Are you following me Mr Hiddleston? (A Tom Hiddleston Fanfiction)

Chapter 22

Monday 26th July 2021

Tom arrived at the airport bright and early for the nine o'clock flight to Turkey, then from there they would be changing over to another flight (a private plane), to South Sudan. He felt guilty for constantly leaving Bobby with someone, but he knew when he got him that Bobby couldn't always go places when he was working. Of course, Conrad drove him as always and left him to join the Unicef team, who would be escorting them on the trip. After Tom had checked in he met up with the team at Starbucks, as it was the mutual meeting point. Upon his arrival he greeted everybody warmly with a smile and a firm handshake. He'd met the team more than once, including a couple of weeks ago for the final preparations. And of course after said meeting he went with Ben to watch a tennis match at Wimbledon. However, he was still yet to meet Susan Kobayashi. She missed the last meeting due to flight cancellations and delays. She did give her apologises for not being able to be there, and said how much she's looking forward to meeting and working with them all. After serval minutes Tom ordered everyone some coffee, as they waited to board their flight. The queue wasn't long and Tom was done ordering within minutes, he knew he'd have to make a second trip back to collect the rest of the drinks, but as he started walking back to the table Susan was there. 

"Good morning everyone, I'm Susan Kobayashi!" She said cheerfully and shook hands with everyone and they introduced themselves. 

As she greeted everyone else Tom slowed down his pace to observe her. Her frame is slim, a soft and friendly kind of face, thin shoulder length black hair with a full fringe. Just like he remembered from Googling her, when he was first told they'd be taking the trip together. She chosen to wear a pair of black three-quarter length leggings, sandals, a faded blue top and small straw summer hat. When Tom made it back to the table he quickly placed the drinks down onto the table, then he turned to the newest arrival. 

"Good morning, I'm Tom Hiddleston, pleasure to finally meet you!" He smiled and held out his hand to Susan. She took his hand gladly. And he noticed she wasn't wearing any makeup now he was stood before her, which he found refreshing to see a woman out and about without being dolled up.

"Good morning, Tom, I'm Susan Kobayashi! The pleasure is all mine." Susan matched his smile.

 "Can I get you a coffee? I have to pick up the rest anyway." Tom offered.

"Oh no, don't worry I'll get it and help you with the other drinks." She replied.

They walked in a single file weaving in and out of the tables, until they reached their destination. Tom waited at the end next to the rest of the drinks, as Susan ordered herself a drink. Then they split the last three coffees between them, so they were each carrying two. Of course he allowed Susan both ways to lead, just like the gentlemen that he is. As a team they all began bounding over their coffees and having a laugh. After some time had past Tom's phoned pinged.

"Hi Tom, Charlie and I were wondering if you'd like to meet up. I'm going to be around from now - 30th, before I head off to New York. And I think Charlie needs to be around friends, what with everything going on with his brother." Tom frowned his brows upon reading Zawe's text. He'd not spoken really to Charlie in some months, or her as a matter of fact. It took him ages to find it in him to reply to Charlie about sending birthday wishes, which was a very brief reply as it was just a single word, "thanks."

"Hi Zaws, I cannot make it. My apologises, I am about to make a trip with Unicef to South Sudan this morning. We'll be there until the 14th then we're heading to Yemen, and I'll be back home on the 31st. Perhaps we can reschedule for when we're all in one place again." Although, Tom wanted to sound interested in meeting up, really he didn't want to see either of them, not yet anyway. It wasn't their fault, it was him. Things weren't brilliant between them, nothing has been quite the same as it was. Yet, deep down he knew he'd have to see them eventually, and he didn't want to loose either of them as friends. Basically he was being stubborn.