Lost

Chapter 26 - Airplane

"You got everything?" Caleb asked Jodee, helping her to put her backpack straps on her shoulders.

She nodded her head once, but her mind was in another place.

Caleb wanted to make sure this trip went as smoothly as humanly possible, but Jodee was not helping him with that plan. The little girl got overwhelmed very easily and very fast and she was walking the fence of a meltdown right now. Her big brown eyes wandered anywhere but her brother's best friend, taking in her surroundings.

"Jodee." Cal said a little firmer, he brought his curled pointer finger out to brush it along her cheek gently, the action a thick contrast to his harsher tone.

"Yes?" She asked smally, her hands balling her shirt as she finally looked up at him.

He lightly lifted her chin with the same finger, his blue eyes drilling into her head. "Do you have everything?" He asked slowly and deliberately.

"I've got it." Ace broke himself into the conversation, reaching down to lift up his little sister as he stepped out of the car.

Earlier that morning, the soft buzz of alarms had pulled them from their beds before the sun had even begun to rise. Jodee had been the first to wake, her small frame bouncing with nervous energy as she tried to contain her excitement. She had barely slept the night before, and the other two weren't any different. Although, Ace and Caleb were more accustomed to early mornings and had moved through their routines with practiced ease.

Ace, always the planner, had checked and rechecked their bags, making sure everything was in order. Caleb, in his usual laid-back manner, had spent the early hours trying to keep Jodee entertained, easing her nerves with jokes and playful banter as they prepared to leave. Part of this was to make sure she was going to be okay with the stressful day, but the other part was because he really didn't want to finish up the work he has procrastinated the night before — Ace could do it! Jodee was happy to go along with her honorary brothers plan however, so it worked out.

The Uber ride to the airport had been a quiet one, the early hour making the world outside seem still and almost surreal. The sky was dark, with only the faintest hint of dawn on the horizon, and the city streets were nearly empty. Jodee had sat between the boys, her head leaning on Caleb's shoulder as she watched the world pass by, her excitement tempered by the unfamiliarity of it all. Caleb had talked softly to her while Ace had simply held her hand, his silence speaking volumes of his own thoughts. By the time they arrived at the airport, the sun was just beginning to peek over the horizon, casting a soft glow over the sprawling terminal.

The airport was a world of its own, vast and bustling with activity even in the early morning hours. The bright lights and high ceilings made everything feel larger than life, and the constant hum of voices, rolling luggage, and overhead announcements filled the air. Jodee's eyes were wide as she took in the scene, the sheer size and noise of the place overwhelming her. This was her first time in an airport, and the experience was almost too much to process all at once. She clung to Ace's figure, her already pale arms turning whitish at the firm grip.

Caleb, usually so confident and carefree, felt a knot of anxiety tighten in his chest as he watched Jodee's reaction. This was the beginning of something new, something that would possibly change all their lives, and the weight of that responsibility weighed heavily on him and his friend. He glanced at Ace, whose expression was unreadable as he scanned the terminal, mentally mapping out their next steps. Ace's usual calm was a comfort, but even he couldn't shake the unease that lingered at the back of his mind.

Ace held Jodee even tighter as the uber drove away and he handed her the stuffed animal she had forgotten in the car. "Forget nothing." We didn't forget anything, he told Caleb shaking his head.