EXPERIENCED

Chapter 5

The airport was really crowded and to be honest, I didn't really know where to go. "Excuse me! Sir!" I waved at a man who looked like he might be able to help and luckily enough he came over to me

"uh- can I help you?" He said to me looking baffled.

"Do you work here? I need help" I asked as I took my passport out of my bag.

"No and no but he can," he pointed to a guy in a blue and white polo shirt "the one right there in the blue shirt, he's a smart guy."

"I see, thank you sir" I walked off towards the guy who the man I had just talked to said could help. He was young, maybe in his early twenties. He had dark green eyes and light coloured hair with black streaks, he was tall and really, really attractive. Of course he was, I couldn't stop looking at him I zoned off and forgot how many people were around me carrying big bulky bags, then we made eye contact and he looked at me. He smiled and I felt my heart warm up, just then I felt something stab my side which made me lose my balance and tumble over. I got up rubbing the side that had gotten hit, I felt a hand on my shoulder, "are you okay?" I looked back startled and stopped myself from what I was about to say out of anger as soon as I realized who I was talking to. "yeah, I'm fine now" I whispered to myself. I felt my face getting red, oh god what happened did he just see me fall, now he's going to think I'm a mess, I thought to myself as he handed me my bag and passport which I had completely forgotten I dropped.

"Do you need help?"

"Yeah, um- I-I'm kinda lost"

"lost?" he replied, "do you not know this is an airport?" he chuckled but he sounded like he meant it

"uh- right, ugh idiot" I blurted out awkwardly and stuck my tongue out making a weird face "I'm so sorry you have a beautiful face"

"sorry?" he said in a huffy manner, I had to remind myself I was Simon a couple times, not Val.

"oh, n-no sorry not you I meant myself" I quickly corrected myself as he laughed

"I see, you're a mess right now" he taunted me, and I did what I always do when I'm nervous

"Like a house after a tsunami, I mean hurricane...tornado?"

"You could s-" I interrupted him before he could finish

"NO! Like a wrecking ball!" I made a 'hitting a baseball' motion, I noticed what I had done and looked away making my face redden again.

"I'm sorry I'm awkward"

"I mean, I get liked this when I'm nervous I'm so sorry..." I said quietly.

He looked at me and grinned, "I can see that but I understand", he laughed again 

"You should probably get going" he said to me in a way that made me feel a bit more comfortable.

"I agree, are you still willing to help after I embarrassed you?" I asked quietly

"It's my job to."

"Oh and by the way, I'm Va- I mean Simon, I'm Simon. Silly me forgetting my own name" then I remembered I was a guy now.

"Nice to meet you, Simon? I'm Tristan" he seemed uncomfortable, I could tell because of the way he said that.

I felt like an idiot, I cleared my throat and deepen my voice and proceeded to tell him where I was going and he escorted me there, that's when I noticed the man who had pointed me to Tristan. I was so focused on that I didn't realize Tristan was still by my side. 

"I can find my seat now, thank you" I assured him that, I was eager to go to my seat and relax. I was tired and hungry.

"Okay" he said with a straight 

I continued walking, looking for my seat when I felt like I was being followed. Tristan.

"Why are you following me?"

"I'm not?"

"Yes you are"

"No I'm just looking for my seat" he put his hands up and smiled.

"Wait what?" I said confused.

"Yeah, you actually thought I worked here?" he raised his eyebrows in a funny way at me

"That man said you could help me?" I said as I took out the sandwich I had made myself before leaving.

"Ordinary people can help too you know," he said to me "I've been in this airport many many times."

I laughed "I was convinced you worked here with that outfit and all" I expected an offended remark

"You like?" he laughed. "That's my dad," he said to me as we walked to our seats "he's the coach at a boys boarding school in Manchester."

"Manchester you say?" I asked him as I took a big bite out of sandwich

"Yeah, I go there every year, I'm training to be a fitness trainer" he said with a proud smile. 

"You got the body for that" I winked and then remembered he thinks I'm a guy. Simon Val, Think Simon I kept repeating to myself over and over. 

"Thanks bud" he replied, I hoped I hadn't offended him, or made myself seem too attracted to him.

Once we reached my assigned seat I put my bags on a shelf at the top and sat down next to the window and he sat right next to me. "Are you sure you're supposed to be sitting here?" I asked him, taking off my jacket

He showed me his seat number, "15B which is... yup. right next to yours my friend" I looked at mine and nodded.

"Wow, it's just like the movies, what a coincidence!" I told hi, he sat down and looked at me

"What?" I asked a little worried he might be suspicious, after how I was acting earlier, who wouldn't be. That was so unnatural, but I have only been a guy for less than 10 hours and I still had a lot to learn.

"So, where are you heading?" he asked in a serious way which told me he was interested in knowing where I was going.

"Same as you, Manchester. coincidentally also a Boarding school. But Probably not where you're going." I responded as efficiently as I could. 

"Really?," he asked surprised "I wasn't expecting that."

"yeah, Belledale in fact." for some reason I regretted saying the name.

"Hey, that's actually where I'm going" he was now putting in his earbuds and reclining on his seat.

I felt my heart melt, I was going to spend my time at Belledale with Tristan, I guy I had just met and already had fallen in love with. But of course that was an issue because I wasn't Val, a girl. God how I wish Simon was gay. Anyways, I was kinda glad the conversation had ended because I was ready to sleep.