Stay With Me

Chapter 1

"Mom, I really have to go! I'm going to miss my flight!" Nina try's to get out of her moms embrace but her mom is just hugging to tight.

"Mom..I promise to call and FaceTime when I get to my apartment. Okay?" Nina finally loosen's her moms grip. Her mom wipes away the tears running down her cheeks.

"Promise?" She looks into her daughters eyes and Nina smiles with a nod.

"Promise mom. I love you." Nina hugs her mom one last time. At least for the next 4 months.

She grabs her carry on and starts walking towards the security section. She stops and turns around and waves back to her mom who is crying again. Nina holds back her tears and turns around.

"Is that your mom?" A guy about my age asks me as I stand in line to go through security.

"Yes. She's a crier." I laugh.

"And you aren't?" The guy asks.

"Depends." I tell him with a smile.

"Where you heading?" He asks as he starts taking his shoes off and I do the same.

"Atlanta. For college. What about you?" I ask him.

"Really? I live in Atlanta. I'm a chef at a five star restaurant." He says proudly.

"That's neat. Which restaurant?" I ask and we move up in the line placing our bins up to go through the bag check system.

"Aria." He says.

"Maybe I'll come check it out when I get settled in." I tell him and he smiles.

"My names Ian by the way." He smiles and holds out his hand. I take mine in his and shake.

"I'm Nina." I smile.

"That's a unique name." He says.

"It's short for Nikolina Konstantinova." I say and he looks at me confused.

"I know, it's different. I'm originally from Bulgaria." I say and he nods.

"Bulgarian eh?" He smirks.

"Indeed. I moved here to Toronto when I was two with my parents and brother. And now I'm leaving after all these years." I say. We finish going through security and grab our bags and put our shoes back on.

"Can you speak Bulgarian?" He asks.

"Yes, my mom speaks it more than English and I was raised speaking it till I was taught English." I tell him. We walk towards our gate and take a seat until it's time to board.

"That's really neat. I know a little French and Spanish." He says.

"I know French too. Living in Canada and all." I laugh and he laughs with me.

"So what are you going to study in college?" He asks.

"Journalism. I want to be a writer." I say and he smiles with excitement in his eyes. Those very pretty blue eyes I must add.

"Have you written anything yet?" He turns in his seat to where he is completely facing me.

"A little. I keep a journal and I blog. But I've written short stories too." I tell him. I can't help but notice how into the conversation he is with me. No stranger is ever this way.

"I'd like to read something of yours when you come up with it." He smiles and I feel my cheeks blush.

"I'll remember that." I smile back him.

"Flight 609 to Atlanta is now boarding. Please have your boarding passes ready." A lady comes on over the speaker. We stand up gathering our bags again and go to stand in line.