*
The elevator ride down to the fourteenth floor coupled with the strobe lighting sent my stomach into a frenzy; I felt as though I’d been on a fairground ride. We collected our belongings and made our way to the exit. My shoulder bore the weight of my purchasesonce again.
A hand grabbed my shoulder as I manoeuvred my way through the crowds of people.
“Excuse me.” I didn’t recognise the voice.
I spun around so quickly I stumbled sideways into a large expensive looking potted plant. Luckily, it was so expensive it was heavy enough to stay rooted to the ground as I bent the branches almost to a snapping point.
“Woah, sorry.”
The young man grabbed my hand and helped me up. Beth half helped with her free hand but was too busy laughing at my almost becoming a human shaped gardenia.
“I didn’t mean to startle you.” He held up his hand apologetically. He had a black apron on and a name badge written in Japanese. He must’vebeen staff.
“It’s okay. CanI help you?”
“I was asked to deliver a message from a young woman over by the elevator.” He pointed towards the area I’d just vacated. My eyes shot left to right. People were queuing, but there was nobody Irecognised.
“Wait... What? Who? What did shelook like?”
“She had blonde hair, a little bit shorter than you.” He gestured to his shoulder for a height gauge.
“She was English,” he added.
I steadied myself. Beth stopped laughing.
“She didn’t give me her name, but she said to tell you she’ll be at Chaos Kitchen tomorrow at 7 p.m.” He smiled proudly. He’d delivered his message, but he’d had no idea how powerful that message wasgoing to be.
“Where’s Chaos Kitchen?” I asked. My head jolting back and forth on a swivel. I wanted to scream,Someone tell me where Chaos Kitchen is immediately, but I remained calm—
“It’s in the basement of Shibuya Parco,” he said triumphantly.
“Where is Shibuya Parco?” He turned to leave, his job done, but it wasn’t enough. What else did she say? How did she sound? What was she wearing? Was she smiling? Did she smell nice? Who was she with?
“It’s about five minutes that way.” He pointed to the right. Before I had a chance to ask anything else he was backpedalling. “I’ve gotta run.Take care.”
The young man with spiky black hair reached for his headphones and placed them neatly backin his ears.
“Holy shit,”Beth cursed.
I was right.
Itwas Brooke.
CHAPTER SIX
The clock on the wall stopped—it literally stopped. That’s how long I’d been staring at it; even the clock had given up. If I paced back and forth across Beth’s kitchen any longer, there would be a size five shaped Converse imprint on the floor.
The weather outside had been beautiful all day, reaching temperatures of twenty-eight degrees. According to the tour guide who I’d made friends with over Facebook, today made for a perfect day to climb Mount Fuji, but my mind was too preoccupied to set off on a potentially hazardous climbing trip. Even with the weather on my side, it was still unpredictable terrain.
I hated myself for being two days into my trip and allowing the thoughts of Brooke to consume me. I’d barely slept the night before; the thought of being in the same vicinity as her sent shivers down my spine. I’d been so close; I could’ve touched her. My arm could’ve brushed past hers in and amongst the tourist chaos, and I wouldn’thave known.
Had she beenwatching me?
When did she noticeI was there?
Why didn’t she come andspeak to me?
