Chapter Text
Heels were not easy to run in. But the fear of a broken ankle was nothing compared to her desire to be anywhere other than that tiny room in the back of the chapel where strangers fussed over her final make up touches and how her curls should be placed. Her lungs were tight as she carried armfuls of white taffeta and ran like her life depended on it.
She sprinted down the long winding stairs of the nearest tube station. At the barrier she looked at security. She must have been a sight. Rollers still in her hair, makeup half sweated off and most importantly the layers upon layers of white fabric she was wearing. She didn't have her phone, or her wallet. They remained in Eloise's purse in that small room she'd well and truly left behind.
He let her straight into the station without a word.
She sat on the train, finally catching her breath and stared down at her hands, refusing to make eye contact with any other passengers. She did not need to see their confusion, their mockery, or even worse, their pity. She was a sight to behold. She knew. They would be getting off at their stops, meeting friends and family 'you'll never believe what I just saw on the tube'.
Barely conscious of the decisions she was making she got off at an all too familiar stop. She did not want to overthink her choices. Instead, her feet carried her down quiet streets she'd walked a thousand times before until she made it to her destination.
She stopped.
In front of her was a yellow door. Bright. Cheerful. Everything she was currently not. The words 'C. B Travel' etched in the door and painted blue.
She pushed the door open. There was a bell that rang as she did. It echoed loudly through the space, announcing her sudden presence whether she wanted it known or not. The reception area was small. Photo's of destinations right across the world littered the walls. She knew that they were all his photo's, not a stock image to be found. A leather couch in front of a wide street facing window was for customers to sit comfortably while they waited. The reception desk was small, but did the job. There was no one manning the desk today. Anyone who usually would take up the job part time for cash was currently sitting in a small chapel on the other side of London.
Waiting for her.
She stood in the middle of the room. The silence was loud.
Her eyes locked on an image of a Greek island. Crystal clear water and blue skies. White buildings starting into the skyline, running right to the waterfront where small boats littered the water.
Now she understood why she had found herself here.
'Pen?' His voice broke through the silence of the room and she turned in his direction.
Every muscle in her body betrayed her as she relaxed at the sight of him. He was something familiar. Tall as she remembered and he took up space with confidence. She just knew his navy jumper was cashmere and would be so soft against her cheek if she stepped forward and hugged him the way she wanted to.
He stared at her. She could do nothing but watch as his eyes took in the sight of her. The crumpled white dress, the heavy makeup, the way her hair wasn't quite finished. She knew how she looked and she waited for his reaction. His face was carefully neutral, giving nothing away.
'What happened?'
'Can you book me a ticket to Paros?'
He blinked a few times. Whatever he had expected her to say, that was not it.
‘I thought you would have already had the honeymoon plans sorted.’ He eventually forced out a chuckle, but it was clear to both of them there was nothing humorous about the situation.
‘I need to make alternative arrangements.’ Her voice wavered as she did everything to hold back tears that suddenly threatened to fall. All she wanted was to step towards him and collapse into his arms.
What had she done?
She had been safe. She finally had security. Someone to care about her. Someone she could have a family with. Someone who's fortune allowed her to pursue her own dreams.
And she had done what with it?
Run.
‘Pen.’ He stepped towards her. His arms came up, as if to hug her and her heart skipped, before he stopped himself. She let out a choked sob at his restraint.
There was once a time he did not hesitate over touching her.
‘What happened?’
She shook her head. She didn't have the words yet. She didn't truly know what had happened.
Only that she'd been staring at herself in the mirror. Dolled up. Unrecognisable. Her mother had mentioned trying for babies as soon as possible and she-
Well, now she was here. Standing in front of him, instead of the man she was supposed to be declaring her life away to.
He looked like he wanted to say more. His face was scrunched up in barely contained restraint. Instead he walked over to the small reception desk, it was littered with pamphlets detailing all kinds of exotic destinations across the globe.
‘When do you want to leave?’ he asked. His voice was cool. Emotionless as he logged in to the computer.
‘Tonight.’
He looked at her. ‘Pen,‘ he started. ‘I don’t think-‘
'I need to get out of here,' she cut him off. 'I thought you of all people would understand that.'
The corner of his mouth twitched and she flinched. That might have been harsh. He didn't say anything, instead he nodded, but he did not move.
'What is the problem?' she asked.
'Does you fiancé know you're here?'
'Does it look like it?' she snapped.
'Do you think it's wise that you travel alone right now?'
'I don't think I've made a single wise decision today. Why stop now?'
He studied her. She still could not read the expression on his face. Could not decipher what it was he was thinking. Perhaps this would be a funny story at the pub later tonight. The runaway bride, ditching her to-be husband and going on an eat-pray-love trip on a Greek Island instead. The boys she presumed he still associated himself with would find it hilarious.
'I'll go with you.'
The words rung through the air, cutting into the silence. Penelope would have been certain she imagined them if she hadn't seen his mouth moving with her own eyes. 'What?'
'I know Paros, and the surrounding islands well. I'll come with you.'
'No.'
'Eloise then.'
'No!'
He looked at her, and shared right back.
He was not backing down no matter how much she tried to will it. Eventually she let out a sigh.
'Fine. You will be a tour guide for me.'
He gave her a smile that didn't quite meet his eyes. 'It'll be like old times.'
She could not respond to that.
Old times.
Some things had been left in the past for a reason. A younger version of herself would have been giddy with excitement over the thought of travelling with him. Now, she was only filled with dread.
She tried not to think about it. She didn't want to think about anything at all, so instead she watched him click buttons and tap away at the keys until finally he looked up at her.
'Flights are booked. Eight PM tonight.'
'Thank you.'
'You should make sure you have your passport and,' he eyed her off once more with that annoyingly expressionless look he'd adopted. 'Maybe something comfier to wear.'
Her passport.
It was sitting in a leather duffle bag that was packed for her Icelandic honeymoon and placed neatly in a corner of their living room, in their apartment, ready for their flight tomorrow morning. Getting her passport meant going to that apartment. Going there could mean facing any number of things she wasn't ready to.
Instead, she swallowed thickly and nodded.
'I can do that,' she managed, though she wasn't entirely sure that she could.