HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS (Chapter 19)

CHAPTER ONE
Meeting new friends

“So here I am”, said Gina to herself while closing the window to catch a few winks, or actually start sleeping since this was going to be a long trip from her hometown in Oregon. She was on her way to Bolton, Greater Manchester after she got a scholarship to study at Bolton Holly Cross. She researched some information about the whole UK from here and there just to know what she could expect and what was going to be expected from her in this new country she had never been before.

At the airport, Elizabeth, the host girl was excited about having a new roommate. She was a 24 year-old girl with red hair, green eyes and 6 feet tall, who was holding a “WELCOME TO THE UK” sign in her hands.

“Hey you must be Elizabeth”, said Gina while extending her hand to shake Elizabeth’s.

Instead Elizabeth hugged her while still holding the sign with her right hand, “Just call me Lizzie”.

“Nice meeting you Lizzie, I’m Regina, but most my friends call me Gina”.

“So what do you want to do now”, asked Lizzie with a big smile. “You must be pounded, you probably want to go home and sleep; it must have been an exhausting trip”.

“It was”, Gina replied, “But I can’t go to sleep now since it’s barely 3 PM here and if I do so, then I will stay awake all night long.”

“Right answer, I expected you said that!” exclaimed Lizzie while helping Gina with her luggage. “Will go to my place so you can get settled and later we can go to grab something to eat, you must be starving, these people serve really crappie food in the airplanes”, said Lizzie while they were both walking to the lot where Lizzie had parked her car.

While driving, Lizzie started asking Gina a couple of questions about Salem, her musical taste, the food, if she had left a broken heart back home and all that kind of talk two girls have when they first meet.

“Boyfriend?, What’s that?, said Gina with a sarcastic smile, if only, no, not really, have actually a couple of guys I’ve being seeing but nothing serious, and many good friends who support this whole idea of me living here to go to school,” continued Gina while admiring the places they passed by.

“Why did you decide to study here? So far from your family! Lizzie asked Gina, while parking in front of her flat.

“Well, I wanted to experience living on my own but my family is really old-fashioned and weren’t quite excited about my decision, I know I’m already old enough to make my own decisions, but did not really want to start an argument with my dad, so he suggested me to apply for a college away from home, but try to get a host family so I didn’t have to stay at the dorm rooms, I asked him to let me fly free for once in my life and he said that the only two reasons he was letting me out of the house were, ONE, after getting married or TWO, going to college, and since the word married did not figure in my vocabulary yet, I said COLLEGE, any college I was accepted to, so I asked him “ANY”?, and he said yes, so I decided to apply for a number of colleges in the UK, just to get far from home.” By the time Gina finished telling this to Lizzie, they were in her new room.

“Well that was really brave from you and I’m sure you are going to have the time of your life here”, said Lizzie while opening the curtains of Gina’s room. “I’ve had several roommates in and we still remain really good friends” Lizzie kept telling Gina while helping her unpacking.

“I think you better get a jacket before leaving, nights in this part of the country get quite chilly and we don’t want you to get sick right after you arrived here, right”?, said Lizzie while walking to her room to get a jacket for herself.

“Is that your boyfriend?” asked Gina pointing at a picture on Lizzie’s night table.

“Oh, him?, he’s just this guy I like, I’ll tell you more about him and some stuff you should know that probably don’t know of yet.”, answered Lizzie while started walking out of her room.

The two new friends headed to a nice and cozy place a few miles away from their flat. “What you are majoring in?” asked Lizzie while sipping her soda.

“Dance and Music, but mostly Music” answered Gina kind of ashamed at her own answer, “I know what you are thinking, Dance and Music aren’t really something that could be worth going to school so far from home, right?”.

“Do you believe your own words?” asked Lizzie with a sarcastic tone. “Because if you do, you won’t last here a whole month.”

Gina could not believe what she had heard. To her eyes, Lizzie seemed a more focused type of person who wasn’t really interested in Art Majoring. “Well, I don’t but most of the people I know, think that”, answered Gina while crossing her arms.

Lizzie gave her a big smile and continued, “Is Music one of your biggest dreams?, if so, who knows, you might be playing or dancing on Radio City Music Hall in New York one day, and I can assure you, I’ll be there, first row, cheering for you”.

“Quite a friend I just met”, said Gina while extending her hand towards Lizzie to hold hers.

I love this already!!!!!!!
cant wait for more
xxx

CHAPTER TWO
Missing you folks, but having a good time

Dear Mom, Dad and Robbie:

I arrived safe and sound. I don’t really have much time to write you a long letter like the ones I used to when I went to Music Camp back in Greensboro, NC, but don’t want you to worry so here I am, writing you a few lines to let you know how I’m doing. Lizzie is a wonderful person, we have been having a great time ever since I got here, she’s amazing, a great friend, which reminds me of my girls back in Salem, how are they, last thing Anne said to me was that she was heading to California because she had been accepted into USC and Jordan was still expecting the test results to know whether or not she had been accepted to UT Austin. If you get a chance to see them, let them know I really miss them but wish them the best. Also if you see Bruce and Frank, tell them this place is awesome and expect them to visit as they promised me.

It’s two weeks before school starts here but getting ready. I will get back to you soon with more stories to tell you about this beautiful place, my new home.

Hugs and Kisses,

Regina.

---

The next days passed by and it was time to get busy.

CHAPTER THREE
Back to School

“Wake up Sleeping beauty”, said Lizzie to Gina, while giving her a glass of Orange Juice.

“What time is it?” asked Gina while holding the glass with one hand and rubbing her eye with the other.

“It’s half past six”, answered Lizzie while opening the room curtains.

“And what’s with the juice, so early, I haven’t had breakfast yet” inquired Gina while sipping a little.

“That will give you the energy to start your day with the right foot.” Said Lizzie. “Oh, by the way, I saw your “almost new” IPod and took it to fill it with the music that’s IN on this side of the world, hope you don’t mind”, said Lizzie kind of worried Gina might get angry.

“Of course not, thank you so much, I don’t want to look like an idiot when somebody else asks me about certain group or singer I might not know by now”.

“Good, then I’ll go to the kitchen to get you something to eat while you get ready for your first day of school.” Said Lizzie.

“Thank you so much again; I’ll meet you downstairs in a while”.

“My pleasure, oh by the way, I love your new bike, and although Bolton is just a couple of miles away, I think I will drive you today so you won’t get lost, well, except if a really fit guy rescue you and brings you back, otherwise, it’s better if I take you today”, suggested Lizzie while getting out of the room.

After a warm shower, Gina did her hair, put some light makeup, blue jeans, a Hurley t-shirt Lizzie had given her as a Welcoming present, a scarf and a light jacket to overcome the chilly weather that was starting to be felt.

Minutes later, she went downstairs to meet with Lizzie at the kitchen to have a light but energetic brunch, a bowl of cereal with milk and some slices of strawberries scattered on it. “Here, take an apple and an energy bar, we don’t know what time will you be having lunch”, said Lizzie while started walking towards her car to drive Gina to School.

At seven thirty, Gina was ready to start her own music story at Bolton and wished for the best.

“Give me a call as soon as you get out to come and pick you up”, Lizzie said to Gina while taking off.

“I will, thank you”. As soon as she found herself surrounded by that sea of unknown people, she kind of started to panic, until she saw a friendly face who said Welcome to Bolton, it was a handsome boy who was doing social work at the school.

“You must be Regina, right?” asked the boy giving Gina a nice and wide smile.

“Wow, how do you know?” answered Gina with a shy smile.

“Well, my name is Brighton and I’m a student here at Bolton, working with the Social Action department and I recognized you by the picture on your application. I will be keeping you company while you get used to this place.”

“Nice meeting you Brighton, my name is Regina James but most of the people I know, call me Gina”.

“Well Gina, I have been handed your schedule and will be walking you to every room so you know where to head to, and I will also give you a map so you won’t get lost”.

“Unless a fit guy manages to rescue me and take me back home”, said Gina recalling Lizzie’s words.

“Excuse me?” said Brighton kind of blushed by Gina’s phrase.

“Oh, I’m sorry, did I say that out loud”?, grinned Gina kind of embarrassed.

“Don’t worry, thank you, but try not to say that in front of my girlfriend, she will think I’m flirting with you and we don’t want her to get upset, right?

“I won’t, I promise”, said Gina while laughing at her own words.

By lunch time, Brighton took Gina to the cafeteria, where they were joined by some other new students and Madeleine, Brighton’s girlfriend.

“Hi love”, said Madeleine to Brighton while giving him a peck on the cheek.

“Hi hun, this is Regina, a new student at Bolton, she comes from Salem, Oregon”, said Brighton at Madeleine while the two girls shook hands.

“Nice meeting you Regina, I’m Madeleine Clark, but most my friends call me Maddie, you too can call me like that”

“Nice meeting you too Maddie, my friends call me Gina, and so can you.”

“So Gina, how long have you been here?”, asked Maddie while sipping from her soda.

“About two weeks”, said Gina while eating her apple.

“Mmh, you not living in the campus are you?, I would have seen you” said Maddie.

“See Gina, Maddie is the campus social crew director, she organizes the best parties on this side of town”, said Brighton while holding Maddie’s hand.

“No, I’m actually living with a Host Girl, her name is Elizabeth Davy, lives blocks away from here.”

“Oh I know her”, said Maddie, “she has hosted many girls from Bolton and from other schools in the past, she’s a real sweetheart.”

“She really is”, said Gina while remembering the nice things Lizzie has done for her since she got to the UK.

As the bell rang, every student started to head back to their classrooms for the final part of the day.

---

After the last bell rang, every student started to head back home, and Gina met with Brighton to get her final paper done.

“Well Gina, from here you are on your own, I hope you have a great time at Bolton and please don’t hesitate in looking for me or Maddie whenever you need anything ok?”, Brighton told Gina while saying goodbye.

CHAPTER FOUR
Easy way out

From the place they were, to the nearest telephone booth, Gina had to walk a little bit more than half a mile. She needed to call Lizzie to ask her to go and pick her up as they had agreed earlier that day. She started walking towards the booth while putting some papers into the folders she was carrying and at the same time she was listening to the music Lizzie had put in the IPod. While managing to do so, she didn’t notice and bumped into what she would describe the cutest guy she had ever seen before.

All the papers just ended scattered on the floor, and as they both kneeled down to pick them up, they bumped their foreheads accidentally.

“I’m so sorry, are you OK?”, he asked her while helping her stand up after picking up the mess.

“Er, I – I am, thank you”, how ‘bout you? Asked Gina while trying to get down of the cloud she had climbed when she stared at his beautiful blue eyes.

“I’m fine, you are not from here, are you?” he asked her while trying to get the dust off his pants’ knees.

“No, I’m from Salem, Oregon” said Gina trying not to drool in front of this so handsome creature. “Are you?”, continued Gina, while still drowned in his eyes.

“Yes I am, as the matter of fact, I’m from here, Bolton, Greater Manchester” he stated.

“Well Manchester boy, you got a name?” asked Gina now staring at his lovely smile.

“Danny, and yours’ is little Salem girl?”

“Regina, my friends call me Gina”.

“Can I too?” asked Danny with a flirty smile.

“Yes you can, well I’ve got to go Danny, nice meeting you, take care”.

Danny just stood there without knowing what to do. He had met a really beautiful girl, but oh, small detail, he had not asked her where she lived or where could he contact her.

i'm saying congrats because you have written an absolutly awesome fiction and i can#'t wait for more. you are an amazingly awesomely great writer.

dannys~angel~in~disguise wrote:

i'm saying congrats because you have written an absolutly awesome fiction and i can#'t wait for more. you are an amazingly awesomely great writer.

Thank you for your comments, and I'm glad you are enjoying it, and I hope as much as I am writting it.

More soon to come.

CHAPTER FIVE
The way you make me feel

Gina was breathless but still managed to get home safe and sound. At the door, Lizzie was about to take off to pick her up because she thought Gina was taking too long to call her and she was already worried. When she saw her outside the house she got even more worried when she saw Gina’s pale look.

“Are you Ok, what happened, why you didn’t call me”, said Lizzie.

“I’m fine, I think”, answered Gina while they both entered the house. “I just met this boy…”

“Wow, and how long have you been here? Two weeks and you already met a boy, not bad, huh? So how is he?” asked Lizzie.

“He is a real angel, so cute”, answered Gina while putting her papers and jacket away.

“Well, see, we in the UK, have really cute guys, not sure where they all hide, but we know they are there”, said Lizzie feeling proud to be British.

“I can see that”, replied Gina.

“Well, anything else?”, replied Lizzie even more intrigued.

“He is tall, thin, he’s got the most beautiful blue eyes I’ve ever seen, gorgeous smile, curly brown hair, freckles and the voice of an angel, oh and very big hands”, said Gina still in a shock.

“And how long were you with him?”, asked Lizzie lifting her eyebrow.

“Like two minutes, why?”

“TWO MINUTES!!!, and you already gave me all those details?, You are fast girl”, said Lizzie smiling. “What a hottie!"

“He is the cutest guy I’ve ever seen in my life”, said Gina feeling sure she would never forget that smile.

“Does this boy have a name?” asked Lizzie.

“His name is Danny”, answered Gina.

“Danny?, Danny what?, asked Lizzie.

“Er… Dunno, he just said Danny”, answered Gina kind of confused about that.

“Wait, were you with Brighton and Maddie before you met this Danny?”, asked Lizzie.

“Yes I was, we were outside the Business Office when I was going to the phone booth to call you, but before getting there, I bumped into him and all my papers flew off, why?”, answered Gina.

“If he entered the building, I’m sure they both saw him, ask Maddie, she and Brighton try to keep track of every person that enters the school, and besides, she knows every single person from this side of town, her father owns an apartment building which he rents to kids who go to school around here”. Suggested Lizzie.

“Well Brighton said that she was the Social Crew Director of the campus and organizes the best parties on this side of town”, said Gina.

“She sure does”, answered Lizzie.

Later that day, Gina gave herself more time to go through the music Lizzie had put in her IPod, while listening to McFly’s The Heart Never Lies, she could not get Danny off her mind, and without knowing, something in the song seemed familiar to her, but couldn’t figure out what that was.




And hearing those lyrics, she fell asleep.

CHAPTER SIX
Star Girl

Meanwhile at the McFly’s flat, Danny went to the kitchen where his mates where having dinner.

Danny entered the kitchen without saying a word and started pouring some cereal and milk in a bowl. The rest of the guys saw something awkward in Danny’s behavior.

“Sooo, Danny, who’s the girl?”, asked Harry in a mocking way.

“Wh…What?” replied Danny while getting out of the shock status he had.

“You’ve been acting really weird after you came back from Bolton, we know you mate, this is all about a girl, isn’t it?, said Tom who knew Danny really well.

“You lads are right, this is in fact about a girl, but not any girl, she is special, I’m telling you.”

“Oh yeah?, how is she?, is she hot”, asked Dougie.

“She’s quite beautiful, she’s not from the UK?”

“No? Where is she from? Mars?”, asked Dougie while the four boys started laughing.

“She is from the States, Salem, Oregon”, answered Danny.

“Cool! And what is she doing in the UK”, asked Harry.

“Dunno, I met her while she was leaving Bolton when I went there today” answered Danny.

“What’s her name”, asked Tom.

“Gina”, answered Danny.

“What else?, Asked Harry.

“That’s all I know”, answered Danny.

“Well done moron, oh you are such a ladies’ man, what about a phone number, her address?” Said Harry.

“Have no idea”, answered Danny.

“Well, if you met her at Bolton, all you have to do is going there again and try to spot her”, suggested Tom.

“And you plan I do that when?, excuse me?” asked Danny when he remembered they were going to be out of town for at least two weeks, starting the next day.

“Oh that’s true… well as soon as we are back, you go there and find out who she was”, replied Tom while picking up the mess they all had left in the kitchen.

CHAPTER SEVEN
Forget all you know

The next day Gina woke up not knowing what to think about the previous day. She thought it had been a dream, but when Lizzie came in her room to wake her up she knew it hadn’t been.

“Remember that you have to ask Maddie who that boy was”, said Lizzie.

“I will, but do you think she knows who he is?”, answered Gina.

“That’s for sure”, replied Lizzie.

At school Gina spotted Maddie and went to speak with her about that mysterious Danny. But when she was about to say hi, the bell rang for her first class. Gina decided to meet with Maddie during the break period in the cafeteria. Meanwhile, she daydreamed about the previous day and how she had met Danny.

Finally the bell for recess rang and Gina ran to the cafeteria to find Maddie and ask her about Danny.

“Hi Maddie how are you?”, said Gina.

“Oh hi Gina, I’m good, and you?, let me introduce you to my friends” said Maddie while pointing at some of her classmates. “You seem worried, what’s wrong”?

“I really want to talk to you about this guy I met yesterday, he came in after school was over, did you see him by any chance, Lizzie said you know every single person on this side of town”, asked Gina.

“Well, yes, I kind of know loads of people but how does he look”, answered Maddie with a proud smile.

“He is gourgeous, tall, thin, blue eyes, beautiful smile, freckles, big hands and the voice of an angel”, answered Gina.

“Hmm, I don’t recall anybody under that description”, said Maddie not remembering a soul like that. “But he sure sounds fit”, continued while trying to remember. “Did you by any chance remember what he was wearing?”. “Any names probably?”

Well, his name is Danny, he was wearing blue jeans, white shirt, a black blazer, black and white Converse’s and a beannie.” Answered Gina kind of disappointed. “I think he was going to the Business office when I was about to leave yesterday, and you and Brighton were there, remember?”.

“Oh, well, when you left, so did we, and I don’t remember seeing anyone after that”, answered Maddie. “I’m sorry that I can’t help you with that, but if I see him, I will for sure know who he is”

“That’s ok, don’t worry about it, hopefully I get to see him again”, answered Gina.

Maddie did not feel good about that answer and as soon as she met with Brighton, she asked him if he had seen that guy and if he knew who he was, but Brighton did not know either.

Two weeks passed and Gina tried to continue her life as normal as possible, studying and meeting new friends at school.

just caught up!!
i love this!
Danny dhould have asked for her number or something!!
anyway, cant wait for more!
xx

Cheryl_X wrote:just caught up!!
i love this!
Danny dhould have asked for her number or something!!
anyway, cant wait for more!
xx

Glad you liked it, more soon to come.

CHAPTER EIGHT
The Heart Never Lies

Meanwhile at the McFly’s flat…

“So Danny, are you ready for tomorrow?”, asked Harry, thinking probably Danny did not remember about that girl he had met.

“Yeah mate are you?” said Dougie also mocking.

“Of course I am, I’ve been waiting for tomorrow ever since I met her.”

Harry and Dougie looked at Danny shocked. They thought he would have forgotten about Gina in the two weeks they had been absent.

“That’s been my only thought all these days”, said Danny very enthusiastic. “I even know what I’m going to say and all”.

Harry and Dougie looked at each other amazed. They had never seen Danny like that. He seemed to be walking on clouds.

“Well good luck mate, and hopefully we can meet her soon”, said Tom encouraging Danny.

That night, after having dinner, Danny went to meet with Harry at his room.

“Hey mate, are you busy?”, asked Danny hoping Harry wasn’t.

“No I’m not, can I help you?, replied Harry, while turning the TV off. He noticed Danny kind of worried.

“Well… remember I said I knew what I was going to say to Gina?”, asked Danny.

“Yes, I do, but why?”, asked Harry while getting up.

“Well I don’t”, said Danny worried.

“Oh, and you came to ask me what to say?, Mate, you have a problem, I know you, and you don’t need my advice, you need Tom’s.

“Did I hear my name?” said Tom while entering the room.

“Great, let me tell you what’s going on here, see, Danny does not know what to say to Gina, can you believe he came to ask me what to do?, I mean, yeah, I can pull any girl I want, but that’s not what Danny wants to do, he wants to open his heart to a special girl, isn’t it? said Harry while facing Danny.

“Well, yeah, but…”

“But nothing, Harry is right mate, you said she was special and if you want to make her feel special, you can’t ask for Harry’s advice” replied Tom while laughing at his own words.

“All you have to say is that… well, tell her what you feel, let your heart speak and you won’t be wrong”, said Tom hoping he had helped his friend.

“I will, thank you mates, now I’m gonna go to sleep.” Replied Danny with a big smile.

Back at his room, Danny started playing his guitar and thinking about Gina and the next day.

CHAPTER NINE
Baby´s coming back

The next day, Danny woke up really early, very Danny-unlike. He left the confort of his bed, went straight to the bathroom, started striping to get in the shower and started thinking about Gina. After washing off the last bit of foam on his body, wrapped a towel around his waist, shaved and put some Swiss Army cologne. Then he pulled a checkered shirt, a pair of Levi’s Skinnys and a sweater on. He then brushed his curls, put some wax in his hair and grabbed a scarf and a beanie. He later went downstairs to get ready to go.

“Good morning Dan”, said the three other boys when Danny came to the kitchen.

“Hey guys”, replied Danny with a big smile.

“Would you like to join us for breakfast”, said Tom.

“No thanks, I’ll just get some coffee and get this show on the road”, said Danny while pouring some coffee in his mug.

“Remember mate, let your heart speak”, said Harry bringing up Tom’s words.

“I will thank you”, and saying that, he jumped in his car and started driving to Bolton.

When he finally arrived there, he parked his car but couldn’t get to the premises of the school because as soon as he got out of the car, many girls recognized him and started throwing themselves at him to kiss him and get autographs and photos.

Meanwhile, not realizing what was going on with him, Gina walked inside the school and went directly to class.

Danny planned to stay until lunch to try to spot her but Tom called him to meet with him and the rest of the guys at the studio immediately. He explained Tom about the whole situation and that how he had not been able to see Gina, but Tom only said that the band needed him. After hanging up, he drove back hoping to get another chance to meet with Gina.

---