Her Name...

Comfort - Part 2

She pushed herself off me, and glared at me. "This is your fault," she said as she blushed, "You did it on purpose."

I rolled my eyes, as I looked at her. I must confess that I did miss the feel of her silken hair against my shoulder. "Yea, I pulled you onto my shoulder." I said sarcastically.

She shook Hannah and asked to trade places with her, but Hanna turned away from her and continued sleeping.

Chelsea turned back to me. "I didn't do it because I wanted to," she said slowly. "It's just that it's hard to sleep on the plane."

It seemed like she was trying to convince herself of something, but I didn't really care. "It's alright, I don't mind."

"Yea, you probably enjoyed it."

"Hey, I didn't ask for it, you know."

"Well then you should've told me."

I'd had enough, so I turned back towards the window, when I heard her voice, so soft it was almost a whisper.

"Hey."

I turned back towards her, to find her cheeks flushed. "Sorry if I bothered you."

The journey became more bearable after that. She didn't seem to be on my case about the accidental touches anymore. She also opened up and started talking to me. She was 18, and this was the first time she had travelled abroad. She and Hannah had been best friends since they were 5, and they were more like sisters than friends. Hannah was right. She really did warm up to me. She started talking more and more as she got more comfortable with me. Sometimes, she didn't even wait for my response, she just continued on. It was cute.

My mind started to wander. Becca was beautiful, and I loved her with all my heart; but there was an angel sitting next to me. An angel who seemed so eager and interested in talking to me. My thoughts were all over the place. I was cheating on Becca....or maybe I wasn't. What did she mean when she said that at the airport? Was that a yes? Were we together? She didn't say it back to me. She just told me to say it again. Maybe she didn't want to hold me back? But I want to be held back by her...

"...and I'm Gemini. What about you?" Chelsea's voice brought me out of my speculation. Gemini....that explains the talking.

"Um...Virgo." (I could just hear Becca telling me to stop saying um.)

"That's awesome! You know I have a friend who's really interested in astrology and palmistry - "

I can't remember what she said after that, I had gone back to thinking and I just nodded along with her. I loved Becca, but she knew we'd be away for a few years. It would be unfair to both of us if we didn't meet new people. As long as my feelings remained true when I returned. And they were true. I knew they were. And they would be when I returned.

I realized Hannah was awake and looking at me bemusedly. She seemed to be very observant, quite the opposite of Chelsea, who still hadn't stopped talking. Her expression suggested she knew exactly what was on my mind, and I'll admit it scared me a little. She made a big deal about yawning, and Chelsea turned to her. I'm pretty sure she saved me at this point, because I genuinely had no idea what Chelsea had been talking about.

"So you guys became friends, huh?" Hannah asked.

"No! We were just talking." Chelsea's reply was almost too fast.

"Just talking? I'm pretty sure I saw you sleeping on his shoulder." I looked at Hannah as she said it, and her lips curled into a smirk. So she was awake then. "Meet a handsome stranger," she continued. "Well you can cross that off your list, CeeCee."

She laughed as Chelsea started hitting her on the arm.

The flight attendants served the meals and we ate together. They told me about their school, and their friends, and their life. It was just small talk, but I was careful to keep the conversation on them. I didn't want to have to answer any questions on my love life just yet. But they always seemed dangerously close to bringing the topic up.

The hours seemed to fly by, and suddenly we were more than halfway there. Chelsea and Hannah were pretty friendly with me now, and I was surprised. I wasn't normally this open, but Becca had pushed me to become confident. She turned all the negativity that was there from Aleyna, and she focused it in a positive direction. She made me better myself, and as I thought about it a wave of guilt washed over me. I decided I would just wait for her, for Becca. Hannah looked over at me, with those piercing eyes that always seemed to know and yawned.

"Hey, CeeCee," she said, "switch seats with me."

"Why?"

"It's my turn to sleep on his shoulder."

Chelsea reddened, and she folded her arms angrily. "I don't care about that, but I got the middle seat, and we said it would be for the entire flight."

She was so beautiful, sitting there with her arms crossed. Her face fixed in that cute pout. I felt my thoughts swaying towards her again. Becca did want me to meet other people. I know she did.

"Come on, CeeCee, you yourself said you didn't like the middle seat."

"Well it's a lot more comfortable than the aisle."

"Maybe I should sit in the middle," I said. "That way you can both -" Chelsea gave me her death glare, and I fell silent.

"No. We stay like this."

Hannah just shrugged. She gave up that fight way too easily. I knew it, she was pushing Chelsea and I together. And I didn't mind, I actually appreciated it.

Chelsea slept on my shoulder again. She didn't even bother trying not to. She just lay her head down on me. As soon as Hannah was asleep, of course.

"I'm just doing this because I can't sleep comfortably on a plane."

I didn't want to tell her I enjoyed it. Watching her get flustered was too much fun. I lay my head against her this time. Her hair brushed against my face and I felt so...calm. She was loud, she talked too much, and she got on my nerves a little. But she brought me comfort. And that's all that mattered to me right now.