Chapter Five

As I predicted when I woke up in the morning I had one hell of a hangover, the room is still spinning and I desperately needed some stodgy food to help me get over the hangover. As I got up and ready I got a text from Brad to say that he will had to work today but he will text me later to see what I was doing. I hadn't really seen much of New York yesterday and I still had numerous things I needed to check off my list so I threw on some clothes and headed out to find some breakfast. As I got outside the hotel I was greeted by Paul 'well I hope you looked better last night' he said looking at my make up free face. 'Hungover?' he said 'definitely I need some food.' I headed across the road to the cafe and ordered a breakfast bagel and a huge coffee. By the time I'd bitten in to the bagel I knew this was a bad idea I suddenly felt sick but knew that I had to get some food though me I decided after breakfast to go for a walk trying get some fresh air and get rid of this hangover. I walked a couple of blocks up from my hotel to be greeted by the delights of Times Square, I can't believe that I've not seen this yet and I've been here for days. The high billboards and flashing lights amazed me, it was exactly how I imagined it to be as I stood there looking at all the adverts on the billboards. I was being pushed around by pedestrians trying to get past me so I decided to go in a few shops such as the Disney store and the M&M Store and pick up a few presents for back home. I had pre booked tickets for a Broadway show so I went to the box office and booked in to see the Lion King for later that day. As I needed to waste some time before the show I was wondering in and out of the shops that lined the streets grabbing as much coffee as I could whenever I had the opportunity. I had started to feel a little better but still felt rough. It was worth it for the previous night but I have never been good with hangovers.

Before the show I went to get some snacks from the theatre shop, it was ridiculously overpriced but I was only going to be here once. I had never been to the theatre before so didn't really know what to expect as I sat down in the stands. I was on the upper stall at the side so had an amazing view of the stage,I could see the audience below all waiting in the families and couples for the show to start. I have seen the Lion King once before at the age of 16 I wasn't very much of a Disney fan when I was young apart from Beauty and the Beast which I watched every week on a Sunday whilst my mum and Gran was cooking Sunday dinner for the family. The show started and the production made its way through the audience onto the stage doing the opening scene were Simba was born. I was overwhelmed by what was happening, people made up as animals walking on stilts pretending to be giraffes, four people huddled together within an elephant costume, words can't really describe what I was seeing even the first ten seconds had definitely impressed. I felt like I'm getting emotional I didn't know whether it's because of the experience or that I was still rough but as I looked up to the stands behind I seen three other women crying so I got my tissue and wiped the tears rolling down my face even though it had only just started and it wasn't even at the point were Simba's dad had even died yet so I can't imagine what I'd be like at that point. As I watched the show and made myself feel more sick eating sweets I purchased, my thoughts turned to the night before I found myself thinking about Brad more than what was happening on the stage. I had paid $60 to get in to here and I was thinking about what Brad and wishing he was here with me.

By the time the show had finished I was an emotional wreck, it was definitely one of the big memories I was going to take away from this trip, my first show on Broadway watching the Lion King I will never forget that moment bit different from watching it in Manchester arena on a Friday night. By the time I was leaving I definitely needed fresh air as I was still feeling sick and queasy. When I got back out onto the streets the sun had began to go down and the lights from the square illuminated the sky. I found a bar and eat inside I wasn't really bothered about eating alone at this point I just needed more stodgy food and a drink to help me get over the hangover. As I got into the bar I sat in a booth ordered a beer and nachos pretending to know what was going in the American football that was being shown on the big screens, anything to look distracted from the families and couples that are walking in to eat. Just as I was about to finish my food I had a voice coming from behind me 'Bella is that you?!' I turned around and was greeted by waitress 'Jenny! what are you doing here' 'well I work here' pointing to the outfit she was wearing. I went to school journey up to being sixteen but we parted ways as we went to different colleges. She was always one of the quiet girls but I classed as her a good friend. In school we have many about lessons together and most of them we sat together gossiping about what happened that day. I couldn't believe that she was standing in front of me I was trying to get my head round that she was here working in New York. 'How long you been here?' I said 'three is now ' 'wow I didn't even know! how are you doing? what are you here?' I said standing up giving her a hug it was weird to see if familiar face. 'I clock off in half an hour, stay here I'll get you another beer I'll come and chat once I get changed'

I sat there waiting for her in utter disbelief I really did miss Jenny and I felt bad for not keeping in contact with her. As I waited for her I got a text of Brad 'hope you had a nice day gorgeous still at work will catch up with you tomorrow xx' I did want to see Brad again but I had not seen Jenny for years and I could do a girly catch up. I want if she knew Brad. Jenny came back dressing jeans and a jumper 'right I'm all yours, what are you doing here? never mind me' 'I needed to get away, I needed a break so I booked New York and headed over here with my own' 'on your own' she said 'oh you're brave! Well I came here with a couple girls I went to college with we went travelling in America and I ended up applying for a Visa to stay in New York. I live just outside the square in the flat with two other girls. I cant imagine being back at home now. I love this place' I felt jealous as Jenny told me about living in New York, everything she had done, I wondered if we had stayed friends and went to the same college with this could have been me as well. As we caught up Jenny was asking if I still spoke to anyone that we went to school with, I hadn't seen anyone and neither had she. The conversation got onto Brad, I told her how I met him and how I had embarrassed myself running into the door, she laughed she said I was always clumsy a it didn't surprise her. I told her about going to Central Park and our date last night. She was looking at me like I was making it up I took at my phone and took and showed her pictures of the yacht we been on where you can slightly see Brad. 'But does he have any friends? She said and we laughed' when I go home in a few days you can take him off my hands' I was obviously joking she may have been a good friend but she wasn't having my man I thought. 'Listen do you wanna get out of here? I know a few other places we can go. I cant stand this place when I'm not working' She Said. I nodded my head and grabbed my bag as she shouted over the waiter who told him to take my food and drinks of my bill.

We headed across the square we entered a small bar, we headed across the crowed dance floor and sat propping up the bar as Jenny ordered us two cocktails. She was speaking to the barman who was quite good looking himself for a few minutes before turning around and saying 'what do you think?' Brad was better than him 'are you seeing him? I said 'well we are just talking right now but it's going for a good few months, he's a nice guy he moved over here five years ago and now owns and manages this bar. 'Check you out!' I said admiring the guy behind the bar. We spent the night catching up and chatting about school, the things we used to get up to, the times she used to bail me out of trouble and let me copy her homework. I hadn't had a text back from Brad he had been in the back of my mind all day, I was wondering what he was up to. Jenny had distracted me from thinking about him and as we finished our cocktails we got up dancing to cheesy nineties music. By this time my hangover has been replaced by being drunk again, I needed to slow down but Jenny was still going and I couldn't let her down. I not seen her for years so I carried on drinking thinking I would deal with another hangover again.

'Listen I've got to be up at eight in the morning , I have to go get some sleep, I will drop you off at your hotel on the way back. Come and see me again tomorrow. I finish earlier so we will go for some tea and more cocktails' I agreed as we got our bags and headed towards the door flagging a taxi down 'forty-third street please' she said to the cab driver. She dropped me back off my hotel and I was greeted by Paul opening the door 'another night out? he said as he took my bags and escorted me through the doors. Another great day in the city I thought getting back in my room.