chapter 1 - missed flight

“You’re not going anywhere looking like that, young lady!”

Anne’s mother, a slender, aloof woman looked disapprovingly at her daughters exposed midriff. She knew that her daughters toned, athletic tummy would catch the attention of creeps from here to the track meet in Germany. Whilst she didn’t believe this was her daughters fault, she knew what men were like and considered it better safe than sorry for her daughter to cover up a little.

“I’m already late mum! I don’t have time for your old fashioned ideals!”, in seeing that her mum’s eyes had narrowed, Anne grabbed a zip up hoodie and threw it on with dramatic angst.

“I’m nearly 20 mum! You can’t keep babying me! We’re definitely going to be late now too”

Anne stormed out, grabbing her dried fruit snacks and bottle of water for the plane journey. She threw her kit bag in the boot of the car and slumped angrily into the passenger seat.


Despite Anne’s mum’s best efforts and Colin McRae cornering skills, they arrived just 5 minutes too late for boarding and Anne’s flight to Germany for the track meet left without her.
She was almost inconsolable.

She called her boyfriend, tears streaming down her face, to tell him the bad news. Steve picked up the phone to blubbering and sniffles. It took about 3 attempts before he could make out what had happened.

“It was my fault really. I took too long packing and I couldn’t find my track spikes. But my mum kept holding my up on my outfit choice and...”

“Wait wait wait”, Steve calmly interrupted. I was going to drive to Germany to surprise you! I didn’t want to tell you but now I suppose I’d better give you a lift!”

Steve heard a tiny scream of excitement through the receiver.

“Oh my god babe that would be amazing! You’re such a life saver I love you!”

“Oh don’t be silly, I’d do anything for you. It can be our own little road trip too! I’ll see you in an hour.”

“Thank you so much!”, beamed Anne. She smiled through her reddened cheeks and wet eyes.

“Oh one more thing”, Stephen chimed just before Anne hung up.

“What snacks do you want for our road trip?”