Watch Your Temper

Chapter Twenty-Five: The Good Samaritan and the Red-Eye Flight

        "C'mon, Tem... don't be like that!"

I scowled at my ex-boyfriend.

I still couldn't believe it.

My amazing boyfriend turned out to be just another shit-for-brains player.

I should've known our whirlwind relationship was too good to be true. If I had been the slightest bit suspicious, maybe I wouldn't have ended up stranded alone in the middle of a foreign country.

Oh, if only George could see me now.

"Hey! Temper, wait up! Stop! I promise, I can explain! Just hear me out!" Apollo cried as I stormed down the crowded aisle. I ignored him and stomped off the plane.

Great.

I was in Rome, Italy! I should have been happy. I should have been thrilled!

Well, as if.

I watched out of the corner of my eye as Apollo (and Lily, of course, who was basically clinging to him) swiftly approached me. I grumbled in response as he plopped down in the chair next to me, desperately grasping my hands in a feeble attempt for me to look at him.

"Temper... Temper, I love you so much! You have no idea! I... I didn't know what to do! I wasn't thinking! I love you, and I also love Lily--" he started to explain frantically, but I quickly cut him off.

"Shut up. Just tell me... how long have you been... with her?" I mumbled, not bothering to glance at him. His face turned beet red, and he fidgeted with his hands.

"Um... er, four years," he stuttered, and I snapped.

I had had enough.

He had known me for what, four weeks? Four months? It didn't even matter now.

What mattered now...

I stood up, and before even I could comprehend what I was doing, I raised my knee and jabbed him-- hard-- in the family jewels.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him crumple over in pain. His girlfriend wailed and dropped to his side. I didn't have time to notice the finer details, though, because within five seconds, I had sprinted forward and vanished into the vast swarm of people.

I wandered along like a robot, not truly paying attention to my surroundings. I whipped out my cell phone, even though I realized it was technically useless overseas.

To Group: Hey guys. I'm in Italy, but there's been a minor change of plans. I'm coming home. Now. 

I waited a second, watching as the inevitable popped up: Message could not be sent.

Of course it couldn't be sent! I was in Italy, after all. I was on the other side of the world! Obviously my cell phone zone didn't stretch that far, and if I were going to contact my family, I'd need to use the airport's wifi. Which was password-protected. Typical.

I stalked up to a random airport worker, taking a deep breath.

"Excuse me, sir, would you be able to tell me where I need to go to book a flight to New York City?" I inquired, biting my lip thoughtfully.

"Che cosa?" the man said, looking at me like I was an escaped mental patient. Really? You'd think someone in a major worldwide airport would speak at least a word of English!

"Does anyone here speak English?" I iterated slowly, hoping he would be able to understand some part of my words.

"Mi dispiace, non capisco," he replied, flinging his hands around for emphasis.

"Please, sir! Where can I find someone that speaks English?" I shrieked, starting to panic.

"Signorina--" the man started, but I cut him off.

"Never mind!" I barked, backing away and striding off once again. I would've killed to see a familiar face right then. Or at least hear someone say "hello" instead of "ciao."

I rang my hands together nervously, carefully eyeing each strange person as they passed me. Everyone knew where they were going. Everyone knew exactly where they were and exactly what needed to get done.

Everyone but me.

I had never felt more helpless in my entire life.

Defeated, I threw myself down in one of the hard, plastic airport chairs and burst into tears.

I was so embarrassed! I had come all this way, and for nothing. I had trusted Apollo. I thought he loved me! I was such an idiot!

"Um... are you okay, sweetheart?"

I peeked out from behind my hands, timidly glancing at the person who had acknowledged me.

It was a woman who looked to be in her late thirties or early forties. Her chestnut-coloured hair was gathered back into a sloppy ponytail, and her petite frame was clad in a pink turtleneck sweater and jean overalls. A warm smile decorated her pleasant face, making her blue eyes twinkle.

"No," I answered honestly, "I'm not okay."

I flew into another wild round of tears. My shoulders shook with every mighty sob I bellowed, racking through my whole body and causing me to have these awkward trembling after-shocks. I could hear the woman shift in her seat, obviously not knowing how to react to my random outburst.

"Darling, you'll ruin your makeup with those waterworks. Why don't you try deep-breathing, and then you can explain yourself. Like, why are you sitting here, all alone, in the waiting area for the six o'clock flight to Casablanca, looking like Humphrey Bogart himself just abandoned you?"

I laughed shakily.

"My boyfriend... he'd been c-cheating on me. I f-flew out all this w-way from N-New York City and he met up with this t-tramp!" I screeched, my voice cracking on the last part.

"Are you serious? Hmm..." she muttered.

"I need to g-go back! I need to g-get home!" I stuttered, still bawling like a newborn baby. My dignity was gone, and I didn't even care.

"I... I'm sure I can arrange something," she mumbled.

I looked up at her again, a sudden seed of hope blooming in my mind.

"What?" I squeaked, sounding incredibly tiny.

"Well, my husband is a pilot, you see? He just landed a flight from Tokyo, so he's rather tired... but his best friend is also a pilot, and if I recall correctly, I think he's doing a flight to NYC in an hour or so," she explained, smiling kindly.

"I don't have any Italian money with me... Apollo had it all... how can I pay for a red-eye flight?" I squawked, slouching back down in my chair.

"Look... I happen to have euros... what if I paid for your flight? How does that sound?"

I froze. Was this lady for real?

"I just need to know your name so I can fill out the information for the ticket."

"T-Temper Adagio," I introduced myself.

"I'm Sarah Austen."

Although it had been the worst day of my life, I was just glad to be going home.

************

Yay for Temper, and boo for Apollo and Lily, haha. Thank God for nice people! Although it's a bit unrealistic, I do believe there are a handful of Sarah Austen's out there in the world, just waiting to do kind deeds. So, please be a Sarah Austen and comment, vote and fan! Thanks! :)

-Jenna