As the morning light filtered into her room, Nora slowly awoke, opening her eyes with a gentle blink.
A small smile formed on her lips as the events of the previous night replayed in her mind, each memory igniting a spark of happiness within her.
Once she was fully awake, she rose from her bed and walked to the bathroom, readying herself for the long day of travel that awaited them, the thought of their new destination filling her with a sense of excitement.
After showering and getting dressed for the day, she focused on packing the suitcases that had been her constant companions for two years.
As she zipped up the final suitcase, a sudden knock interrupted her thoughts. She made her way to the door and opened it to find Trish standing there, her bags slung over her shoulder. "Are you ready to leave?" Trish asked, exhaustion evident in her tone.
Nora nodded, her face showing signs of fatigue. "I just need to grab my bags; I'll meet you in the lobby," she said, motioning behind her. "Alright, I'll see you there," Trish responded, her smile tired yet genuine as she headed for the elevator.
Watching Trish step inside, Nora took a moment to survey her room, making sure nothing was left behind before she made her exit.
Nora hurried to the elevator, pressing the down button with urgency. When the doors opened, she was met by a tired-looking Jeff Hardy. "Good morning, Jeff," she greeted him gently as she stepped inside.
"Good morning, Nora," he echoed, his voice laced with exhaustion.
Nora couldn't help but tease him, "Someone's not an early riser." A soft giggle filled the air just as the doors closed, sealing them in a moment of lightheartedness.
"Definitely not," Jeff said with a weary smile. "How'd you sleep?"
"Best sleep in a long time," Nora replied, turning to face him. "What about you?"
"Really well," he answered, a hint of warmth in his tired eyes.
Their smiles faded as the elevator doors opened into the bustling lobby. "Are you ready for our long journey?" Nora asked as they stepped out.
Jeff shook his head, his expression serious. "Hell no," he replied. The sound of Nora's laughter filled the air. "Don't worry, I feel the same way," she said, lightening the mood.
Before Nora had the chance to say anything, she noticed Trish standing tiredly by the front desk. They quickly approached to check out, and after finishing, they made their way outside toward the rental car line waiting for them.
Nora couldn't help but chuckle as Trish teased Jeff, asking, "You riding with us again?" Jeff replied with a weary laugh, clearly enjoying the playful exchange.
Watching them for a moment, Nora finally spoke up, reminding them it was time to go. She stepped away and got into the first rental car she spotted. Jeff and Trish shared a knowing look before rushing to catch up to her.
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When they arrived at the airport, they hurriedly exited the car and navigated through the terminal, checking their luggage, clearing security, and finally reaching the gate.
Even though fatigue weighed heavily on her, Nora plopped down in the first available seat. "I am not prepared for this three-hour flight," she lamented to Trish and Jeff, her tone a mix of frustration and weariness.
Trish nestled into Nora's shoulder, whispering, "You and I both, little sister."
Jeff let out a groan, "For me, this is going to be the longest flight of my life since Matt and Lita got together."
Nora couldn't help but whisper, "That's gonna be rough," as she processed Jeff's words. At that moment, Jeff added, "Speaking of the devils, they shall appear," just as Matt and Lita approached, their presence unmistakable.
"Good morning, guys!" Lita and Matt exclaimed in unison, drawing Jeff into a lively conversation that lasted a few minutes.
As she observed Lita and Matt monopolizing Jeff's attention, Trish leaned in and whispered to Nora, "What happened last night?"
Recalling the events of the previous night, Nora sheepishly admitted, "We went to a diner and caught up for a couple of hours until they asked us to leave because it was closing time."
Trish let out a light laugh and inquired, "How was the drive?"
Nora's expression brightened as she replied, "At first, I was nervous, but then we started talking about how I got interested in traveling with you and my experiences at art school."
Trish's expression lit up with joy as she realized Nora was finally opening up to someone besides herself. "I'm glad you had fun," she said, her voice filled with encouragement.
Nora, reflecting on her earlier nerves, confessed there was no reason to feel that way. Trish shook her head, a teasing smile on her lips. "I told you so." Their laughter filled the space, a shared moment of relief and camaraderie.
Jeff, noticing the laughter, turned from Lita and Matt, his expression shifting to one of curiosity. "Would you like to share with the class what you two are laughing about?" he asked, his voice laced with a teasing edge.
When he glanced down at Nora, a subtle smile played on his lips, which made her cheeks warm with a blush.
"We were just talking about how last night went," she admitted timidly.
Jeff's smile widened into a smug grin. "Oh yeah? How was last night?" he asked, leaning in slightly to catch her response.
"I think it turned out really well," Nora squeaked, her voice barely above a whisper. The shyness in her demeanor made Jeff let out a chuckle.
"I'm happy it turned out really well," he said, his smile warm and encouraging.
Nora felt a flutter of embarrassment and twitched shyly, glancing away from Jeff to find Trish, who was giggling at her sister's timidness.
After a moment of watching Nora, Jeff shifted his focus back to Lita and Matt, who were shaking their heads at him with amused expressions.
After an hour of lighthearted banter and shared laughter, the flight announcement echoed through the airport, signaling it was time to board.
They stood up gradually, excitement buzzing in the air.
Nora sank into her seat, releasing a sigh that carried a mix of relief and anticipation. She smiled at Jeff as he passed by.
"See you in the next three hours," she teased, her tone light and cheerful. Jeff chuckled in response, "See you in about three hours."
Once he settled into a seat several aisles back, Nora smiled again before leaning her head against Trish's shoulder and closing her eyes.
The plane started to take off, and Nora reflected that this flight was bound to feel like an eternity.
