Freedom and Whiskey

Chapter Two

Flying above the clouds and seeing a glimpse of heaven is a feeling no one will be able to understand unless they've flown in a plane before. Seeing the shapes and colors of each cloud as you zoom by at 300-400mph feels so free. 

"Cabin crew, please take your seats, fasten your seatbelts, and prepare for your safe landing in Edinburgh, Scotland." we heard the pilot say calmly over the speakers.

The landing was a bit rough and bumpy, but we made it so that's all I truly cared about.

As I looked around from the plane window, I saw beautiful a beautiful mountain with snow atop.

"Well? How is it?" Gillian asked, looking over my shoulder from the window seat.

"I never want to leave!" I exclaimed.

Gillian laughed and then everyone stood up on the plane, and so did we.

Exiting the plane was weird, but also amazing to feel the ground beneath me again. The flight had taken nearly 12 hours from Boston, and I was ready to be able to walk more than 15 feet to and from the bathroom and my seat.

As we exited the airport, someone standing outside their car was holding a sign with our names on it.

"What the hell is that?" I asked Gillian.

"Oh, don't worry, that's just my uncle. He thought this idea was hilarious." Gillian rolled her eyes a little and smiled sweetly.

"Ah, okay I was scared it was gonna be a Taken kinda situation!" I half joked but was also half serious.

"Oh please, Claire!" Gillian laughed as we finally got up to the car.

"Hello!" the man said with one of the thickest Scottish accents I've ever heard in my life.

"Hello! My name is Claire Beauchump!" I said, extending my hand.

"You can call me Alister. Or 'Gillian's uncle' if you'd prefer!" he joked, and insisted on giving me a hug. If I'm being honest, sometimes I could barely understand his accent, but I managed to make out what he said in the end.

"Okay, uncle, can you help us with our luggage?" Gillian asked, rolling them back to the trunk.

"Anything for you, Gil." Alister said, taking the luggage and tossing them in the back, closing the door hard as to make sure it stayed shut.

Once we got to Gillian's uncles house, we settled in as much as we could without feeling like we were somehow intruding. 

We were sharing a room with 2 twin beds, and a fireplace.

"Wow. When's the last time this house was updated? 1745?" I jokingly asked as I plopped down on the squeaky bed.

"Ha. Ha. Ha." Gillian fake laughed. "You're probably right, though." she then smirked.

Her uncle then knocked on the door.

"Hey girls. I just wanted to let you know that I'm gonna head to the pub in an hour or so if you wanted to maybe join with me?" he asked.

Gillian and I looked at each other, smiles instantly appearing on our faces.

"Um, hell yeah we do!" Gillian said, doing a slight jump up and down in excitement.

"Alright! I'd suggest you ladies eat something first, though. I don't want to deal with two girls throwing up in my backseats cause they drank too much on an empty stomach now." Alister said as he closed the door behind him with a disgusted look on his face.