Break the Distance

Chapter 42

Thursday 29th of September, 2016

New Zealand

Noah Williams

After laying awake for hours I realize that I'm not going to fall asleep. I can't just let this go, I can't leave New Zealand without seeing her. This is my chance and I'm going to take it. I sigh loudly and grab my phone. Tomorrow we'll be flying to Australia at 4 am so the original plan is to spend the day here in Auckland.

I have one day. 23 hours to be exactly and I'm not going to waste any second. 'Plane ticket Auckland Wellington,' I type into the search balk and start scrolling through the links. "I don't care if I have the cheapest!" I say out loud without thinking. I hear West groan in his sleep and I freeze. Whoops. Luckily he just turns around and is still sleep.

It feels like forever when the site is loading, but then finally I see it. First flight goes at 7 AM and the last flight goes back at 7:45 PM. Should be enough.

I quickly book the flight and start grabbing the most important. I only put some stuff in a bag pack which will safe me some time on the airport. After that I take a quick shower, doubt about what I should were and spend, just like normal, way too long on my hair.

I write a quick note to West and the others saying that I'll be back tonight. Nothing more, nothing less. I lie, I also write my name on it.

Standing in the doorway I check another time if I have everything. Concluding my brain doesn't like thinking right now, I just trust myself on that I have everything. In the hotel restaurant I quickly consume some breakfast and call a cab.

In the cab I finally find a second to take a deep breath. What am I even doing? I'm just going to Wellington, hoping I find someone who knows Richelle and find her within 10 hours. How is this ever going to end well?! I nervously look on my phone. 45 minutes until the plane will take off.

"How far until the airport," I ask nervous. "About 10 minutes," the man says so calm I want to punch him in the face. Like he talks deliberately even calmer than he would do if I wouldn't be so stressed!

Finally after 15 minutes, the liar, we arrive and I jump out the cab. "Keep the change!" I yell behind while I run inside. I'm so thankful I only have my bag pack! Going through the customs is a lot quicker this way.

Of course I stressed for nothing. I'm ready for the announcement that we can get on the plane at 6:45 Am. I finally relax and sit back on one of the chairs. 'This is going to be great Noah,' I tell myself, but I barely believe it. I want to believe it! Don't get me wrong, but I'm just way to nervous.

Like I can use it right now the plan is delayed. Great. The world is against me.

Whoop whoop. Note the sarcasm...

It isn't until 8 am when we finally can get on the plane. I sit down on the assigned chair and plug my earphones in. 'Calm down Noah, calm down,' I keep telling myself, but every time I say it I get more and more stressed.

"Hello," I all of the sudden hear a little girls' voice and I look besides. "Hi," I say and get the earphones out of my ears. Suddenly I get faith. This is a little girl, Richelle’s neighbor is a little girl, she HAS to be it.

"Can I ask you something?" I ask her. She nods excited. The twinkling in her eyes remind me of Marylou even though this girl is clearly at least twice Marylou's age, oh I can't wait to see her again in a few days. "Are you quite by accident the neighbor of Richelle?" I ask her.

Her eyes widen and just when I'm about to get excited she shakes no with her head. "I'm sorry," she says, "but you're Noah Williams." I sigh disappointed. "Yes I am," I say and smile slightly. "That's so cool!" she exclaims and claps in her hands. "Who's Richelle," she asks then. "Oh just some girl," I say. "Where are the others?" she asks not even reacting to what I said. "Asleep," I answer plugging my earphones back in. This can be a very, repeat and emphasize very, long flight.

I'm so happy when the plane finally arrives, you don't even want to know. I love my fans, but not on a stressful day like today. The girl finally got quite after we took a picture and I gave her my signature. She got quite for like 10 minutes, then she started asking questions again. Hopeless I just acted like I was asleep and surprisingly that worked pretty well. Should've thought of that sooner.

And now I'm standing here. Outside the airport in the middle of Wellington clueless about what I should do. Looking on my phone I see that literally all the fellow cast members tried to call me multiple times and texted me. But what instantly sticks out is the message I have from Richelle.

'Hi, I'm using a friend's phone to send this. I assume you got my letter, hope the show went well,' I read. I smile. She sent this just a few minutes ago! 'Hi Bri,' I text instantly, 'I'm in Wellington right now, what's your address.'

I walk over to a park bench and sit down, nervously tapping with my foot on the ground. Finally after what feels like forever, but actually is just 4 minutes, I get a reaction. 'Sorry, this is the friend, Richelle just left to her work,' I read. I take a deep breath. So close.

'What's the address?' I ask. 'Don't know,' I get back, 'but where are you? I'll pick you up, I know where it is.' 'The airport,' I text quickly and smile slightly. This is it. Today I'm really going to meet her. 'Give me a few minutes,' she sends and then I start waiting.

I wait. 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes. I'm about to lose hope when suddenly a car stops in front of me. " Noah?" a girl asks getting out. "That's me," I say smiling nervously. "Sorry it took me so long," she says, "just woke up half an hour ago."

"No worry," I say, "thank you so much for helping me." "Of course," she says, " Richelle’s my best friend. I'm Katie by the way." We shake hands. "Nice to meet you," I say. "Nice to meet you too," she says.

In silence we drive to the clothing store. It's not so far but I'm glad Katie brings me. That's one less thing to worry about. Suddenly Katie stops in front of some chic boutique. "Here we are," she says. I take a deep breath and get out of the car. To say I'm nervous is an underestimation. "You're alright?" Katie asks me when she locks the car. "Yea of course," I say and smile slightly, "let's go."

I open the door of the store and walk in. It's surprisingly busy for 10 30 on a Saturday morning. Feeling a little out of place we walk to cash desk. "How can I help you," a clearly overworked woman says. Her eyes literally say 'let me go back home and cry for the next three years'. "Excuse me," I say, "we're looking for Richelle, Richelle Smith, she works here right." "Where Richelle is?" the woman says annoyed, "that's a very good question. Let me know if you know where she is."