Beautiful Things//O2l/Kian Lawley By Emily

Chapter Eighteen: California

"Wake up." Kian whispered in my ear rubbing my shoulders. I stirred opening my eyes, it was still dark outside.
"What time is it?" I asked rolling over to look at Kian.
"6:30." He said picking up the pillow and blankets he was using. We had to be at the airport by 8:00am. I got up moving over to my suitcase. I changed shoving my pajamas into my suitcase. I helped Kian get the rest of the bed stuff before heading downstairs to help the other guys. The guys were already running around busy so it only took us about fifteen minutes as a group to get everything out to the cars and pack them up completely.
While the guys were checking to make sure nothing was forgotten, I walked down to the lake sitting cross legged on the dock. The morning was cool and the sun was just starting to rise casting a light pink glow over everything. I smiled enjoying the chilled breeze. I could still hear the crickets that chimed in with the peepers and bullfrogs. The air smelled of autumn and you could see that the tips of the leaves on the trees were beginning to turn colors.
Kian walked up behind me bending over and rubbing my shoulders.
"Come on, it's time to go." He said helping me up. I followed him back around to the car giving the house one more thoughtful glance before getting in.
The airport was half an hour away but the drive didn't feel like that, I was to busy thinking about all the memories I had from growing up here, most were good. Growing up I lived in a larger house my parents had build when I was little, at the time my mom was pregnant again with her third child but after a few months she had a miscarriage. It was the year following that everything changed. Dad started gambling and mom would hid away in her room ignoring us all. But living with them wasn't all bad, they still loved us and made an effort to care for us. Of course I had I life outside of family too. Cameron and Jeremy had both been my friends since I was little, they would always let my come over and play and we would have big sleepover parties. And when we got to old to have a boy girl sleepover we would sneak Jeremy into Cameron's room and talk until the sun came up, just like it was now.
When we got to the airport we drove into a parking garage and took an elevator so we were above ground level. The airport was huge, the only other time I had been in one was in sixth grade when my family went to Florida for a week. I remember wondering what would happen if I got lost, in a place this big who knows. I watched the tile patterns on the floor as I rolled my suitcase behind me. After going through security we followed the gate numbers till we found our flight to California. I sat down checking the time, the flight would be leaving in about twenty minutes.
"Is there time to take a nap?" Sam asked groaning. He plopped down in the chair two seats down from me closing his eyes.
"Alright, who wants a drink?" Rickey asked. We all raised our hands wearily.
Kian, Sam, and Jc all asked for monsters, I asked for a coke, and the others asked for coffee. Rickey and Jc walked off to get the drinks and the rest of us stayed where we were resting our eyes.
We waited for about ten minutes before the guys came back. When they returned Connor and I were the only ones still awake. I was sitting in Kian's lap and he was sleeping against Trevor who had his legs on Sam who was laying down across three seats next to Connor who had carefully placed himself next to Sam.
Jc motioned for me to stay quiet and he walked over opening the bottle of water he was holding. He leaned over Trevor slowly pouring the water in his mouth and then all over his face. Trevor spasmed clashing heads with Kian and kicking Sam in the stomach earning an unhappy groan.
Kian woke up moving his hands to his head. "Fucking ow!" He said shoving Trevor playfully. Sam sat up laughing at us and holding his stomach. I stood up turning around to admire the scene. By now Connor was on his feet with all of his stuff in hand.
"Can we board now?" He asked looking around. I nodded grabbing my stuff, the other got up groaning. We gave our tickets to the man at the front desk and boarded the plane walking down the cold tunnel into the plane. We all occupied the back of the plane, Trevor and I had the window seats, then Kian and Sam were in the middle seats, and Jc and Rickey were in the outside. Connor sat in front of me with JJ who had met us at the plane and a middle aged women who was already asleep. I snuggled into Kian's shoulder, listening to his conversation with Jc. They quietly discussed video ideas, and took snapchats. Kian kept moving the camera close to my face and then far away and then close again until I accidentally smacked the phone out of his hand. He flailed attempting to catch it but in slid into the seat in front of him behind JJ's back. I covered my mouth muffling my laughing. Kian sat there for a second trying to process what just happened before poking Connor on the shoulder.
"Hey, can you get my phone?" He asked quietly. Connor raised an eyebrow glancing at JJ who was asleep. Connor shrugged slowly trying to move JJ. After a few minutes if patience and carful movement and silence Connor retrieved the phone handing it to Kian with a smile.
"Thanks." Kian whispered.
After that the plane took off and slowly everyone started to fall asleep. I watched them quietly looking at my family, my brothers. I couldn't believe I had only known them for three months.
Slowly my eyes started shutting as I slowly started to drift to sleep. For a few minutes I tried to stay awake but finally I surrendered to my exhaustion, resting my head on Kian I closed me eyes and fell fast asleep.
********
"Alexisssss, wake up." Kian said, shaking me awake. I groaned opening my eyes. I looked around at all the people evacuating the plane.
"We've landed." Connor said beaming at me. I smiled standing up and stretching. We slowly made our way off the plane and into the airport.
"Remember the guy Romeo I was telling you about? The tattoo artist." Kian said as we walked off the plane.
"Ya." I answered.
"Okay, he is the one getting us from the airport." Kian said smiling. I smiled back walking fast to keep up with everyone.
We walked out to the main lobby of the airport and the guys started searching the crowds for Romeo.
"Found him." Sam said walking towards the doors. A taller guy completely covered up to his neck in tattoos stood leaning up against one of the pillars near the elevator door.
We all followed Sam over to Romeo and the guys said hello. Romeo's eyes drifted over to me smiling.
"Alexis right?" He said holding his hand out.
"Yes, and you are the Romeo I have heard so much about." I said shaking his hand. He gave a little bow, flashing a smile.
"Shall we?" Connor said picking his luggage back up off of the ground. We all exchanged glances before following Romeo into the elevator and then out into the parking garage.
I could already feel the humidity and smell the warm tropical breeze. I smiled taking it in. I walked out of the parking garage. White light hit me and I closed my eyes letting them adjust to the bright sun. When I opened my eyes next I caught my breath. The sky was blue and I could see the ocean, even from the airport garage, huge palm trees waved in the wind welcoming me with a sweet Californian breeze. Bright flowers grew everywhere adding more color to the beautiful world around me.
Kian walked up behind me wrapping his arms around my waist.
"What do you think?" He asked kissing my neck lightly.
"It's stunning." I said taking in the whole scene. He turned me slowly so I was facing him. He gave me a cute little smile shutting his eyes tightly creating little creases in his eyelids. I laughed standing on my tippy toes I kissed him.
After a few seconds he pulled away glancing back at the others.
"Come on, it's time for you to live in my world." He said smiling. He linked his fingers with mine pulling me back over to the car.
We all piled in and we drove away from the airport and started our journey to my new house. This was a beautiful new world and I couldn't wait to experience every second of it. I was ready for a new beginning and I found it here, in California.