The Player

Chapter 20

The airport wasn't as packed as I thought it would be, but it was still pretty busy. I wheeled my suitcase behind me as I walked through the airport to the baggage check in. I checked my bag in, and then met my "family" out in front of security where I would have to say goodbye. I saw my mom first with Spencer standing next to her. I gave Spencer a quick hug and told him it was nice meeting him even though I didn't spend much time talking to him. Then I turned to my mother.

"I know you probably never would have thought I would say this, but thanks for coming back. It actually meant a lot more than you think. Sure I was mad, but in the end I'm glad we could kind of work it out." I said to her. She gave a smile and then pulled me into a hug. I was taken by surprise at the sudden jump, but then I slowly wrapped my arms around her too.

"Me too." she said over my shoulder. When we let go, my dad was standing next in line.

"Daddy." I said.

"Come here, cupcake." he said waving me into his arms. I walked right into them and he gave me a hug. "I'll miss you while your gone."

"I'll miss you too, dad. I always do."

"Me too El, me too."

"Thank you for this weekend."

"Of course." he kissed my head and then let me go.

"Bye, dad."

"Bye, El." I turned around and there was Charlie, standing at my feet. I keeled down so that I was eye to eye with him.

"Do you really have to go?" he asked.

"Yeah I do, bud." I said.

"Do you have your shell?" I pulled the shell he gave me at the beach out of my pocket to show him. Then I placed it back in and patted the pocket.

"Got it."

"Good."

"I'm gonna miss you, Charlie."

"I'm gonna miss you too, Ella."

"But remember, I promised I'll be back. And then it's just me and you."

"Me and you." I smiled. Then I wrapped the little boy in my arms and he managed to wrap his around my neck.

"Okay, I gotta go now."

"Okay." Charlie said letting go. I kissed his head and then stood up. I turned to all of them. My mom and Spencer were standing next to each other holding hands, and my dad was holding Charlie up on his shoulders so he could see me.

"Bye guys." I said.

"Bye, Ella." they all said in unison. I turned around and started walking towards the security line. When I turned back around to see them one more time, all I saw was a glimpse of blonde hair popping up over the crowd, slowly moving farther away.

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I soon landed in Boston, kind of happy to be back in a place that was more familiar to me than Baltimore. I grabbed my carry on and got off the plane. Then I went and grabbed my suitcase from the baggage claim. I wheeled my suitcase towards the doors of the airport to grab a cab outside, but standing there in front of the doors was Niall with a sign that said Ella on it. I dropped my suitcase and made a bee line right for Niall. Niall dropped the sign as I ran right into his arms. He picked me up and spun me around like they do in the movies when lovers are reunited in airports. Just like my dad said, it was just like a fairy tale. Once Niall put me down I immediately started crying.

"Oh my God Niall I missed you so much." I sobbed into his chest.

"I missed you too, El." he said. He kissed the top of my head. He put his arm around my shoulders and he walked me over to where I dropped my suitcase in the middle of the airport. He picked it up and then wheeled it behind us as we waked out of the airport.