Running Towards A Place

The Calling

Eddie's POV

Weary and a little overwhelmed, I look up at the departures board. The airport is buzzing with people whizzing everywhere. All sorts of people, backpackers, families, businessmen, you name it. Then there was me. Groggy eyed, lacking confidence and a little lonely. I double checked the departure time and gate for my flight then set about finding said gate and then somewhere to sit nearby.

20 minutes later I had success. I had an hour to go until boarding began and I found a deserted seating area hidden around the back of some desks. I gave myself a mental pat on the back and got myself comfortable. Headphones on, music on, sketch pad out, world off. Within minutes I was fully immersed in my own little bubble. The classic stones in my ears and my mind cleared as I sketched my surroundings.

I was oblivious to my surroundings, so much so that a wandering man made me jump.
"Sorry there miss, I didn't mean to scare you" he apologized, raising his hands in defense. I smiled, feeling my cheeks begin to flush.
"No no, it's ok" I replied, ever so British. He relaxed slightly, a smile crept across his lips. He was older and sporting an impressive beard. He was also American, very American.
"What you drawing there anyway?" He quizzed, setting his bag down on a chair a few rows in front of me.
"Oh I'm just sketching this, I'm killing time" I answered, unprepared for conversation.
"Must be good, with the amount of focus you had on it" he chuckled deeply.
"I'll let you be the judge of that" I gulped as I found the confidence from somewhere to show him. He glanced over at my sketch pad. His brows raised in surprise.
"Wow, you are good" he nodded in approval, "now you've got to add the back of my head" he winked.
"I guess so" I chuckled back. I relaxed a little.
"What flight are you on by the way miss?" He quizzed, sitting down sideways so that he could still see me.
"12:25 to JFK then to Salt Lake, yourself?" I returned, guessing there would be a chance that we'd be on the same flight.
"Oh man, we are too" he beamed. We are?
"Oh cool" I responded, not sure what I made of that news. I enjoyed having some company but not some random guy I've only just met, no matter how easy going he is.
"Me and my mate are heading back to Park City" he explained briefly. "I'm sorry, I'll let you get on with your drawing" he began to turn back around.
"No don't worry, it's nice to have company" I smiled back, I wasn't lying, it was nice talking to him. But as he said he let me carry on with my drawing, this time I kept my headphones off incase of any impromptu conversation. Was I going to add he into the drawing now? Yeah, why not?! I smiled to myself. 

Just as I glanced up for what felt like the hundredth time, his friend paced around the corner. He looked disheveled and as weary as I felt. With dark tired eyes, he glanced around the otherwise empty waiting area before heading straight to his friend. I didn't even get his name. I smiled to myself again before I began to add him into the sketch too. As I took one last glance up, I could see the bearded guy catch me at the corner of his eye.
"Hey Brandon, I have a feeling we're going to be in a piece of art you know!" I heard his thick American accent. I broke my attention from my work and looked up. He was now turning round to face me again. His friend was baffled by what was happening. I could only stifle a giggle and shrug. "This one is an artist you know, and she's on our flight" he threw his thumb in my direction. His friend was silent.
"Well I'm not a real artist" I shrugged again, feeling so British against their Americanness. "I'm Eddie by the way" I gave a shy wave, thinking I'd better introduce myself sooner rather than later.
"Nice to meet you Eddie, I'm Ron, and this is Brandon" he nodded back.
"Eddie? Isn't that a guys name?" Brandon finally spoke. I had heard this question too many times before.
"Well my actual name is Edith but I'm not an 78 year old grandmother with purple rinse hair" I shrugged and smiled back with mock confidence.
"Ah that makes sense" he nodded, approving my response.
"Sorry Eddie, Brandon can be a bit blunt sometimes" Ron sighed, shaking his head.
"Oh no, it's ok, I get it all the time" I giggled. Brandon just shrugged oblivious as he got comfortable next to his friend.
"So, what you going to Salt lake for Eddie?" Brandon quizzed.
"I'm going to university there. I have some connections over there so I figured I'd make the most of it" I shrugged again, not being a fan of the limelight.
"Oh now that's cool, studying what?" Ron asked, stroking his beard.
"Art and art education" I nodded with a very British close mouthed smile.
"Which college?" Brandon asked, looking slightly more impressed with my response.
"Brigham Young, I don't really know much about it to be honest" I fiddled with my sketch pad.
"It's good, I have a cousin who's a sophomore there" Brandon added, nodding in approval, "she's studying history I think".
"This is a boarding announcement for flight A3091 to JFK, the gate will be opening in 10 minutes time" the airport lady's voice boomed around the airport. I glanced at my watch, the time had flown since chatting to Ron and Brandon.
"Well thank you guys for keeping me company, the time flew" I smiled before I packed up my things.
"It did, didn't it" Ron smiled sweetly, "we'll have to see if we bump into each other half way" he chuckled to himself.
"Of course" I grinned, zipping up my bag.
"If not, I hope your studies go well Eddie, not Edith" Brandon smirked, now also standing up.
"Why thank you" I smiled sweetly, catching his eye as I adjusted my backpack and stepped towards the gate.
"Take care" Brandon held his hand out for me to shake. His hand long and lean. I wasn't expecting such gesture so it was no surprise when his hand engulfed mine.
"Hey, I met her first" Ron chuckled, holding his hand out now too.
"Don't worry I can shake both of your hands" I laughed before proceeding to shake Ron's hand too.
"Fly safe" the guys called as I wandered towards the gate. Now I waited to board the plane, still weary but a lot less overwhelmed and definitely less lonely. As I gradually made my way to my seat and got myself comfortable, all I could think about was Ron and Brandon. Would I see them at JFK, I really hoped so.

•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•
Brandon's POV

"She was sweet, do you think she knew who we are?" Ron asked me as we breezed through the last of the line and onto the plane. I was a pro at distracting myself from flying now.
"I don't think so" he responded, heading into the plane first, "if she did, she wasn't phased at all" he added, double checking we had the right seats.
"Yeah here we are" I nodded, sliding over to my seat, "that's impressive not going to lie, most girls her age know who we are" I chuckled, getting comfortable as Ron slid his bag away.
"Yeah, she must be a rare one" he shrugged as he plonked himself down beside me.
"What movie you going to watch?" I asked Ron, glancing around my surroundings.
"Not sure mate, might read first" he responded as I began to flick through the mini tv. Before I forgot, I took my anxiety pill and got my book out too. I knew that if I forgot my pill I wouldn't be leaving poor Ronnie alone. Before I could finish fidgeting, the plane was already taxiing off and I tried to get myself relaxed. The seat next to me was free? Shouldn't someone be sat there? I calmed myself down, I really needn't worry about these things. Then, before I knew it we were taking off and eventually we were up high enough for my to take my belt off and relax.

Nothing was relaxing me though. I tried a movie, nope. I tried my book, nope.  Ron was asleep so we couldn't chat. It was too noisy to write. 3 hours later and I was still bored, but also fed up. I decided to get up and walk a little bit. I freshened myself up a bit in the bathroom, trying my hardest to stay on my feet as the cabin gently rocked. On my way back I saw a familiar face. Before I could click, she saw me.
"Hey!" She smiled brightly, she looked cramped.
"Hey, it's Eddie not Edith" I smirked back, "Are you ok in here?" I asked, glancing around. I forgot how cramped and noisy economy seats were.
"Yeah why?" She looked puzzled.
"Well we're in business and there's a free seat near us, you can probably just come sit with us if you want" I shrugged.
"Is that ok?" She asked, sitting up a little.
"I would say so, it's not like you haven't got a ticket, it's not being used sooo" my voice trailed off. Eddie was convinced. "Here, I'll help you" I offered to carry some of her things as she got herself together. I lead her to our space.
"Oh wow it's so much more quiet up here" Eddie's mouth gaped as she sat herself down in the seat next to me.
"Hey Eddie" Ron beamed as he greeted her, "has Brandon rescued you from the depths of awful economy?" He joked, holding his book open.
" he sure has" She chuckled, wriggling into the spare seat.
"Well I'll apologize now for him, he has a real fear of flying so he'll be on the go the entire time" he added, I fiddled with the cover of my book, wanting the world to open up and eat me.
" Aw poor Brandon" she cooed, "well I don't usually sleep on planes either so at least we'll have company" she shrugged and offered a sympathetic smile.
"Perfect" Ron added before heading back to his book.

Now with even with new found company I couldn't yet relax.
"So how come you can afford business class?" Eddie asked, turning to sit facing me.
"We're in a band" I responded, unsure how to broach the subject.
"Oh cool. What kind of band? You must be good if you can afford business?" She rested her chin on the palm of her hand and her elbow on the armrest.
"Indie rock" I thought aloud, "we've done alright for ourselves, we're called the Killers" I explained, gauging her reaction as I spoke.
"Wait I think I recognize that band name!" She frowned as she clearly racked her brain. I paused awkwardly, waiting for her response to play out. "Hmmm, no I might recognize some of your stuff though" she smiled instead, "but I won't embarrass you" she giggled. For the next hour or so the pair of us chat away, talking about music and traveling. Ron falls asleep beside me whilst still holding his book, making us both laugh controllably. Our first meal arrives and then we get chatting again. This time about airline food and American food. It wasn't long after that though that I was then left alone. Eddie had also fallen asleep and I was now surrounded my snoozing people. I sighed and slid down on my chair Slightly. I felt like an abandoned child having a strop. It felt strange that I had only just met Eddie, we were chatting like we had been friends for ever and we go on so well. Just enough in common to understand one another yet enough difference to be interesting and intriguing.
This journey might not be so bad after all.