This Love

2

A week later after doing some research I finally get my stuff packed for our girls trip to Australia. I stand in front of my closed luggage my hands on my hips with a smile. "How are you already packed Cal?" I look over my shoulder at my housemate Jill, "I mean we leave tomorrow so I'd say my timing was okay" she pouts, "want to help me pack" I laugh, "okay fine but you owe me one" she nods and the two of us go to her bedroom.

What feels like hours later we're done packing Jill's bag, "why are taking so much?" She winks at me, "you never know what could happen down under" I giggle before leaving her room. "That's where you went Cal" I turn around to see Lexi approaching me, "yeah Jill needed my help to pack" she nods and the two of us head to the kitchen. "This trip needs to happen, I feel so tense" I stretch my neck slightly at the mention of tension, "yeah I don't think I've ever been this tight at the end of a season" she nods and we go ahead and make some food for lunch talking about the trip to come.

Before the three of us eat lunch my phone rings with a call from my mom. "Callie sweetie, are you all packed for your trip?" She asks, I twirl my finger around my hair, "yes mom, everything is set for tomorrow" I reply reassuringly, "good, I just wanted to make sure since this is not the kind of trip where you can easily get home if needed" I pace on the spot, "I know mom, I love you, but can you turn down the protectiveness, you're worrying me" I hear some shuffling, "I can't help it, it's an instinct" I smile at her statement, "have fun Cal love you and keep me updated whenever you have time" I stop pacing, "will do mom, I should go we're about to have some lunch" she kisses me through the phone and I hang up joining my housemates for one last lunch before our trip.

Later that evening the three of us are squished on the living room couch with the TV playing a movie. "I'm going to miss Canada while we're gone" I mention, "I'm not" Lexi says and we all laugh, "it's gonna be so hard to come back to work" Jill exclaims while leaning into me. "You've got that right" I mumble and throw my arm around her as we focus back on the movie. "Wait last picture before we leave!" Lexi exclaims while reaching for her phone, she squishes closer so that we can all fit into the picture, I'm grinning as the flash goes off, "movie night before we vacay" I hear her mumble as she types. "I think my camera roll will be overflowing by the end of this trip" Jill says I nod as my phone vibrates with the Instagram notification from Lexi's picture being posted. "Maybe we'll find some cute Aussie boys that will take the pictures for us" I snort at Lexi's statement, "is all that you think about boys?" She nods then stops, "but also food" I laugh and we collapse into one another forgetting about the movie playing in the background feeling the exhaustion hit us.

——

When morning comes I take a quick shower before changing into my favourite travel attire, which consists of leggings and my oversized Barrie Colts hoodie. I meet my friends in the kitchen to eat something before we need to go to the airport. We eat in silence all of us still feeling tired, "can't wait to get on that plane" I look over at Lexi and nod in agreement. A few minutes later the three of us get up and wash our dishes before gathering our bags. We walk out of the house getting into Jill's car managing to fit everything before we're off towards the airport.

"Guys why am I kind of nervous for this?" I ask my friends as we wait for the boarding announcement, "you're just not used to taking a trip like this" Lexi replies. I nod, "you're probably right, I just need to chill" Jill nods and takes my hand squeezing it gently in reassurance. I sigh leaning back trying to channel my inner yogi as the minutes pass by in the busy airport. My eyes open when our flight is finally announced, I stand up grabbing my carry on as we walk over to the gate feeling the excitement bubbling. We link hands running onto the plane with smiles on our faces, "lets get this party started" I laugh at Jill's statement as we find our seats settling in for the very long flight to our destination.