Comforting Souls

Chapter Two.

I like children. Honestly, I really do. I just despise them when they're being disobedient little brats and finding it hilarious when they boot the back of my chair for the majority of the flight. I could only hold my tongue for so long before I turned around and had a word with the brats mother. "Kids will be kids." She chuckled at me, shrugging her shoulders. The look I gave her said otherwise and she soon told the child to behave.

The moment we landed, I was quick to grab my bag from the over head compartment and make my way off the plane. I practically ran to the luggage claim area and was absolutely thrilled when my case came through first. Letting it drop to the floor, I pulled up the handle and started dragging it towards the exit. Just as I walked through the doors, Doug and Ellen were stood there waving. Ellen was my mothers best friend growing up, and still remain good friends now despite her being over here in the states. Ellen met Doug on an online dating website before taking the plunge to move over here to be with him. They made a wonderful couple and have been together for almost six years now.

"Oh my, Scarlett! Just look at you, you've grown up so much!" Ellen beamed as she got me in a rather tight embrace.

I slightly gasped, wriggling in her arms. "Can't. . .breathe." I choked out.

Doug chuckled, shaking his head as he placed a hand on Ellen's shoulder. "You're strangling the poor girl."

Ellen released me, her smile never fading. "Oh, I'm so sorry. I'm just so happy to see you."

I know she meant no harm, and I couldn't help but laugh at her excitement to seeing me. "I know, I'm happy to see you guys too."

Doug, with his quick thinking, suggested that we should make a move. Just like Gatwick Airport, this place was ten times worse and we just barely got out of this place alive. Over dramatic, I know, but it was still horrendous.

On the drive to Harvard University, Ellen was dishing out question after question. I felt like I was being interrogated. Her excitement still hadn't settled, and to be really honest, It was nice. Usually I get easily annoyed when people ask me a million and one questions, but this really did take my mind off things so I happily answered each and everyone of her questions that she fired at me. Plus it made the car journey a lot faster.

"We're here." Doug announced as he pulled the car up to the curb.

Ellen frowned. "Already? Did you speed?"

"Of course not," he laughed, opening his door. "I went slower than usual because I knew you'd want to catch up with Scarlett." At that, he hopped out of the car and shut the door.

"Oh, come on, Ellen." I chuckled softly. "It's not like you're not going to see me again, I mean, I'm on this side of the pond now. You're going to see me all the time."

"Well, I suppose that is true." She smiled, her spirits picking back up. "If you ever need anything, you ring us okay? If you want to come stay over, anything."

"I know, I understand and I can't thank you enough for everything you're doing for me."

Ellen smiled warmly, the soft wrinkles on her tanned face slightly showing. For a woman hitting fifty soon, she looked great. "No need to thank me, love. Come on, we best get you to the registration office and get your schedule for the semester."

This place was huge. I mean, ridiculously huge. I must have been stood at the side of Doug's car for a good ten minutes before Ellen shook me back down to earth. I quickly gave Doug a hug, as he decided to wait with the car, before I followed Ellen to the registration office. The building I would be doing my studies in looked absolutely immaculate and breath taking. You could tell the building had been through a lot of years, but it had character and you could tell it held a lot of stories through its time. Though, noticing a few of the students, I did kind of feel a little under dressed.