Somewhere Only We Know

V - Are You Happy?

8 hours later

"Em, wake up." Chase's hand shook my shoulder gently but insistently. My eyes fluttered open, blinking like I was trying to reset the world. It was already 5 p.m. Somehow, I'd slept way longer than I thought. We were parked inside a private hangar at an airport in Nashville: Chase and I, alone in a limousine that screamed rich-people-move-in style. I took a breath and looked out the window.

There was Jesse, standing near a massive jet. The pilot, dressed in that crisp uniform with the perfect crease, was talking to him in that weird casual business way rich people do. Two or three guys were tossing bags into some compartment on the plane. All very official-looking, all very serious.

Then I panicked because my bag wasn't anywhere around me.

"Where's my bag, Chase?" I looked frantically around the limo—no sign of it. Not that there was anything important in there, just my empty phone.

He shrugged, eyes still squinty from sleep. "No clue. We were both basically passed out. Maybe Jesse took it? Maybe he's hoarding all the teen magazines and headphones with angsty music."

I exhaled a long, tired sigh and dragged myself out of the limo. Damn, that walk towards Jesse felt like a million miles. I can only go so far. Mind you, I never got to grab my skateboard with me.

"Where the fuck is my bag?" I snapped, my voice way louder than I meant.

Jesse spun around, that smug, cocky look plastered across his face, like I was the one interrupting his big important moment. Before I even touched him, though, Chase grabbed my arm, pulling me back.

Probably for the best. I was this close to throwing hands—and honestly, it would've been a dumb waste of energy. I'd save it for later, for when he's asleep or distracted.

"Woah, woah, slow down, dude. Your bag's in the jet," Jesse said, grinning like it was all a joke. "Seriously, what's so important in that fake North Face thing anyway?" He laughed, and the pilot chuckled with him. I honestly didn't get the humor. Must be a rich people thing.

The pilot, finally doing his job, cleared his throat. "Good evening, Ms. Davidson, Mr. Wheeler. I'll be your pilot tonight. You might've heard on the news—Nashville's been flooding pretty bad overnight. I tried to convince Mr. Davidson to fly tomorrow morning instead, but he's eager to get his sister home tonight." His eyes darted between Jesse and me, maybe expecting some family drama or something. 

I didn't bother with his speech though. The whole situation was already a mess. I just stomped up the stairs into the jet and collapsed into a seat near the back, by the window. The familiar hum of the plane's interior was oddly calming and reminded me of the very old, outdated TV at my high school AVR. You would think they'd upgrade that after adding air-conditioning and that wonky looking building to the campus.

The pilot's voice called down the aisle as Jesse stayed behind. "She seems pretty eager to leave. Are you sure that's what she wants, Mr. Davidson?"

Jesse smirked and said, "Well, she's not exactly thrilled about me existing, so yeah, I think she just wants to get out of here."

Chase caught Jesse's meaning and immediately gave him a suspicious look. "Hold up. I'm pretty sure she's glad you're back. What she hates is that mom ditched her and now you're trying to kidnap her."

Jesse laughed as he waved subtly waved off the pilot, shoving Chase lightly up the stairs. "Get on the damned plane, man. I'm not kidnapping her. Mom told me to take her. Besides, where else would she go? She was legit running away from those clowns in North Carolina."