CLOUDS | hat films

| onze |

March rolled around and every day seemed to pass slower. PAX didn't begin until the very end of March, but we were leaving a couple days earlier to get settled into the hotel. Finally the day came around when our eleven hour travel would take place. We were leaving from Bristol fairly early, and after an hour and a half flying, we had a two hour delay in Amsterdam. Then, we'd spend another eight hours in the sky from Amsterdam to Boston.

Trott texted me at 4:45AM telling me the three were on their way to pick me up. I stared at myself in the mirror, clad in my sweatpants and a 'Hand of Truth' t-shirt, along with a heavy jacket on top of that. I raised my eyebrows to my reflection. "I am so ready for this," I muttered to myself as I pulled a pair of Vans onto my feet.

A few minutes later, the boys pulled up in the parking lot of my apartment building. Ross came upstairs, knocking loudly on my door. "C'mon, sunshine, it's time to go!" He kept knocking until I pulled my door open, rolling my eyes at his camera.

"I'm ready, I'm ready," I said, slightly annoyed. "Jeez, why do these flights have to be so early?" I put my phone and earbuds into my pocket and slung my backpack over my shoulder before going to grab my luggage.

He shrugged, pulling the camera down. "Beats me. I just know we have a flight to catch in," he checked his watch, "two hours and ten minutes. Let's get going." I pulled my luggage into the elevator and pressed the button to the lobby. This was going to be a long day.

When we made it through security, the three of us barely found four seats together in the crowded airport. I sat next to Alex, with Trott and Ross together across from us. Ross pulled out his camera again, raising it to Alex and me. Alex waved and I gave a weak smile as he started asking questions.

"Are the two of you excited for PAX?"

"Well, uh, it's like 5:45AM and I'm in an airport carrying around a heavy-ass backpack with extra camera batteries and Ross' laptop, plus my laptop, chargers, and a spare change of clothes. So right now I'm not having fun. But PAX? Oh fuck yeah, I'm excited," Alex joked.

"And you, E?" I didn't say anything in response; I just nodded as my eyes drifted shut.

"Well I guess Io isn't really a morning person," Ross remarked, laughing as he turned the lens of the camera to face him. "Only an hour and fifteen minutes left until we're in the air!" All four of us gave a sarcastic cheer.

When our flight was finally called and we actually boarded, I was right in the middle of Trott and Smith, with Ross ever so gracefully taking a seat a few rows behind us. I pulled out my headphones and iPod, picking one of my longest playlists. "Preparing already?" Trott asked me.

"Well, it's gonna take another thirty minutes for this plane to actually get cleared for takeoff. Might as well enjoy it." Alex put his own headphones in and started up his playlist.

The plane finally got cleared for takeoff, and when it lifted off the ground I instinctively grabbed onto the armrest on my right, causing Alex and Trott to look at me. "Whoa, E, you okay?" Trott asked, grabbing my wrist gently.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I muttered. "Just really don't like flying."

He nodded, understanding and drew his hand back slowly. I quickly composed myself and took a deep breath, glancing over to Alex to catch him still looking at me with earnest. When he saw me looking, he quickly reverted his attention back to his iPod.

After the flight and layover in Amsterdam, we were back in the air on the way to Boston. I was still stuck between Alex and Trott, just on a slightly larger plane. And I was beginning to feel the jet lag set in.

"Hey, Trotty, do you mind if I fall asleep on you?" I asked, laughing slightly. "I don't know if I'm gonna make it the rest of the way."

"Of course. My shoulder is always open," he joked back. I thanked him, laying my head onto his shoulder and getting comfortable. Soon I was drifting off.

In what felt like minutes after I fell asleep, I woke up to Trott shaking me. "Wake up, E. We're landing in Boston in like five minutes." I rubbed the sleep from my eyes as I stretched to the best of my abilities in the tiny plane seat.

"Thanks for the makeshift pillow," I said, laughing.

"It's no problem," he replied, buckling himself back up. He looked over me to Alex. "You awake over there, Smith?"

He grunted under his breath, his head tilting the slightest bit to the right. "I guess we can take that as a yes."

"Whoa, look, we're really close to the ground!" Trott whisper-yelled. I leaned over him, staring at the city beneath us. Suddenly I got excited realizing I was finally coming back to the US, even if it was just for a few days.

Only a few minutes later, I felt the familiar jerk of the plane touching the landing strip and took a deep breath as I smiled. The plane taxied into the gate and I was eager to get out of the cramped space. Ross was already filming by the time we got out into the main concourse.

"Well, uh, it seems Io is very happy to be back in America." I laughed at his remark, fast-walking over to baggage claim to pick up my bag.

We caught an Uber to our hotel and each of us checked in, which happened to take forever since we each had separate rooms. Ross checked in first and headed up to his room, then Alex followed right behind him, but after Trott checked in he trailed behind, waiting on me.

"Uh, it should be under Io Webb. That's the name I reserved it under, at least." I crossed my arms impatiently at the fact that I had to be the one left without the hotel room. I silently mouthed a fuck my life to Trott. "Go on up. I'll get it settled," I assured him.

"You sure?" he asked, to which I nodded.

After he had made his way up, the desk manager asked me, "Was that your boyfriend?"

"Is that really a good question to ask? And also why wouldn't I be staying with him?" The guy was really starting to piss me off. "No, he's not my boyfriend. None of them are. The four of us work together."

"Well, uh, I hate to say this..." Oh fuck. "We don't have any other hotel rooms available. I can find you another one in a dif-"

"No, that's okay. I'll stay with one of those idiots."

"Are you-"

"Yes, I'm sure."

I rolled my eyes and turned to go up to the elevator. I dragged my luggage behind me, along with my carry-on and backpack. I pressed the button for the fifth floor.

I knocked on Alex's door quietly, but it didn't take long for him to answer the door. "Hi, E. Can I help you?" he asked.

"Yeah, my reservations got fucked up, and there are no other rooms. So instead of being at a different hotel, I figured I could share with one of you."

"Uh, sure, I guess," he responded hesitantly.

"Dude, if you don't want to share I'm sure Trott will share with me."

"No, that's okay!" He was quick to stop me. "Of course you can stay in my room until there's another one available."

"Alrighty," I said, rolling my bag into his room. "Thanks, Alex." I threw my backpack down next to the small desk in the room, along with my carry-on, opting to put my full-size luggage in the closet. Right as I closed the door, my phone buzzed in my pocket.

T: Room reservations work out???

I: Nope.

T: Where are you then? You need a room to stay in or are you with Ross?

I: Try again. :\

T: Oh, fuck, E.