Chapter 1
Surrounded by trees, I suddenly glance over and see blood red eyes. Sprinting off I can hear his footsteps behind me, gaining on me. I know in that moment this is it, there’s no way I can outrun this creature, so I slow my pace down and feel a shock of pain go through my entire body as fangs pierce through my neck.
POP! I’m jolted awake by the popping of my ears. These 17 hours could not be ticking by any slower. I would never succumb to this much time on a plane if it weren’t for my cousin’s (aka my best friend’s) wedding. Bella’s lucky I love her so much because staying on my couch with a cup of chai tea, a book, and my beloved rat dog Venelope sounds a lot better.
Let me start from the beginning, My names Sophia, sophie to my closest friends and family. I live in northwest Arkansas with my dog, Venelope. My hobbies include reading a book on my couch, doom scrolling on my couch, watching New Girl you guessed it on my couch, and experimenting with baked goods (there’s a 50/50 shot it turns out yummy). I’m an event planner who works from home so I genuinely never leave my house until the event day when I’m needed.
So, as I’m sure you’ve gathered, I would rather be on my extremely comfortable couch not on a 17 hour flight to Milan, Italy. However, when I received a very excited facetime from my cousin Bella about 3 months ago with a beautiful diamond ring on her finger, I knew what my future would hold. It didn’t take more than 5 minutes before the words “you HAVE to plan my wedding” left my cousin's mouth. However, I couldn’t complain, we had been planning our weddings since we were 5, if anybody knew the wedding Sophie would want, it was me.
So, here I am, ears popping away, on my way to Milan to finish the final touches and get this girl married in exactly 30 days. Oh, and have I mentioned I haven’t even met her fiance yet? They’ve technically only been together 4 months, after month one he popped the big question. It’s crazy, I know. But if Bella wants something, there is no talking her out of it.
This is your captain speaking, we are preparing for decent and will be landed in 30 minutes, please fasten your seatbelts and enjoy the view as we land in Milan, Italy.
Finally! I’ve never wanted to kiss the ground so much in my life, and I’m already DREADING the flight back. That’s a worry for another time though.
30 minutes later and we are de-boarding the plane. Powering my phone on, I look for my cousin's contact, and dial her.
Hellooo my cousins voice immediately fills my ear.
Yo yo we’re deboarding now, you here?
Yep parking the car now, i’ll see you when you get out here,
Alright love ya byeeeee
With that I hang up the phone and head to the bag check to pick up my suitcase. Grabbing my suit case, I head out to the parking lot. There she is, Bella in all her glory waiting with her 2024 Mazda Miata. To say I’m jealous is an understatement. The car was her engagement present from her lovely fiance, Jasper. Yeah, so frickin’ jealous.
“AHHHH you’re here, FINALLY!” Bella shouts as I approach the car.
“I know! I love you and all but facetime may be our only way of contact cause good frickin’ gravy,” I reply. Bella pops the little trunk for me to put my suitcase and carry on in, and I head for the passengers seat. “I hope you know you’ve GOT to let me drive this thing before I leave, take it as payment for planning your whole wedding and all.”
“I hope you know you are not doing this all for free, this wedding has been the only thing you’ve focused on for the last 3 months, no way am I not paying you,” Bella argues.
“Hmmm we’ll see, I prefer to think of it as a wedding present, plus i get to explore Milan and stay with you for free.”
“We’ll discuss later, tell me how’s everything been? How’s Venelope, my favorite little rat?”
“She’s good! She’s staying with dad while I’m out of town, they’re best buds so I’m sure she’s getting spoiled out of her mind right now.”
“Uncle Bill besties with a rat terrier, not something I ever saw possible”
“You and me both” We both cracked up laughing and head for the penthouse her and Jasper own. Maybe this trip will be good for me to get out of my comfort zone, exploring Milan, Italy couldn’t be THAT bad, right?
