Song of the chapter: Fire Meet Gasoline - Sia

I was making myself my fifth cup of coffee accompanied by suitable cappuccino cupcakes when the doorbell rang. Rae was on her phone with her publisher as I opened the door.

"Em, we'll talk about this when I come back. Okay? Okay."

"Come back from where?" I enquired, raising an eyebrow. "Where are you taking me now? Please don't tell me you're dragging me away to Las Vegas again because you need inspiration for your addict character." I walked to the kitchen and grabbed my drink.

"And please do tell me you slept with Nicolas? Because your trip must have been so very boring if not," she countered, the corner of her mouth turning up into a smirk. I gingerly took a sip of my coffee and shook my head at her.

"I didn't, sorry."

I felt a lump in my throat again and choked back the tears threatening to expose my attempt at disguising my despondency.

I couldn't feel like this for the whole day. I really needed to get better if I didn't want anyone hounding me about why I was so upset. I couldn't risk people finding out about Mitchell and me this way.

"I knew you'd say that so I devised the perfect plan: we're going to Chicago for a few days until Min and Tyler get back. Min's in London to watch Lil's piano concerto."

Lily Kanagawa, Min's kid sister, is a nineteen year old classical piano prodigy with a modern edge and rebellious flare. She is well-known for showing up for her mom's benefits clad in designer cocktail dresses accessorised with cool flannel shirts and ripped stockings. I was waiting for the magazine to ask her for an interview on her unconventional sense of style.

"Yeah, she told me," I replied.

I was distracted by the mention of Lily's name that I almost didn't hear her say something about Chicago and a few days. Oh, no.

"Wait, Chicago for a few days? Does this have anything to do with the boys?" I bit my bottom lip anxiously, pleading with my ears to tell me they heard wrong.

"Yes, Zoe. Cam wanted me to go with but I told him I would wait until you got back," she said, lighting up at the sound of his name.

"Get dressed now. We're supposed to be in the air in an hour. Hurry your cute ass upstairs and wear something nice. You look homeless, babe. And is that Mitchell's flannel? Oh god, Zoe."

She was shouting after me as I ran into my room to change. Yes, I had shrugged on Mitchell's flannel. I needed to have a part of him with me to avoid a dangerous emotional breakdown.

It took me back to when I literally took the shirt off his back, leaving him stranded topless in shorts and flip flops in Central Park, a baseball cap disguising his celebrity.

I'd been chased down the park and tackled, his tall frame grabbing and throwing me onto his shoulders. I could still hear myself laughing and begging him to put me down. I missed that.

I saw my eyes glinting with tears as I reminisced in front of the full length mirror where I stood, pulling on some shorts and a low hung vest. My trusty pair of white Converse high tops, a messy bun and cat-eye sunglasses completed my casual travel look. I packed a few essentials before heading back downstairs to Rae.

"Good! You look sane now. Ready?" I nodded my reply and silently fell in line behind her, locking the door behind us.