason she was calling was because she missed me, and wanted me to join her and Josh for the last few days. But I wonder if she’d have invited us had I not cried down the phone.

I’m so looking forward to seeing my best friend, and spending some quality time with my man in the most romantic city in the world.

Ollie will be heading back to America soon as he only wants to take short breaks from work. Everybody is so impressed with his recent articles, especially the ones about Isabella. There have even been talks of him making editor, or even starting his own
paper; it’s really exciting. I’m so proud of him, but as usual Ollie just shrugs it off.

             
‘I love you Kitten!’

Ollie’s voice breaks my daydream. I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve him, but I’m very grateful.

              ‘I love you too! Please will you pass me a mint and hold my hand now, we’ll be landing soon.’              

             
‘I thought you crossed off fly without fear? Were you lying?’

             
‘No! I’m not lying but I thought maybe you were scared. I don’t need to hold your hand, I was just being kind.’

             
‘I see. I’m fine thanks Kitten; I don’t need a hand to hold. I may read a chapter of my book if you don’t need me to comfort you.’

             
‘Just hold my hand, you jackass.’

              ‘I’ve missed you Livs! I love you!’

This is about the twelfth time Isabella’s told me this on the text ride back to the hotel. I think I misjudged the situation; it’d appear Isabella’s missed me just as much as I’ve missed her. I think it’s because we’ve now gotten so used to travelling the world together, it seemed odd for her to be away while I was still at home.

              ‘You’re going to love the hotel; we’re right in the centre of the golden triangle, right in the thick of it all. Mine and Josh’s room is gorgeous, the bed is big enough to sleep our whole family in, and when we order room service the dude leaves our food in a separate side room so we don’t have to see them. Our bathroom has a massive shower cubicle, but the whole room is tiled so it’s like a wet room. We have our own mini sauna, its lush! Yours won’t be as grand as ours, but it’ll still be fantastic.’

             
‘I can’t believe how lucky we were to get a room there at such short notice, especially if it’s as amazing as you say it is.’

             
‘Money can buy you anything Livs.’

              ‘I can’t believe how long that queue was, you wouldn’t think it was February would you?’

Josh looks rather put out as he states this. I don’t think he’s actually looking for an answer, but I reply anyway.

              ‘I know, it’s mad how busy it is. I guess it’s because we’ve chosen to take an evening tour.’

             
‘Yeah Livs is right, everybody wants to see the city at night; especially the Eiffel Tower.’

             
‘Alright girls, you’re right there… but why did security check your bags? It’s too full on! All we’re doing is getting on a boat for an hour to see some sights.’

             
‘Mate, will you lighten up? Put your headphones on and listen to the guide telling us what we’re looking at. Girls, I suggest you do the same.’

Aw, my man, the voice of reason. He seems to have put Josh in his place as he’s now put his headphones on and is cuddled up to Isabella. They’re both looking out at the beautifully lit buildings; his bad mood seems to have faded.

              ‘I love you baby.’

             
‘I love you too Kitten, now put on your headphones.’

Paris was beautiful, by far my favourite place I’ve ever visited. The boat tour was amazing and I actually listened to all the information without getting bored. I didn’t like the fact you had to listen to it through headphones though, it felt quite antisocial.

We’d decided not to climb the Eiffel Tower as I’m not a fan of heights, and
Izzy gets tired too quickly. But after seeing it all lit up and looking stunning, we realised we couldn’t come all the way to Paris and not climb it.

After speaking to a few people, I decided to take their advice and only go to the third highest level, as it’s enclosed but you still get to see the whole of Paris lay out around you. I was happy looking out into the distance; but when I looked down and it looks like the cars were driving through the foot of the tower, I freaked out. It took a long time for Ollie and Isabella to calm me down. It was so embarrassing; I can see why Josh sneaked off!

We only had a few days left, so didn’t get to go to quite as many places as I’d have liked. We went to the Musée d'Orsay as Uncle Dylan had told me a few years ago that he and my dad went there as children. It used to be a train station before it became a museum, and they were both obsessed with trains. Funnily enough, the boys said they’d rather go there than to the Louvre, even though that’s classed as one of the most important museums in the world.

Paris will be really hard to top, but I’m looking forward to trying.

Poor Isabella is getting noticeably worse each day. We know she’s got let so made a slight detour on the home from Paris before Ollie has to go back to America. So now we’re in Amsterdam and ready to cross off 22 – learn to pole dance, 39 – get high, and maybe some more along the way.

Josh found it crazy that Isabella and I hadn’t been high before. I explained we were younger than him, and good girls! Although we’ve both been drunk many times before; once I even got so drunk I decided to be a traffic warden and stop the traffic. I stood in the middle of the road for far too long, holding up my hand to any car coming my way and shouting “halt”. It was only when a hearse complete with coffin in the back almost ploughed me down, that one of my friends sobered up enough to drag me out of the road. I don’t remember anything from that after
Jägerbomb’s in the pub. When my friends told me what happened, I was so scared and decided to not go any further than tipsy again. I know I wouldn’t have got in that state if Isabella had been out with me; she’d have looked after me.

             
‘We’re going to do some trips and sight-seeing as well as going to hash bars right?’

             
‘Yes Olivia, you and old man Ollie can do what you like, while Isabella and I enjoy ourselves.’

             
‘Josh, I want to explore as well. Once I’ve taken the edge off the pain I want to go ice skating on the frozen lakes, I want to visit the Stedelijk Museum, visit Anne Frank’s house and visit a traditional flea market; just to name a few. I’m not just coming here for the drugs and a morbid fascination to go to the red light district.’

             
‘Alright ladies, you win. We’ll do a mixture.’

             
‘Well done Josh that was very mature of you. The red light district was mentioned and you didn’t say anything. You must have grown up a lot since you got married.’

Ollie pats Josh on the shoulder as he says this, but I see the realisation hit Josh, and I know Ollie’s pride is about to be tested.

              ‘The red light district, can we go there first? Can we go there now?’

Isabella slaps him playfully, but her eyes are twinkling with intrigue.

              ‘I’d like to cross off have a threesome on the trip, but I think we need some drink or drugs first to get me in the mood.’

My stomach instantly knots as I’m lead off by Josh and Isabella, I look to Ollie for support but just feel sick.

None of us had really done our homework on Amsterdam, so we were a little confused as to how to find hash bars. It was more confusing when we eventually work out they were called coffee shops, which we just assumed were regular café’s until Ollie asked a local. I was shocked, imagine if an old couple came looking for coffee and cake, and ended up in a coffeehouse here! I think they need to rename them.

I was also surprised to see they didn’t sell any alcohol, I’d just assumed the two went hand in hand. But no, you either have one or the other here.

The staff members were really kind and helpful, but they were asking too many questions like: “do you want to get high or stoned” to figure out what we wanted to order. Isabella and I were clueless so we went to sit down whilst the boys ordered for us.

Ollie and Josh argued about what to get. Ollie wanted us to start with joints as they’re weaker due to the tobacco in them, but Josh wanted us to try space cakes as we don’t smoke. Josh won and went against two members of staff recommendation to get one to share, and got us three to share between the four of us.

We eat our cakes and waited for the effects to take place, but they didn’t so we though it hadn’t worked. So when our drinks ran low, the boys went to get us fresh ones and another two cakes for us to share. I got halfway through my second one when it hit me! My vision went blurry and when I blinked I saw spiralling colours. I opened my eyes again and all different geometrical shapes started twisting and dancing in front of me. I could no longer see my friends, and when I reached out my hand for Ollie, nobody was there, I was all alone. I tried to stand up but felt so dizzy I fell back in my chair.  The room was spinning out o my control and my limbs felt too heavy to lift me to safety. Sweat pouring from every part of my body and the sickness was overcoming me.

The next thing I know, I wake up in my hotel room with Ollie cuddled into me protectively. Every part of me hurts. I slide away from Ollie and force myself to sit up and look around the room for clues. On my bedside table is one empty and one half full two litre of coke, suddenly I’m so thirsty I need to drink the other half right now.

              ‘Morning Kitten, how are you feeling?’ Ollie mumbles in his half asleep state.

             
‘Ollie, what happened last night? I think I might be dying.’

Ollie opens his eyes and pulls up to sit next to me.

              ‘You’re not dying kitten; you had a bad trip last night. I think you must have had a panic attack because you passed out. Niles helped me look after you until I felt normal again, and then I brought you here to look after you.’

             
‘What about Isabella and Josh? Are they okay?’

             
‘Yeah they’re both fine. Josh feels bad about you as he didn’t realise how strong it was and how little you need to get you high. Isabella said she felt better once it’d worn off a little. They were both still going strong when I left to take you home.’

             
‘Did Isabella not help you look after me?’

             
‘Err, no… But it’s fine, I didn’t need help. You were very well behaved… most of the time anyway!!’

             
‘Oh god, what did I do when I wasn’t being well behaved?’

             
‘You decided you wanted to dance… to Night Fever on the table. When Niles was helping me get you off the table, you thought he was me, declared your love to him and stuck your tongue in his mouth. You also wanted to talk to everyone, even if they didn’t want to talk to you.’

             
‘Oh my god, I’m never drinking or taking any sort of drugs again!’

             
‘You’re only twenty-one, never is a long time. I can say after last night, I won’t be doing drugs again. I used to enjoy the odd joint in my teens, but I didn’t enjoy it at all last night. I think I’m too old for this lifestyle now.’

             
‘Me too, can we go somewhere cultured today now we’ve both happily admitted we’re old before our time? ‘

             
‘We sure can Kitten. I’ll phone Josh and see if they’d like to join us.’

Josh and Isabella had stayed out half the night, so didn’t want to leave the hotel room until that evening. We had tea with them before they went to another coffee shop, then Ollie and I went for a long, romantic walk before seeing a show and heading to bed. This is how the rest of the holiday went.

Isabella was very proud to tell me she could tick have a threesome off her list, along with all the other ones we’d achieved out here.

Izzy and Josh seemed to have been half cut the whole time we were out here, but they loved it. Half of the stories they told us made me cringe, and I felt very old before my time.