Photos of her

Part 2

"These seats are killing my back. Why not have some comfy couches?" I grumbled. I can't get rid of the feeling that someone is watching me so I put the book away. scanning the gate, It was pretty empty—just that family from earlier, an elderly couple, and a handful of men. Then, my gaze met a guy's. He seemed about my age, in jeans and crewneck. Who wears jeans on a plane? I turned away, looking out the window. Watching the planes take off didn't ease my nerves.

Haze:

It's 6 in the morning, and the flight isn't until 8, but August had the fantastic idea of coming here early. The wifi sucks so I looked around. The gate wasn't that full, there was a small family of three, an old man, and in front of me was a girl.

 she looked around 19, she had brown hair and brown skin. Her clothes were loose, a light blue shirt and some gray sweatpants. Not the best style. She was fidgeting around in her seat reading a book, but it did just look like she was staring at the pages.

She put the book in her bag and looked around, who was she looking for? Shit she's looking at me, I looked away but I could see her from the corner of my eye. she was still looking at me for a minute but then looked out the window. She's cute. 

so I took a picture. I know it's weird but I couldn't help it. should I airdrop it to her? No, that'll make it weirder. I should delete the photo. I opened my phone and opened the photo app. I clicked on the picture about to delete it but something inside me stopped. I couldn't delete it.

I kept staring at the picture when I felt someone looking over me. It was August, he was looking at the picture then at the girl then back at me. 

"you're in my seat," he said. 

 "get another one" Nope I got this one" 

 "It's not a big deal just sit somewhere else" 

 "no, you go sit somewhere else" 

 "I'm not gonna ge-" I couldn't finish my sentence before he shoved me off 

 "bitch" I mumbled. 

Reluctantly I got up and sat in the seat across from him, next to the girl who was now staring at us trying not to laugh. August was staring at me. Then he took out his phone and I received a message. Not just me but the group chat. 

 "talk to her" it read 

 "no" I replied. 

 "talk to who," Julian asked. 

 "There a cute girl that Haze is admiring and doesn't want to talk to her" 

 "I'm not admiring her. I just think she's attractive, that's all"

 "Where?" Alas says 

 "The one next to him"

 I looked up to see four of the boys staring at her 

 "If you won't talk to her I will," Julian says 

 "why won't you talk to her," Alas asks 

 "she looks stressed. I don't wanna bother her" 

 "so now you care about her?"

"fuck you," 

 suddenly her phone rings and the group goes quiet. 

 Ellari: 

 There's still an hour and 40 minutes left. There's nothing to do. I was quite hungry so I looked up the airports to see what kind of restaurants they have when my phone rang. It was Ellie. Immediately after I answered I had to pull the phone away. She was furious. 

 "Ellari fucking Elsher why is Adam in MY car I put it in YOUR bag so YOU can keep him" 

Adam is a stuffed animal I won at a fair when we were kids. originally I won it for her but she had the idea of sharing it so we would trade it every couple of days. 

After she finished her complaining about how I'm too selfless but also very selfish she said "What do you have to say for yourself self""Oops" the guy in front of me snorted "Oops? Ella, you bit-" 

"It's your turn to take care of him anyways when you come to visit bring him with you" "bu-" "Eleanor I have been awake for the past 36 hours, I'm hungry, and exhausted, and two guys are making it painfully obvious that their listening to the conversation and I'd rather not argue about a stuffed bear" "sorry," the one next to me says 

"fine but call me when you get to the dorm room okay?" "I will" Just then I decided to rush out "Also I'm not blocking them love you bye" "Wha-" and I ended the call. 

I sighed out a breath I didn't know I was holding. Was I doing the right thing? They are my family. And what was I to do if they were to find me? My phone was vibrating a lot. They were all messages and missed calls from Ellie. She's definitely mad. I put my head on the chair this whole 'escaping' thing is complicated. 

 I felt a tap on my thigh. I looked up to see the boy in front of me bending over so he could reach. "You're cute," he said catching me off guard "Thank you'" which came out more like a question "August you prick that's not how you approach someone," the one next to me said. "So?" "if she was a boy would you say the same?" "yes actually if he was then I would" "So if I were to tell you to go up to Julian and call him cute would you do it?"

 The guy bent back and yelled out "Julian you hot" "Thanks man I appreciate it" a guy a few rows behind him yelled back, then August, I believe his name is looked back at the guy next to me, and threw his hand to the side. I couldn't help but chuckle a bit. They have a nice friendship. 

 "Does the pretty laugh have a name," August says"Ellari" "A cute face, a pretty laugh, and a gorgeous name, maybe a coffee to see if you have a personality to match?" "I just met you and you want to invite me for coffee?" I questioned"Consider it an apology for 'eavesdropping'" he quoted "There's a nice cafe around the corner we can get to know each other there" "Why not" "Great" he got up 

"This is my friend, Haze," He said pulling up the guy that was sitting next to me then continued"He's smart rich, and very single" which earned him an elbow hit to the stomach "pleased to meet you," I said standing up"Now that we've been introduced we can go" he put an arm around me and another around Haze and led us to the cafe.