let me go || l.h.

t h i r t y o n e

i woke up on saturday morning, feeling happier than i had felt in months. looking at the clock, i saw that it was 9. luke was arriving at 10! i quickly dressed in leggings and one of luke's jumpers before bounding down the stairs.

"morning chook," mum said. i smiled widely, "morning!" mum gave me a glass of milk. "excited?" she asked. i nodded enthusiastically. "can you drive me to the airport at quarter to?" i asked. mum smiled and nodded.

***

i could barely sit still on the drive to the airport. i inserted my phone into the audio plug of dad's car and put on some 5sos. rory, mum and i sang along like a bunch of lunatics. my mum might be a bit annoying sometimes, but she was never, ever boring!

we arrived at the airport at 10.03. luke said that he would be at terminal 2, so we made our there. liz and andrew were there, and so were the other boys' parents. mum made her way over to aunty joy and rory started talking to harry and lauren.

i sat down in one of the hard, plastic chairs of the waiting area and tried to calm myself. my knees were jittering around uncontrollably. i took a few deep breaths as i started to fiddle with luke's necklace. as promised, i hadn't taken it off.

a woman's voice suddenly filled the loudspeakers. "qantas flight lx237 now arriving in terminal 2." i craned my neck as people started filling the waiting area. suddenly, i saw michael's red hair sticking up above the crowd. "mikey!' i cried, running over to him and throwing myself into his arms. "hey!" he said, laughing. "is katrina here?" he asked, already searching for her. i laughed. "she's running a bit late," i replied. rounding a corner, i saw ash, pushing a suitcase cart. he saw me and enveloped me and a bear hug. "i missed you!" he said, smiling down at me. i smiled back, seeing his dimples ignite. "i missed you too, big bro." i replied.

i started as i felt hands wrap around me from behind and a familiar laugh fill my ears. "calum!" i said, hugging him tightly. "hey, little cousin," he said, planting a kiss on my forehead. "close your eyes," calum whispered mischievously. i did as i was told, and felt his arms turn me around.

knowing what i would see, i opened my eyes in a hurry. there he was. luke. i felt tears prick my eyes as i ran towards him. i flung myself into his arms, knowing he would catch me. i never wanted him to let go. i looked up at him, smiling more than i ever thought i could. he cupped my face in his hands and kissed me gently. "i am never letting you go again," luke said.