The evening stars

Flight

Sophie was standing in a long line to check in for her flight at the international airport. In one hand, she held a passport with tickets to Miami, and in the other, her phone, the screen of which displayed Nigel's number. She pressed the call button again and again, but each time she only heard a long beep.

The airport was bustling with activity: passengers hurried to their gates, staff in uniforms were handing out instructions, and flight announcements echoed from the speakers. Sophie glanced anxiously at the clock, trying to ignore the noise and bustle around her. She was worried not only because Nigel still hadn't replied, but also because of the upcoming flight and what awaited her in Miami.

Her hair was slightly tousled by the wind when she got out of the taxi, and there was a hint of fatigue on her face. She tried to remain calm, but her nervousness still showed: her fingers gripped the phone so tightly that it seemed like she might break it at any moment. Sophie occasionally cast quick glances at the people passing by, hoping to see a familiar face, but Nigel was still nowhere to be found.

The line was gradually moving forward, and Sophie anxiously rubbed her forehead, trying to cope with the growing sense of unease.

— Nigel, what the hell are you still doing? — Sophie asked with a sigh when his phone finally picked up. She glanced at the line that was moving forward and looked at her watch again.

— Here's the thing, Soph, — Nigel replied, his voice sounding distant and somewhat apologetic. — I was urgently made to shoot the cover for the January issue of the magazine.

— Are you serious? — Sophie asked again, dissatisfied. — And you only found out about this now? We had planned this trip!

— Yes, unfortunately, that's the case. The model who will be on the cover was only able to fly to Chicago these days, — Nigel explained. You could hear him sighing loudly, trying to calm himself down.

— Is there really no way to move this? — Sophie could already feel her irritation growing. — I thought we would go together, but now I have to manage on my own?

— I'm very sorry, Sof. I tried to find a replacement, but everything turned out to be too urgent. — Nigel spoke as if he was genuinely upset. —I truly hope that your vacation goes wonderfully, even if I can't be with you.

— And what am I supposed to do alone now? Sophie looked at her things, already packed in bags, and felt her mood drop even lower.

— Don't be sad, — Nigel tried to cheer her up. — Miami is a wonderful place. You will be able to have a great time, relax, and enjoy the sun and the sea. I am sure that everything will be great for you.

— Alright, I'll try not to panic, — Sophie said weakly with a smile, though there was a hint of disappointment in her voice. — Good luck with the cover. I hope everything goes smoothly.

— Thank you, Sof. And good luck to you too. I hope you enjoy your vacation. If anything comes up, keep me posted.

— Of course. Goodbye, Nigel, — Sophie said and hung up the phone.

Sophie looked around when her gaze fell on Alex. He leaned his shoulder against the wall and looked at her through his lowered sunglasses. She paused for a moment, then resolutely stepped out of the line and headed towards him.

— What are you doing here? — Sophie asked, trying to hide her surprise.

— I'm going to fly to Miami, — Alex replied, a slight smile on his face. — And you?

— Wait, how did you find out? — Sophie froze in place, her voice became tense.

— One little bird sang... — Alex squinted playfully.

— Nigel, — Sophie guessed, and her mood shifted slightly.

— Don't be angry with him, he was trying for you, — Alex said, understanding her irritation.

Alex turned around and, rolling his wheeled suitcase, headed towards the lovely girl in the airport uniform. His steps were confident and unhurried, as if he were savoring every second of this unexpected encounter. Sophie, still in shock that he was here, stumbled and ran after him.

— Wait, where are you going? — Sophie managed to catch up with him, her voice full of surprise.

Alex glanced at her and replied with a slight smile:

— On the plane.

— But the registration is over there, — she insisted, pointing to the registration desk and not believing what was happening.

Alex, continuing to move forward, replied:

— I have my own plane.

Sophie stopped, her eyes widened in surprise, and she froze in place. Her thoughts were tangled; she couldn't believe this was happening to her. She tried to make sense of what he had just said, and her breathing became a bit uneven.

Alex, noticing her shock, stopped and looked at her with a slight smirk on his face.

— Are you coming or what? — he laughed, his laughter warm and friendly, as if he was ready to do anything to dispel her doubts and fears.

Sophie, her eyes still sparkling with amazement, slowly stepped towards him. She felt her heart race with excitement and joy. She looked at Alex; his confidence and genuine smile helped her overcome her confusion.

— Yes, I'm coming, — she said, and her voice already carried a tone of relief and excitement.

Alex offered her his hand, and together they headed towards the exit, leaving the queue and the waiting behind them.

Sophie and Alex were sitting next to each other in the luxurious cabin of a private jet. Inside, it was cozy and elegant: soft leather-upholstered chairs, warm-toned decor, and portholes through which one could see the earth gradually receding. It was her first flight on a private plane, and she was amazed by the level of comfort and luxury.

The flight attendant approached them with a smile and offered glasses of champagne. Sophie took her glass, slightly blushing from embarrassment, and noticed that the champagne was excellent, with a light fruity flavor. Along with the drinks, they served her exquisite appetizers: mini croissants with various fillings, fresh berries, and a cheese platter.

When the flight attendant left, they were left alone, and silence settled in the cabin, interrupted only by the gentle hum of the engine and the occasional announcements from the pilot. The pilot announced before takeoff that the flight would last 3 hours and 14 minutes and wished everyone a pleasant journey.

Sophie, still a bit in shock from what was happening, looked at Alex and said with genuine admiration:

— That's incredible, you have your own plane.

Alex smiled and looked at her warmly, his gaze full of tenderness and care.

— Well, formally, it's my company's airplane. We can use it for business trips when necessary. Yes, it's convenient, especially for situations like this.

Sophie, holding a glass in her hand, noticed how her anxieties and fears gradually dissolved in the atmosphere of comfort and coziness. Her gaze swept across the cabin: everything was so perfect and pleasant that she felt her tension begin to melt away.

— I don't even know how to express how impressive this is, — she said, her voice filled with genuine astonishment and gratitude. — This is just fantastic.

Alex gently leaned towards her, and his eyes sparkled with the soft light filtering through the portholes.

— I'm glad you like it, — he replied. — I wanted this journey to be special for you.

They continued the conversation, enjoying every moment of this unusual experience for Sophie. Sitting in a soft armchair and biting into a strawberry, Sophie turned to Alex with a question that had been troubling her for a long time.

— Am I right in understanding that this is all planned, and we will be alone together the whole time?" she asked, raising an eyebrow and looking at him in confusion.

Alex, with a slight smile, looked at her over the rim of his champagne glass.

— You're quite perceptive, — he replied with a hint of humor in his voice. — Yes, that's right. I wanted this time to be special for us.

Sophie blushed slightly, and her eyes met his. She tried to hide her embarrassment, but it was difficult. Questions flashed through her mind, questions to which she couldn't immediately find answers.

— Do you have any special plans for these days? — she continued, feeling her heart start to beat a little faster.

Alex reached out to grab another berry and looked at it with genuine curiosity.

— Well, I definitely have a couple of wishes, but their fulfillment, unfortunately, depends not only on me, — he said, his voice sounding a bit mysterious, yet with notes of confidence.

Sophie felt her cheeks starting to burn again. She turned her gaze to the porthole to hide her emotions, and at that moment, her hand found Alex's, intertwining their fingers. His hand was warm and reassuring, and that touch suddenly made her feel even more confident and calm.

They continued to sit, holding hands, and the conversations became less important than what they were doing — simply being there for each other. The flight continued, and time flew by unnoticed as they both enjoyed this special moment.