fireworks ➣ caspar lee

Airplanes and Cousins

I gazed out of the taxi window at rain pattering onto the battered streets as cars whizzed by, spraying droplets through the air in the morning rush.

The driver turned into the entrance to the busy airport, before stopping at the drop-off zone near the doors. I quickly hurried out of the car as rain sprayed down on me and helped the driver retrieve my suitcases and backpack out of the trunk and pulled it under the overhang.

"Thanks," I mumbled to the driver tiredly and handed him a fifty dollar bill. He nodded at me and got back into his taxi and pulled away from the wet curb. I dragged my bags to the check-in area and dropped them off, then continued through the security checks and towards the boarding area.

I glanced at my ticket. I had 15 minutes before my flight to the Brighton Airport. I was so lucky I got that photography job offer in the U.K. I would need to get another job while I was there; photography is a hard business. But, I could spend more time with my cousins and my aunt and uncle, as well as continue my studies at the Universities there.

I sat down tiredly in one of the black, uncomfortable chairs they had lined up at the boarding station, putting my earbuds in and glancing at the clock every few minutes before the had called for first class to board. I stood up and put my carry-on bag over my shoulder and lined up, holding my ticket in my nervous hand. I knew Zoe and Joe would be there to meet me in Brighton, but I couldn't help but think about how I would be spending possibly my entire future in this new country and didn't know a thing about it.

I shook my head clear as the pretty flight attendant took my ticket and scanned it before smiling at me and letting me pass. I glanced again at my ticket. My seat would be seat 18G. I shuffled through the stuffed aisle and sat down in my seat next to the window. There was a small T.V on the back of the seat in front of me and on the armrest there was a USB port and a headphone jack. I plugged in my phone and leaned back in my seat while everyone else boarded, closing my tired eyes.

I woke up about 6 hours into the 17-hour plane ride, just as they were taking orders for dinner. I ordered the 'Pasta Puttanesca'. I had absolutely no idea what that was, but it looked good. I texted Zoe on the airplane WiFi as I ate. 

We talked for a while until I finally glanced around and realized that most people were started to receive blankets and pillows and settle in. I took a blanket and a pillow and settled back, but I didn't feel tired. I texted Zoe for a while until she fell asleep and stopped responding. That 6-hour long nap really eliminated my need to sleep for now. 

I texted Zoe a good night text and received one from her boyfriend Alfie saying that she was asleep and that he hoped I had a good flight. I smiled and snuggled into the fuzzy blanket and tried to get some sleep.

I didn't end up getting much sleep that night, my previous nap keeping me up as well as Twitter. I believe I only slept for the last hour of the flight, and the person next to me had to wake me after the plane landed. I sat up and gathered my laptop and phone cord into my bag and excitedly exited the plane, all my sleepiness gone. 

As soon as I laid my eyes on Joe and Zoe, who were both joking around, I bolted towards them. Joe noticed me first, and grabbed me, spinning me around in his arms and ruffling my hair. Joe was about four years older than me, I was nineteen.

"How're you Marley girl?" His throaty voice chuckled at my old nickname as Zoe giggled and jumped into my hug. I was much taller than Zoe and almost taller than Joe. I was super insecure about the fact that I was about 5' 8 and 1/2". Although thankfully, Alfie was 6'2". I hugged Alfie as well, I had met him once for a week over spring break of my Junior year in 2014. We walked towards the bag deposit and got my two suitcases, which both Alfie and Joe agreed to tug along behind us.