The Inevitable - Carter Horton

Chapter 1 - Flight 180

Juno Zenik has always been a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, whether that reason is for experience or a lesson. That if a door is closed, then maybe what's behind it just was not meant for you.

For Juno, currently. She whole heartedly believes that her being on that flight just isn't for her, maybe it's her crippling fear of flying and all things to do with planes. However, that doesn't explain the horrible feeling in the pit of her stomach that something bad is about to happen.

Glued to her place in her room, the walls plastered with posters, concert ticket stubs and array street signs. The accumulating sheet of dirty clothes that cover her floor to the point you can't even see the wooden panels.

Her foot anxiously tapping against the wood, blankly staring at her already packed suitcase with the plane ticket sat atop of it. Biting her nails, she just stares at the ticket, almost as if it's going to outright attack the girl. The girl at school everyone practically avoids, scared of a pitiful piece of paper.

"What have I told you about about biting your nails ?" Kathryn Zenik, leaning against her daughters bedroom door with a pointed look.

"That it will give me worms, oh, it's not ladylike." Juno look at her with a lazy smirk, her anxiety residing in amusement for a moment before returning.

Kathryn moves away from the door, slowly walking towards Juno and crouching down infront of her blocking her view of the suitcase. Gently cupping Juno's jaw, she looks her daughter in the eyes with a gentle look, understanding Juno's anxiety.

"Hey. Look at me. Your going to Paris, the city of love. Exploring a beautiful city with your friends, don't let this fear you have ruin this chance to create a great memory"

Easier said than done.

Kathryn lets go of her daughters face and gradually makes her way back to her full height, grabbing the suitcase and the ticket.

"The minute you get to that airport and you see Clear, You'll be fine. Everything is going to be fine and when you get home your father is going to make up to you for missing you leaving"

A smile makes it's way onto Juno's face. Dennis Zenik. Her father, the obsessive workaholic he is agreed to do another late night shift forgetting his daughter was being shipped of to Paris the very same night.

Remembering how sorry he was that he wasn't going to see her off, instead giving her 50 bucks and a promise to take her to an ice hockey game in the city when she gets back.

"I'm going to get to that airport, see my best friend and have the time of my life in the baguette loving country i've had drilled into me for the past year in french class" Juno announces with feigned over confidence to please her mother, while standing to her feet.

"Now thats the daughter I excruciatingly gave birth to." Putting her hand out, gesturing to the open bedroom door, "Come one, if we don't get our asses in gear. You'll actually get what you want, a missed flight."

One can dream.

Getting to John F. Kennedy, Juno is immediately greeted with dozens of teenagers eager to get away from their parents for a few days. After getting of the car, keeping her eyes on the building infront of her almost as if it was going to swallow her whole.

Her mother having already retrieved her suitcase and bag from the trunk of the car, passing them to her daughter. Looking at her with a proud look in her eyes, you'd swear she was sending Juno off to war.

"You are going to have the time of your life, baby. Enjoy this before you have to grow up and take responsibility, be a teenager and go crazy in paris" Kathryn says while embracing Juno tightly, her chin tucked into her daughter shoulder inhaling her fruity body spray.

"I'll get absolutely shit faced, I promise." Juno half jokes into her mothers ear, letting go of the embrace early, "I'm gonna miss you, crazy lady"

"I'll miss you too. Call me as soon as you get there and I mean as soon as, not when you get to the hotel. The minute you get onto European soil." Her mother commands, blowing a kiss at her daughters retreating figure.

Walking past the bus, suitcase in hand and backpack swung over her shoulder. She scans the crowd for her equally antisocial best friend. Bypassing Carter Horton and his girlfriend Terry Chaney, who were practically merged together. Oblivious to the stare of Carter as she walks past him, completely ignoring Terry's lips on his neck. His eyes stay on her figure walking away from him, until his girlfriend lightly slaps him on her cheek.

Noticing his longing stare at the Zenik girl, she also looks except her stare is complete anger. No matter what she does, he will always have a thing for a chick he's barely even spoken to. Yet, she captures his attention every time she's around.

The P.A system overhead starts to drawn out a automated french sentence, 'cher aeroport n'est responsable pour leurs activities' Mr Murnau our French teacher and also leader of the class trip, scans the crowd looking for an answer. Finally spotting Clear as she speaks up answering the question, her head still stuck in her book.

"The airport doesn't endorse solicitors" Juno smirks as she makes her way over to her friend, who looks up and eyes brighten as she notices Juno.

"Such a squint, Rivers." Juno quietly jokes, receiving an elbow in the gut in response.

"Tres bien, Clear! Tout droit!" Mr Murnau praises, glad that someone actually responded instead of staring blankly.

The group continues forward, the boys in front of Clear and Juno. Alex Browning and Tod Waggner, Alex sighs,

"Fuck, do we have to put up with that shit the whole time?"

Juno leans forward between the two boys,

"Being asked french questions, whilst on a trip to Paris with our french class. I'd be more concerned if the man starts to quiz us on algebra, cause if he does then i'm fucked."

Clear snorts and the two boys turn their heads to look at Juno, Tod with a look of amusement whilst shaking his head. Alex with just a blank look, clearly not impressed with Juno's imput.

"I wouldn't be joking if I were you Zenik, last I checked your also failing this class so your as fucked as I am"

"Not gonna lie to ya Alex, I just figured if Murnau asks me a question i'd just fling myself off of the Eiffel Tower," Juno bluntly puts, with a serious look on her face. Alex just exhales loudly and shakes his head,

"I hate that I can't tell whether your joking or not" Laughing at the boys response, she grasps the back of his head and shakes it teasingly.

"That's all part of the package Browning, I'm just full of surprises." The bickering being cut short when a hand reaches out to gently detain Alex. He looks up to find a Hare Krishana, dressed in everyday clothes, but head shaved and a mark on his nose.

"Death is not the end." He says whilst attempting to give a book to Alex before Miss Lewton, a feisty English teacher who by the way is the leading women to almost all of the guys in the years wet dreams.

"It will be for you if you harass my students." she places a hand on alex's shoulder to herd him back to the group, us following. The hare Krishana, now very pissy, spits.

"Hare rama" Miss lewton then proceeds to turn back to him and whisper,

"Fuck off" Thus making her Juno new favourite person.

"Bitchin, Miss Lewton. You gotta teach me how to offend cults like that on the flight" Juno jokes, Miss lewton with amusement in her eyes gestures for the girl to go forward.

A slight bounce in her step, she makes her way down the towards the terminal. That pit in her stomach returning once more, something bad was coming. Juno didn't know what it was, but it was definitely on its way and it was coming in strong.