Across the Maps

Chapter 29

"Are we almost there?" I ask, taking a small bite of a blueberry muffin and then setting it back onto the porcelain plate.

"Yes," Mom replies, peering out of the small rectangular window. "We should be landing any minute.

As if on cue, our pilot, Brandy, sends us a message over the intercom saying that we will be landing in five minutes.

As we start to descend, I shift in my seat uncomfortably. Even though we are lowering, I still don't like being this high in the air. I fight to keep my breathing regular, but it still accelerates rapidly. But then Cole wraps his hand around mine, intertwining fingers with me. Turning around to face him, I smile. He returns it with a small grin.

"Don't worry," he whispers in my ear. His words sooth me as we descend down and down. Finally we are back on the runway and I smile, happy that we are back on the ground.

"Where are we going first?" I question Mom.

"First," she exclaims. "I have the book signing. After that we can do whatever you guys want to do." Cole and I exchange brief smiles. It's time.

Mom, Cole, and I pile into the sleek black limousine. Cole and I sit across from my Mom, who is reapplying her makeup with a small brush, using a small compact as a mirror.

The drive goes by quickly. Most of it is spent by me gazing out the window at the incredible view.

Large skyscrapers with symmetrical glass windows tower above us. The sidewalks are crowded with various pedestrians walking different directions. Outside of restaurants, people sit at small tables, chatting and laughing. Traffic on the streets actually aren't bad right now. I don't know if it's because of the time of day, but I'm just glad that we don't have to wait. I put my light green sunglasses on and enjoy the ride to the book signing.

The signing is held at a regular Barnes and Noble store. The carpet is a light green and the bookshelves are a dark wooden brown. It's so crowded, I can barely walk. When everyone sees my mom, they start chanting her name. It starts quiet, but then the chants slowly start to get louder and louder. Finally, when Mom takes a seat, all the cheers hush.

"Hello," Mom exclaims in her presenting voice. "It's nice to meet all of you guys and to be signing your books. I just want to know that I would have never gotten here without all of you. Thank you and never let anyone tell you what you can or can't do."

When Mom concludes speaking, the crowd erupts in cheers, claps, and hollers.

"Okay," Mom smiles a large grin. "Let's get started."

As Mom signs books, I pull out my writing journal that I brought from home, and open it. For a little while, I try and finish my book, but still nothing comes to me. This has been the longest I've gone without being able to write, and it's getting on my nerves. With that, I turn to a clean page and start writing.

The time is one twenty and the bright sun is high in the sky, lighting up the large city of Los Angeles. People's voices and laughter fill up the cool fresh air. Large skyscrapers fill up the large vast city. Pedestrians walk from place to place, some walking casually and others running as if they are in a rush.

Right now, I stand in a medium sized store, a shiny black pen in my hand as I scribble down thoughts on the fragile, lined paper. The store is crowded with people of all ages from five to eighty excited to get an autograph from Dana Canton, the amazing writer of the story Twelve Lightyears Away.

"Whatcha doin?" Cole asks, and I just remember that he was here with me.

"Um...nothing." I close the folder and put it behind me to shield it from him.

"Oh okay," Cole smiles. "Do you want to get Starbucks? There's one in this store. I asked your Mom and she said it was fine."

I smile. "Okay. Let's go."

I shove my folder in my bag and we saunter over to the small coffee shop side by side. I sit down at a small brown table while Cole grabs us our drinks.

While I wait, a girl around my age with long, light brown, curly hair and gray eyes accidentally bumps into my table. "Are you okay?" I ask and she nods.

"Yeah," her voice is a little high and squeaky. "I'm fine. Just clumsy."

In her hands, she holds a medium sized hardback book. The title reads Twelve Lightyears Away.

"You're hear for the book signing," I infer and she smiles.

"Yes. It's my absolute favorite book. I love dystopian novels with action and adventure." She pauses for a second to take a breath. "Are you hear for the book singing too?"

"Um...sorta," I reply, taking a glance at my mom, who is busy signing a book copy for a middle aged lady with long dirty blond hair. "I'm Dana Canton's daughter."

She lets out a large gasp. "Really!"

A small smile plays at my lips. "Yeah."

"Oh my gosh," she takes a breath. "Are you going to be a writer too?"

"Um...well I've been working on some stuff but-"

I get cut off by her squealing and pulling out her phone. "Will you take a picture with me?" She asks.

"Um. I guess. Why?"

"Just in case you ever get famous I can say I met you before."

Before I can answer, she snaps a photo of both of us and shows it to me. Smiling, she speaks. "I have to go. It was nice meeting you." And then she was gone.

Cole saunters over with two medium sized coffees in his hands. "Here you go," he exclaims, handing one of the cups.

"Thanks," I smile and accept the cup, brining it to my lips and sipping it slowly.

After hanging at the cafe for a little while, we decide to head back to where Mom was almost finished signing books.

When she sees us, she motions us over. "I'm almost finished here," she states, autographing another book. "After this we are going to do whatever you both want."

With smiles on our faces, we both nod our heads, ready and excited at the same time.