Saudade

Chapter 2

               We were woken by the pilot coming on the intercom to let us know we’d be landing soon, and to please start wrapping up any use of technological devices and to return to our seats if we would. He excitedly told us that it was a smashing sixteen degrees out, with a surprisingly sunny sky. He ended it with a thank you for flying and saying he hoped we enjoyed London. I stretched myself out, sitting up straight and taking in my surroundings. I smiled lazily at Spencer, who smiled back.

                “Thanks for letting me use you as a pillow,” I said.

                “Anytime,” he replied, stretching out his arms and taking his phone out of his jean pocket. “Look, Ryann, I was serious last night when I said I want to see you again. I live in London, and you’re staying here for a year. I really, really want to see you again.” My stomach did somersaults all over again.

                “I want to see you again, too.” I said. He didn’t even blink when I gently took his phone from his hands, plugging in my sister’s number with an airplane emoji next to it so he’d remember me. “So you’d better call.” His smile stretched way up to his eyes when he said,

                “I will.”

-

                Our landing was easy, and just before we pulled up to the gate I remembered I wouldn’t be able to follow him through the airport or really get a proper goodbye. I wondered if we’d stop even before the gate for me.

                “Look, Spencer, I kind of have a special ride? So I’m going to get off the plane before you, and I just want you to know I think you’re really great and I do want you to call me, really.” Just then, the pilot announced they would be stopping to drop off a special passenger who’d been on board the whole time. Oh, bloody hell I wasn’t special- my sister just couldn’t go into airports or anywhere near them without worry of being mobbed. Spencer raised his eyebrows at me,

                “Special passenger, eh?” He asked with a smile. “Please don’t tell me you’re actually an international super star and I’m just ignorant.” I rolled my eyes at him.

                “No, I’m not. My brother-in-law is.”

                “What? Who is he?” He asked as the plane stopped and I stood, unbuckling myself.

                “Uh, ever heard of Ed Sheeran?” I asked, and his eyes got wide. I put on my backpack, maneuvering out of our area. “Yeah. Call me, seriously.” I said, and for good measure I bent down and kissed him right on the mouth, before dashing off of the plane and down steps, finding my sister standing next to a big, black SUV.

                “Come on!” she hollered. “They can’t move until we’re in the car!” Always bossy, but she said it with a laugh. We both jumped into the SUV and it roared off before we could even buckle. She wrapped her arms around me, then. “How was the flight? Do you need to call dad and mama bear?”

                “Yeah, I should.” I said, and she handed me her special iPhone. It was charged differently than normal iPhones because she called America so much. I called and let Lee and my mom know I had landed safely, and when they tried to ask too many questions I told them I really had to go. I had plenty of time to tell them made up details about my smooth flight later. When I hung up, Spencer smiled at me excitedly and took her phone back.

                “So?! How was the flight?! Are you so excited to be here?!”

                “Oh my god the flight was,” but I looked to the front and realized the driver would be hearing about my romantic endeavors with a stranger on a plane.