Quick to Love

Chapter 3

After all the excitement has died down, I realise that we are half an hour into the flight already. I decide to have a nap to calm down, so I pull out my earphones and put on some Beyonce. I always find music distracts me from the worry of the flight.

I drift off and begin dreaming about a sordid love affair with Austin. My dreams are always so vivid and this one is no different. I can feel his presence and just as he leans down to kiss me, someone yanks my arm and I awake with a start.

"Oh my god, Syd you are dribbling" laughs Charlie, pointing at my mouth.

I put a hand to my mouth in shock and realise that in fact, yes, I have been massively dribbling. I pull a mirror out of my handbag and wipe the saliva from my mouth whilst simultaneously glaring at my friends.

"You have to know we took photos" Charlie thrusts her phone in my face and shows me the horrific evidence. My mouth is so wide open you can practically see my tonsils and there is a glistening liquid pooling at the corners of my lips. God I really hope no one else saw me like this.

"Don't worry Syd, your mysterious stranger didn't see" teases Vi as if reading my mind.

I turn around to try to catch a glimpse of Austin but I can't seem to pinpoint him. He must be sitting directly behind me somewhere out of view.

"The pilot just told us we are about to descend" Violet informs me.

I notice the fasten your seat belt sign in illuminated so I stow my tray table ready. The landing is smooth thank god and we cruise to our parking space at the terminal. I cringe as I start to hear people chanting "IBIZA IBIZA". Thats what you get when you go on holiday to a party island. I look around at the teenagers who must be on their first holiday away from their parents. I hope I wasn't as embarrassing as them when I was their age.

The minute the plane comes to a standstill everyone starts to move out of their seats eager to get off the plane. I too jump up and as I turn to my right I am immediately met with someone's chest. I cautiously look up and of course, it is Austin.

 I am quite tall for a woman at five foot eight, so Austin has to be at least six foot three. It's hard to make me feel small and so I have always been a sucker for a tall guy. Having to crane my neck to look at his face makes me feel a bit weak at the knees. I casually grip the top of my seat just in case they give way on me.

"Sorry" I stammer, "Didn't see you there." I gaze up at his perfectly symmetrical face. His dark brown hair has slightly fallen in front of his eyes and I instinctively want to brush it away for him.

Before I embarrass myself by touching him inappropriately, he rectifies the problem by running his hand through his hair. "That's ok, shall I get your bag for you?" he offers.

Hmmmm yes please!

"Oh thanks so much" I swoon. God it's embarrassing what he can do to me already.

As he reaches up to the overhead locker, his t-shirt rides up slightly and I get to see the ripple of his abs. I gulp.

Why is this happening to me?

I am supposedly on a man free holiday. I am trying to practice what I preach but already he is making it very hard. He hands me my bag and I thank him profusely. He grabs his with ease and walks back to his seat to collect the rest of his belongings.

As I double check I haven't left anything on my seat, I feel the gaze of my friends again. I decide to not engage so we don't have to have another hushed conversation about Austin.

We leave the plane and the heat immediately hits me like a slap in the face. It's July so it's the height of summer but this is something else. The air is heavy and I start to wish I hadn't worn skinny jeans for the journey. I pop on my sunglasses to shield my eyes from the brightness and walk towards the bus that will take us toward the terminal.