August Skye

Part 12

Flying first class was a completely different experience from the cramped and familiar quarters of coach. The atmosphere was serene and tranquil, in stark contrast to the usual hustle and bustle of economy class. The seats were plush, luxurious and offered an unprecedented level of comfort that was simply unattainable in coach. The absence of a teeming crowd added to the overall sense of exclusivity. The intricate architecture of the plane was a sight to behold, especially if you were inclined towards aviation. Yet even so, the allure of these luxuries was lost on me. Despite all its splendour, first-class failed to impress me, as I was now accustomed to the opulence of private jets.

Only five months ago, it would have been a different story.

The flight attendants were exceptionally friendly. They served us a delicious selection of wine accompanied by a Grilled Roman-style artichoke and mushroom Bolognese dish, followed by a Dark chocolate Budino dessert, which were new culinary experiences for me. Normally, I would have been thrilled, but today was different. I found myself wrapped in a blanket, kindly provided by one of the attendants, longing for sleep that seemed impossible to achieve without the comforting presence of the person I had grown to love.

My mind wandered to her. Was she asleep? Had Laura decided to stay with her? Or was she alone? Was she crying? I didn't want that. I didn't want her to bury herself in work either but that would be a better alternative than her being sad and teary eyed in bed.

I let out a deep sigh as I pulled the blanket tightly around my body, guilt filling me. I closed my eyes and imagined her once again — her bright smile, her playful light blue eyes, and the mischievous smirk on her lips that always brought me calmness. She was sitting under the willow tree in Central Park, her dark wavy hair swaying in the breeze. The image was so vivid that it felt almost real.

As I held onto that image, I allowed myself to drift into a light sleep. I longed for her presence, even if it was only in my dreams. She might have been out of my reach in reality, but she remained the shining star in my dreams.

I'm not sure how long I slept, but the next thing I knew, the flight attendant was gently shaking me awake as we landed in Phoenix. I untangled myself from the blanket, neatly folded it and handed it back to her with a smile. She returned the gesture with a warm smile of her own and went on her way.

I found my overnight bag in the overhead compartment and retrieved it. After that, I made my way through the tarmac and through security to where Luke was waiting for me. He looked so happy to see me that his face lit up and he rushed over to give me a bear hug. His muscular arms wrapped tightly around me, lifting me off the ground and spinning me around. I clung to his neck, partly out of affection and partly out of fear of being thrown out of his arms. Luke never failed to amuse me with his antics.

As soon as he let go of me from his hug, I couldn't help but chuckle. "It's a pleasure to see you again too," I replied, adding a hint of sarcasm to my words.

He looked at me, a grin playing at the corners of his mouth. "Wow, look at you, all prim and proper. Were you always this stunning?", he teased with mirth twinkling his eyes.

I playfully rolled my eyes at him, starting to walk away. "Luke, I'm far too exhausted for your witty repartee right now," I retorted, my voice laced with mock irritation.

Unfazed, he fell into step beside me, our strides matching as we approached the exit. "There's a Starbucks just across the street. Want a Latte?" he offered, a hopeful smile on his face.

I briefly managed a smile, but it quickly transformed into a frown. I remembered the first time August and I kissed in the back of her car. That memory was all that lingered in my mind whenever I heard the word 'latte'. Lattes were now ruined for me forever. Luke noticed my change in expression, as subtle as it was. I had not shared what happened with August with him, partly because I felt like I had overreacted and said things that I could not take back at a time when I had felt scared. I reacted like a dog that was backed into a corner and scared, snarling at the first thing that comes close.