"You know," Nora stated, adjusting her seatbelt at the traffic light so that only her waist was secured to her seat, "you haven't asked me where we're going," she highlighted, shooting a bemused look at her companion.

Based on his silence, she had assumed he had been panicked, but when Ali shrugged, shock crossed her features as she demanded further information. "Aren't you curious? I could be leading you to...I don't know, the haunted woods,"

"Well, saying 'I don't know' before revealing a location suggests that isn't the case at all," he stated, and she wrinkled her nose in annoyance. He'd caught her there, "And besides," he added, "I saw what you typed in on the SatNav, we're heading to The Lake District,"

Once more, Nora frowned as she returned her attention to the road. Clearly, her task at being a mysterious coordinator with a hidden agenda was failing, but she shook the thought from her mind as she hummed along to the radio. Ali had been silent for most of the journey, holding the sketchbook in his hand. She doubted he would be able to draw anything, but he had surprised her when he began to fill the page with sketches from the corner of her eye.

"So, what are you drawing?" She pried, "ooh, is it me!" He offered her a dumb look, and this time she resulted to sticking out her tongue in the act of defiance. Ali sure was prickly today.

"It's just random," he sighed, closing the book but leaving his pencil in place so that he wouldn't lose the page. "I have a work in mind that I haven't had the energy to start, and so I waste my time with these...sketches that are meaningless-"

"Don't call them meaningless," she interrupted, "it might not mean anything to you, but that doesn't mean they are meaningless..I've said 'mean' too many times," Nora thought aloud, clicking her tongue in disapproval when he blinked. "What I'm trying to say is that art takes time, and your sketches are building you to that point, don't ever criticise those foundational stages; you'll thank them for it one day..." her change in tone seemed to surprise Ali as much as it surprised herself, but she chose not to ponder on the topic as she opened a bag of crisps and lowered her window to for some fresh spring air.

It must have been her fourth, but she knew why her need for the excessive junk food was so apparent. Given the circumstances, today, she'd allow herself to drown in the food and the temporary happiness the salt ignited in her blood.

"Anyway," she cleared her throat, more than happy to change the subject, "we're going to Ambleside; it's a beautiful town in the Lake District. I thought we could stay there for the weekend,"

"And you've booked accommodation?"

"I have!" she grinned, "but that's all I'm telling you. It's beautiful, and maybe you'll have some luck with your art there,"

Ali only nodded in return, and she adjusted her hands on the wheel as she contemplated on what she had just revealed. Barbie going missing had sincerely thrown her this morning, and what she had said to Ali before was only an echo of the thoughts that had clouded her mind.

She hadn't lied when she had said that she was annoyed her life had turned out this way. Nora hadn't intended for it, truly, but it appeared as if the higher power, whether it was Fate or God, had decreed that even the simplest of tasks would be challenging. She couldn't be happy just living her life, and she couldn't have the determination to want to do more either. She was stuck, and Barbie going missing was a reminder of just how many things had gone wrong in the past two years and how much she yearned to be the old Nora again. The one who loved to cook, and have new experiences with Leo and contact her mum more often, and her dad. But that Nora had disappeared long ago, and she'd be damned to remember why she had allowed her life to turn so askew.

The approaching traffic light was her mental warning that she needed to stop her thoughts before they escalated, and she turned up the volume, using the radios' music as a source of escape.
It seemed that Ali had also noticed the new rise in tension from within her, but she chose not to comment as he placed his book in his bag and pulled out a bag of sweets instead.

"Where did you get those from?" She asked as he offered her a humbug.

"I bought them with me," he confessed, " I don't like sweets, but sometimes you just need a pick me up,"

"That's what hot chocolate is for!" She grinned, and he mirrored her expression, revealing a lump in his right cheek, where he had stored the sweet.

"You make yours far too sweet," he complained, and she shrugged, juicing the hard-boiled sweet, as her tongue tingled in delight. She hadn't consumed anything sweet all day; the hot chocolate from Greggs didn't count, it was mainly water, and it was the buzz she was missing.

"Do you mind if I call my sister?" Ali then asked, and she shook her head, lowering the volume so that he could make his call.

"Salaams Apa...I know, yes, sorry I haven't called you..." Nora shot Ali a disapproving look, and he glowered, likely receiving a scolding at the same time as she relaxed into her seat. Ambleside was only an hour away, and though she knew to mind her business, eavesdropping was her only option.

"So we've collected Billy, he's fine as you would have seen from the pictures I sent you, and then Nora and I are just having a little holiday...she's the girl who agreed to drive me..." Evidently, Ali hadn't dished any of the details to his sister, but his description of Nora certainly was a surprise.
"She's kind, yes, and she's been really helpful...no Apa, and she's sitting right next to me!"

Nora glanced his way, and she sighed, holding the phone away from his ear so that he could raise the question he had been asked. "My sister wants to know if you can come for dinner next Friday?"

"Tell her I'll bring dessert," Nora grinned, nodding brightly at the thought. It would be lovely if she and Ali could keep in touch after the journey they'd endured together. They were both from Milton Keynes after all, and she would like to think he had become a friend.

"I didn't realise the date was coming so soon," Ali expressed, changing the course of conversation to a slightly deeper tone. His sigh was filled with dread and exhaustion, and when he turned to the window, Nora could tell just how much he hated such a communication was occurring in her presence. "I'll be home for the review," he concluded, before pulling out his notebook to write the information he needed to know.

It was a change in conversation that caused Nora's interest to be utterly piqued.
Still, she continued concentrating on the drive as Ali noted down the details of what his sister relayed, waiting patiently until he had hung up and released a deep breath.

"You okay?" She asked, and he hummed his agreement, gaining an immediate look of disappointment. They were less than ten minutes away from the Airbnb, and as a result of Barbie going missing, the sun was already beginning to set.

"Shall we get something to eat?" Nora asked as they parked in the flat's parking area. The owner had notified her that she wouldn't be in until 7 pm to deliver the keys, and with Billy snoozing in his cage, he'd be fine for a couple of hours if they just carried him around.

"Sure," Ali nodded, "I'll just pray, and then we can go," she smiled in agreement, pushing her chair back so that she could stretch out her legs whilst he prayed beside the car. His dedication to prayer had been consistent during their travel, and though Nora knew little, she could see that it grounded Ali. It gave him a level of peace that though she doubted religion could provide her, still, it was something benevolent to see.

Billy began to meow almost four minutes into the walk, and the pair quickly decided to release him from the confines of his carrier cage. He shuffled for four steps and immediately began to dry heave, raising their concerns as they leaned on the balls of their feet.

Ali couldn't have looked more disgusted, but his worry peaked through the expression as he looked away from the cat as Nora crept closer, stroking a hand through his fur.

"Is he okay?"

The cat meowed his response, and Nora chuckled with deep relief as Billy took a seat and instantly began to lick his paw.
It was gross, but it was a sign of a healthy feline, or at least she thought so.
"Yeah, he's fine," she confirmed, attaching him to the lead she'd kept in her rucksack. "Probably got a little dizzy,"

Ali didn't share her amusement, but she could see his relief as Billy led the pair into the heart of the town. There wasn't much to do, but it indeed was beautiful. The buildings were aged, and the cobbled roads were bumpy and yet added a feature that couldn't be found in Milton Keynes. Still, though it matched the description of Edinburgh, Ambleside was much quieter, and as expected, landscaped hills and the sound of running water were the natural features that caught their attention.

Nora wasn't much of a walker, but she didn't doubt Ali would want to explore those hills, even though he still limped slightly as he walked.
Despite it being the beginning of the evening, there were hardly any people about and for a Friday night, elsewhere, Nora may have called the town a bore. A local pub seemed to have garnered the most interest for residents, but if Nora drank, she'd likely have more than her fair share of wine, and she didn't think Ali would be up to the task of handling her.

Thankfully, a Dominos pizza stood stark on the opposite, and though they'd had a week of fast food, luckily Ali seemed happy to agree with her choice.
The pizza arrived quickly, and she'd ordered a side of churros to end their meal as they sat on a bench in the square. Billy was not welcomed into the shop, and so the irritating breeze was only becoming more bothersome as the clouds darkened.

So far, they had been extremely lucky with rain, mainly since it only occurred whilst they were indoors or driving, but the rolling thunder was a hint that their luck would soon run out.

As a result, after consuming their dinner, she suggested they head back to her car and wait for the flat owner to arrive, and Ali had agreed. It seemed Fate had spared them this time, fortunately, as, by the time they did get to Barbie, the owner had arrived and quickly presented the keys to a two-bedroom apartment in the complex.

Once more, it was a shared bathroom. Still, now that Nora knew to dry everything after her use so that the utilities appeared untouched, she was happy to take a quick shower and thoroughly wash her hair, returning to the lounge space to see Ali concentrating on a sketch in his notebook.

"Did you find your inspiration?" she asked, curling up on the armchair since Billy had sought comfort in the space beside Ali. The lilac towel felt heavy on her head, but there was no drier, and she leaned back, spotting the tiles that lined the ceiling as Ali answered her curiosity.

"I think I might have," he confessed, "but you can't see it!" She pouted but didn't press further, opening up her snack rucksack to pull out a large bar of galaxy chocolate that she placed on the coffee table before seeking out the television remote. It had been far too long since she had watched any telly, and it would be the perfect way to relax. It may even be how she chose to spend her whole weekend.

Since it was a Saturday, there were plenty of movies to choose from, and after a moment of hesitation, she opted for Kingsman-The Secret Service, which had started less than ten minutes ago. She's watched the film enough times not to be offended for missing the essential foundation to the storyline. Watching something she'd seen before also allowed her to catch up with Leo via text before settling into the sofa, glad that the heating was working, which allowed her to relax.

They were just at the part where the group were jumping out of the plane when Ali released a heavy sigh. It was the sort of exhaling that was laced with concern, and though she was invested into the film, somehow, she found herself investigating Ali instead.

"Was that a sigh relating to what your sister was on about, on the phone?" She asked, catching the artist by surprise. He nodded, glancing at his work before placing it on the coffee table, closed before she could take a peak.

"My sister...my sister reminded me of what I need to do when I get back home and well...I wish she hadn't," he confessed with an air of mystery that caused Nora's eyebrows to bunch.
"It's not something you need to worry about," he added, leaning back onto the sofa with his legs crossed, "but if you don't mind, I need to be home by the 1st of April,"

The sincere concern that aged his face gave Nora little choice but to express her agreement. The day was six days away and though she wished her escape could last just a little longer, she was going to do her best to make it count!