Secrets

Chapter 6: Xa

Chapter 6: Xa

To say that the flight to Venice from LA was tedious was an understatement. Mr and Mrs Wane mainly chatted to the elderly couple who were sitting beside them. Xa refused to sit next to Cole because he was prone to airplane nausea. (He had already vomited three times on the plane. He had gone through six sick bags, three pairs of Converses, two shirts and three pairs of trousers. Not to mention the brand-newish looking book the old lady was reading-well, she had been reading it, anyway....)

Xa spent the entire time doing these things:

Ignoring Cole's puking

Refusing Diet Coke from the annoying persistent flight attendant (Xa thought Coke tasted like jazzed-up puke in a can, unlike most children)

Fantasising on throwing the flight attendant and Cole out of the airplane window

Worrying about Reagan and Rico

Ignoring Cole's puking

Exclaiming in pretend horror at the state of the old lady's book

Watching movies

Excusing herself to the bathroom several times for ten minutes each because the movies were things like Barbie: Princess Power and My Little Pony

Worrying about Reagan and Rico

Re-reading her book

Stopping every paragraph to worry about Reagan and Rico

Chewing on the airplane food

Thinking whether Reagan and Rico were both ok

Falling asleep

Dreaming of The Dark

Waking up and worrying about Reagan and Rico

Feeling relieved that she was safe

Worrying about Reagan and Rico's safety

Ignoring Cole's puking

Going back to fantasising about throwing Cole out of the airplane window

Worrying whether Reagan and Rico were hurt

And other similar occupations. (Did we mention the fact that Xa spent a substantial proportion of her time on the plane worrying about Reagan and Rico? Yes? Really?)

"Xa!" Mrs Wane said to her daughter, who started up immediately.

"Yes, Mum?"

"We're almost in Venice- around twenty minutes....Would you like some Diet Coke? This lady insists that you look like you should have some."

The flight attendant was back.

Xa's thoughts went back the fact that Cole and the flight attendant- her name tag read 'Charmaine', Xa noticed -would make a great couple. Maybe she could introduce them to each other....