Isabella's Last Request (6 page)

             
‘Were you and Ollie holding hands? Are you together now?’

I pull her away from me so I can see her face. My brave best friend who never cries or wallows in self-pity is instantly cheered by the thought of romance.

              ‘Erm, yeah I guess we are. Now come on, it’s home time.’

Isabella is grinning at me in a slightly crazed way. I try to turn to the boys for some help, but realise Josh is doing the same to Ollie.

              ‘Josh and I would like to spend the night together, but I don’t like the thought of leaving you in the hotel alone, how would you feel about that?’

I’m wondering how I can answer that without sounding like a child or spoiling their plans by saying I’d hate to stay on my own in the hotel.

              ‘Listen, as we have to leave at 5am tomorrow, why don’t you stay at mine? I have a spare room for you two, Olivia can have my bed and I’ll take the sofa.’

We all agree and head back to Ollie’s nice, secure flat. I’m excited not to be in the hotel for the night, I feel mean at the prospect of Ollie giving up his bed for me though. So I offer to share, as long as he promises to keep his hands to himself.

              ‘That’ll be hard, but I think I can manage it for one night Livs.’

The sound of the alarm beside me wakes me slightly. I’m confused when I gingerly open my eyes and don’t recognise the walls of the hotel I’ve grown so fond of. The next thing I notice is the slight hairy arm wrapped around waist, a protective hand on my stomach.

Ollie was going to stick to his word and stay on his side of the bed, not even giving me a goodnight kiss; but it ended up being me who made the move. I felt
like such a prude sleeping in his bed with no contact whatsoever. We’ve literally just got together so I didn’t want to go too far, just a goodnight kiss and a cuddle did me just fine; falling asleep in his protective arms felt very comforting after the emotion of the night.

             
Since Isabella was diagnosed, she's tried to play it down. She doesn't tell people about her illness, she wasn't even going to tell her family when I persuaded her to go for the tests; but luckily she changed her mind and now has lots of support from everyone who knows. I still can't believe she just announced it the way she did last night! Isabella is very secretive about her illness, she doesn't mention when she is in pain and hasn't given anyone enough details to be able to research it. All we know is that Isabella doesn't think she has long left, I don't know if she's been told this or if she's just decided this herself! 

             
‘Livs we need to get up now. Do you want the first shower? I’m going to make sure the other two are awake.’

And just like that, I’m wide awake and left alone in Ollie’s comfortable king size bed.

It’s so annoying, our balloon ride doesn’t start until 6.30am, but you have to get there an hour early to see it being inflated and set up. Ollie thinks it’ll take about 30 minutes to get there, so we have to leave here just before 5am. To say I’m not a morning person is a massive understatement.

I’m just dragging myself out of bed ready to jump in the shower, when I hear raised voices. I hear Isabella scream and Josh shouting “get out”. Before I get a chance to go and see what’s happening, Ollie bursts through the bedroom door and practically falls into my lap.

              ‘I knocked on the door but there was no answer, so I thought they were still asleep!’

I can’t help but giggle at the high pitch of his voice, he sounds so young, trying to justify his actions.

              ‘What did you see?’

Ollie takes a step closer to me and cups my face in his hands before answering.

              ‘I saw things that will haunt me for life. Things you are far too young to hear about!’

             
‘Oh shut up will you, that’s my best friend you’re talking about. I don’t want to think about her like that! Especially when she’ll probably try and tell me about it herself later, well, as soon as you and Josh leave us.’

Ollie stares at me, he’s still holding my face and he looks so serious. I can’t help but giggle at the look on his face, but also at the thought of him just walking into his spare room and catching them at it. Seeing me laugh seems to calm him slightly, his stern face melts into a warm smile.

              ‘If she starts to talk about it, you’re going to have to tell her you don’t want to hear, okay?’

I pull his hands off my face and slide them down my body until they reach my hips. I lean my face up towards him, his lips instinctively reach down to meet mine and he kisses me. Pulling me into him, his tongue explores my mouth as our kiss deepens. To help compensate my height, Ollie picks me up allowing me to wrap my arms and legs around his body. Unfortunately we’re slightly unbalanced in this stance, so we topple over; landing in a heap on the bed with Ollie lay on me, near enough in the missionary stance.

              ‘Livs, as much as I want to do this, we need to get going soon. Off you go to the shower.’

He says this in a grown up and serious manner, but he’s still lay on top of me; so I can’t move even if I wanted to. I reach up to kiss him again before pushing him off me. He’s right of course, we have a big day ahead and it’s time to get up and get on with it.

             
‘I can’t believe it’s so cold today!’

Isabella and I are huddled together in the field with a thick, red wool blanket wrapped around us. The boys have been helping the balloon staff to inflate the balloon and prepare for the flight; I think they love acting manly.

Other than our birthday where we must have been blessed with the weather, we’ve not been up and about before 7am; therefore we’ve always assumed the weather is warm here. How wrong were we? Thank god Ollie keeps a blanket in his boot for emergencies.

             
‘Right, they’re ready for us now, come on ladies, take my hand.’

I’m really surprised by the size of the basket. I’ve never been this close to a hot air balloon, but when you see them in the sky, even when they’re quite close, they always look huge. I guess
it’s common sense really, for a basket to be big enough to happily fit quite a few people.

             
‘Right, do you all remember the safety briefing you saw when you arrived?’

I look around at my friends, both old and new, and we all nod our heads, excited to get going. Well, they’re excited; I’m praying we’ll survive the trip.

              ‘Great! Hop in then.’

The instructor jumps into the basket, before outstretching his hand to me first. I really hate being the smallest sometimes. Ollie lifts me up to help me in, so it would appear I have no option, but to go first. As soon as I’m safely in the basket and I’ve stopped screaming and hyperventilating, Josh attempts to pick up Isabella.

              ‘Wait! Josh, put me down! I want to a photo of Livs in there on her own! I must text it to her mum immediately because she’ll never believe this.’

I should be offended by this, but to be honest darling Isabella has a point. I think subconsciously since I was a kid, I’ve tried to avoid doing anything remotely dangerous, for fear of ending up like my dad. I pose for a photo, giving her my most scared but excited smile, before helping her to join me, again posting for photos as we all pile in.

As we take off, I’m stuck by how quiet it is, well if my friends would shut up for five minutes that is. It’s much warmer once we’re in the sky, the propane gas tanks keep you toasty. There’s a definite chill to the air at this time of day though, so I’m very excited to see the sun creeping out as we drift over the tops of the forests.

Isabella is brilliant, capturing every moment on film. She’s been taking short films, as well as hundreds of photos, allowing the rest of us to relax and enjoy the experience. I feel guilty, after all the whole experience was in her honour. But then I see the massive smile on her beautiful face and realise she’s loving her experience just as much as us, if not more and she’s able to choose which bits she wants to show people and remember herself.

              ‘When we land, do you think I can look through your photos? I think I’d like to do a story about this for the paper, but I’ll need some truly amazing shots to show my boss to be able to justify something so touristy.’

Isabella looks so please
d, I’m worried for a moment she may jump up and down, and I can assure you, this is not the place for that.

             
‘Yes! If it means having something published then you can have any photos you want!’

Josh puts his protective arm around Isabella’s shoulders, a look of pride on his face.

              ‘You should see if you can get him to agree to feature a tourism section. I’ve sent these girls to my must see places. Places that some of the locals won’t have been to themselves, shame on them.’

The guide is dancing from foot to foot, it looks like he’s been listening into their conversation, but doesn’t want to admit it. Although, he’s clearly desperate to say something, but feels like he should keep quiet.

              ‘What do you think? Do you think the Florida Times should have a tourism special dedicated to my friends photos?’

I watch as
Izzy and the boys turn their confused attention from me to the man, who up until this point has just been point out the sights, and administering the fire as and when needed.

             
‘Well, I’d have to speak to my manager, but I’m sure if you could write an article about us, we’d be able to offer some discounted flights. It’d be free publicity after all, and in the Florida times no less! I love that paper; I read it every day, what’s your name?’

Ollie looks a bit embarrassed but before he can reply, Josh jumps in, clearly excited at the thought of his friend having his very own fan.

              ‘You my good man are looking Mr Oliver Clarke. One of the best reporters there is. He also takes photos but he’s not quite as good as my girlfriend, although he’s learning quickly.’

The guy turns to gawp at Ollie; it’s clear from his reaction that he’s familiar with Ollie’s work.

              ‘Wow, it’s great to meet you Mr Clarke. I read your articles every day. You’re my favourite journalist. I always read yours first. I really think you should have your own column!’

He’s so animated and it makes me feel so proud of Ollie. I feel a bit guilty that I have yet to read one of his articles. As soon as we land, I’ll buy a copy and study it; after all, he is my boyfriend now.

              ‘Rather than a tourism section, you should tell your boss my story and see if you can get your own column where you do a daily blog about me.’

It worries me that Isabella sounds serious about this. I don’t think she’d actually like everyone reading about her. About what pain relief she has to take day by day, when she’s in too much pain to move, when she can do nothing
but cry to relieve the tension. These times haven’t started yet luckily, she seems to managing with painkillers but that could change at any point.

             
‘I don’t know about that. It may be a bit much; do you really want everyone to know? If we started it, you’d have to give me something to write about every day, no matter how sick you were feeling.’

Good Ollie, give her the facts. The tour guide has the good grace to stop listening to this conversation, clearly understand
it’s private and not something for him to get involved in.

             
‘I know Ollie. I was thinking about writing a diary to help people who’re going through the same thing, or something for my mum to read and remember me by when I’m gone. A memento of my travelling but I’m too lazy to write it myself.  So if you can persuade your boss, this would be a much better idea.’

Ollie looks a bit awkward, I’m sure he doesn’t want to get her hopes up. From what Josh has said
, Ollie’s the favourite at work and he’s as close to top as you get. So if he wants something publishing, he’s almost certain to get it.

             
‘I’ll talk to my boss when I go in today. Unlike most companies, if the boss wants us in on a weekend, he’s more than happy to work as well.’

             
‘Dude, let’s not talk about work yeah? It’s bad enough being a waiter and having to work weekends without you reminding me.’

Poor Josh, I feel sympathy for him; I used to hate my job before I quit to come here. At least I worked in an office so I was only
Monday to Friday. But then saying that, when we decided to go travelling Isabella and I used to fundraise at the weekends to help us with money. I was working seven days a week for a month, but it paid off because I still have quite a lot in my savings account, and I’ve avoided touching the savings bond mum set up with the money she got when dad died. I know there’s quite a lot in there, but I don’t want to use it, I only got it when I turned 21 a couple of days ago, but I made a pact with myself when I first found out about it. I will not spend it until I’m at least 30, unless I decide to buy a house, go to university or have a baby, as these are expensive, landmark expenses.

             
‘Right, we’re going to start the decent now, so I’d get your camera ready sweetheart.’