Five Hundred Miles

2.2: Mrs. Kirkus, Amanda.

Chapter 2.2: Mrs. Kirkus, Amanda. [UNEDITED]

["That he would love her no matter what she told him, and that he was the kind of man who loved her already and would love her forever."
― Nicholas Sparks, Safe Haven.]

"Holy shit." I chant, rummaging my luggage and my sofa.

Where is it? Where the hell is it?

Desperately, I clutch my hair tightly and resist the urge to scream.

"Faith, what is it?" Gideon asks, irritated. He is calmly packing his bag, making the bed. I can't look at him. I will snap by just looking at his smug face. I hate people being calm and steady when I am not. It pisses me off, and I don't know why.

I ignore him and continue searching for it. I remember placing it in my pouch, how come it isn't there? This is impossible!

Wait... Maybe it isn't. Somebody took it? Is it magic that it disappeared out of a sudden, because I am so freaking sure that I kept it in my pouch!

"Please, what the hell is it that you're almost whimpering?" Gideon demands, halting his job.

I am about to throw him a pillow to shut him up. I have to concentrate.

"Have you seen my passport?" I ask in a controlled voice, knowing that if he doesn't I will lose my temper. Lately I've been seeing a lot of red.

"Have you lost it?" He asks nonchalantly.

"No!" I yell, utterly pissed at his stupid, idiotic, dumb-ugh! "I mean, yes. But it was here, in the bag. I didn't lose it anywhere. I'm sure."

"Cool down, Faith. No need to yell." He says, standing up. "Where did you put it?"

"In here," I say, gesturing at my bag. I know that I'm acting like a damn three year old child who isn't granted a teddy bear, but this isn't just a teddy bear, it's my freaking passport! "Well, clearly, It's not there anymore."

Gideon goes into the bathroom and checks. I continue looking for it. Damn! Is it in Gideon's bag? Has He somehow stolen it? No, don't be morbid.

Is it the nurse from two days ago? Shit, why am I blaming everyone? Maybe I lost it in the rain? Oh shit. Can I return to US without a passport?

Why am I always so foolish? I should have checked it everyday. If I lost my passport, I'll be trapped in China forever, and I don't want that!

I search under the covers, under the bunk, even my entire bag once more. Still, no sign of my passport.

"Please find it." I say to myself. I don't want to be trapped in here.

At this moment, Gideon steps out of the bathroom, with a passport in his hand. His face is unreadable.

"Is that my passport?" I ask him. I'm starting to smile. I feel like a stone's been lifted from my heart. Relief.

"Yes," He says, handing it back.

I grab my passport and press it to where my heart is. "Thanks."

"Let's get going." He says, brushing past me as he grabs his luggage and hangs it around his left arm. Without my permission, he takes hold of my luggage and walks away.

What's up with him? He seems to act strangely.

I quickly composed myself and follow suit. Riding down the elevator, Gideon never once try to talk to me. I feel uncomfortable in a confined space with him, especially in silence. This isn't like him.