ADDI THE BADDI
Immediately, I slide off the bed, landing on two feet in a fighting stance. Ben straightens up to his looming six-foot height and I know we're thinking the same thing. Who's there, and how long have they been listening to our conversation?
Should've never let my guard down like that. Now, we're probably going to have to pay dearly.
There's more kerfuffle at the entrance and the suspense is killing us until finally, like a stage curtain being drawn back, Fred stumbles into the tent. My frown alleviates and I release the breath I'd been subconsciously holding. "Fred," I fluster, my tongue in knots. "I wasn't expecting you."
He glances at Ben then back at me. "He's my guard," I say, and the words taste weird and sour in my mouth. Somehow it's worse than that stupid eloping story. "Look, this won't take long, but I can send him out if that makes you feel more comfortable."
I love your eloping story. It's so roman-tique <3
Don't test me or I will erase you like it's Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
"No, it's okay," Fred nods, seating himself on the examination bed. "I had a friend, but he's decided to wait outside for some reason."
"That won't be necessary," I smile, heading towards the entrance to invite his friend in. It's much warmer in here than it is out there, and that's on me, cranking up the space heaters because of the permafrost slushing through my veins. Swiftly brushing aside the canvas, I start, "Hey, if you wanna come in—"
Then he turns.
I'm choking on words. I'm choking on tears. I'm choking on my heart.
It's inconceivable in the most incredible way.
"Tom."
***
For as long as I hold him in my arms I have to check that I'm not imagining everything. I run my fingers through his golden hair, I feel his heart throbbing in my hands, I squeeze him tight. How are you here? I want to ask. How are you right here in my arms right now? Is it possible that this is all a dream? Will you still be here when I wake up? No, because whether this is a dream or reality, words would ruin it either way.
We pull back and Tom asks, "How are you?"
"Good," I nod. "Really good." It's embarrassing how inadequate my response is, but what can I say? I'm absolutely overwhelmed with joy right now. "And you? Are you okay?"
He shakes his head. "More than okay," he laughs, a tear bundling in the corner of his eye. "But how are you here?"
"I'll explain inside," I smile, and when my eyes squint I realise I'm crying too.
Ben and Fred are looking around bashfully when we enter, so they must've witnessed that dramatic reunion. At the sight of Tom, Ben seems pleased. "Lanky, blonde hair, blue eyes—you must be Tom." He extends a hand to shake.
Tom takes his hand whilst tossing me a confused expression. "This is Ben." And again, I'm lacking the right words for the situation.
"I've heard so much about you," Ben smiles, and I won't be surprised if he starts crying too. "You don't even know me, and I'm so happy to see you."
How would one describe Ben? A stranger that nearly ruined my chances of being here, a pilot who dragged me from a bomb, an idiot that has followed me into imminent danger time and time again, a total git who's made me roll my eyes to the next century, my husband with whom I eloped, a friend I've known for only two weeks.
I think I'll settle with this for now: he's the Hufflepuff to my Slytherin.
"I don't mean to interrupt a very sentimental moment, but I think there's a lot of catching up to be done," Fred interjects. "So let's hear the story."
I throw a glance to Ben, who chuckles. But even he doesn't know the full extent of this immense tale. So I start at the very beginning. I hear it's a very good place to start. I start with the case of the missing letters.
Two months of radio silence from Tom was terrifying enough as it were, until Mia showed me his name beside three mortifying letters: MIA. Then there was convincing Enoby, sneaking out, getting lost in Japan for a month, finding Johnny—now deficient of a left leg, but nonetheless, we'd found him. Then, the explosive event that should've ended the story, that should've ended my story at the very least, but no. I was dragged from the jaws of death onto an eighteen hour flight to Canada, made a new friend, invaded an American camp and finally found him. "And here we are now," I concluded, finally taking a breath.
"Sounds like you had more fun than us," Fred jokes. Tom is gaping, at a loss for words.
"How did you end up here?" I prompt.
"Flew a few miles off course," Fred answers for him. "Happens to the best of us." Even though he's more than twice my age, I want to tell him to shut up and let Tom speak for himself. But I'm not built for confrontation, so I let it slide.
"Addi's thought of an escape plan," Ben nods.
"It's not really anything," I frown. "It's a little too positive."
"Adelaide," he starts sternly. "You not only convinced people you were American, you fooled them into believing we eloped--ring and all. You infiltrated an American base and you killed it. So don't start doubting your ability now. Tell them the plan."
Tom and Fred look concerned. It's definitely worth the explanation, but later. "Word has it, they're transferring some inmates from the Portland base up here. So I figured, with all the incoming planes, there's gotta be some outgoing. And we could disguise as a cargo plane and sneak over the border."
"An American cargo plane?" Fred scoffs. "They'll see us and shoot us down from the sky."
"If they see us." I spin around to Ben. "Is there a way we could go virtually invisible?"
"Analogue," Tom chips in for the first time. It's good to hear his voice again. "Although that would make it a difficult and dangerous landing. We could crash into another vehicle."
"Not to forget that we'd be accused of being spies if they saw us coming out of an American ship," says Fred.
"Once again, that's if they see us."
Ben frowns. "What are you saying, Addi?"
I turn to him. "Remember how we found the plane in the middle of Victoria?"
"And?"
I ball my fists together, trying not to get too ahead of myself. "We could just... land there. No one would know for at least a few days, and when they do, they'll never be able to trace it back to us." I look at the other two. "It's probably gonna mean you'll either have to come up with a convincing story of how you escaped Olympia or get fake IDs."
"And if we get caught by the authorities here?" Fred reminds us. "What then?"
"I like the idea of arresting them and imprisoning them in Canada," I grin. "A little souvenir."
"I dunno," Tom frowns. "Sounds like a bad idea to try and escape."
"We won't just be trying. We will escape."
