Protect

"Now boarding flight 117 to New York New York." I'm terrified. I'm anxious. I think I may throw up at any second. In just a few minutes I will be on a plane heading to New York leaving Delaware for good. I want to leave this place and never look back. I am going to start fresh. I have my college degree and I am going to build myself a life in New York, and leave my past behind.

"Excuse me ma'mn, your ticket please?" A woman at the gate of the plane entrance interrupts my thoughts.

"Here. Sorry." I reach into my bad and nervously hand her my ticket. "Are you Kristen Jensen?" She asks, following her protocall.I nodded my head and stepped into the gate of the plane without looking back.

My nerves are really starting to kick in. I have on a heavy white long sleeve sweater with my good pair of jeans and chestnut colored uggs. I have on a white knitted beanie that compliments my dark hair. My long gold necklace is scratching at the back of my neck and I am starting to sweat. What if this doesn't work out? What if I regret this? What if he finds me... I look down at my gold ring with a green emerald on it that I never take off. It brings me luck. All of a sudden my nerves float away and I look up to find myself on the plane. People are putting their luggage away above their seats in compartments. I look around and decide to sit in seat 19. There is a tv in front of it and it looks roomy.

I begin to put my luggage in the compartment when a voice startles me. "Is this seat taken?" He asks looking at seat 20 right next to me. "No its not." I reply. He is very attractive looking. He wears a black t-shirt with tight black jeans and black boots. He has curly brown hair and dimples that I could stare at forever. He smiles as I realize I have been staring at him for way too long. I quickly turn back to my luggage and continue my task way too quickly. My suitcase falls out and my cheeks turn red. I flush and pull my hair behind my ear. I tend to do that when I'm nervous. The boy smiles again and bends down to grab my luggage.

"Here you go." He says as he puts in the compartment for me. "Thank you." is all I can manage to say.

"Can I sit here?" He asks. "Oh yea. Of course." I awkwardly move over and take my seat. He smiles then sits down.

I want to here him talk again. I love his beautiful British accent. I say to him, "So are you from Delaware?" He replies, "No I am from England, I went to school at Delaware University. What about you?"

"I have lived in Delaware my whole life. I hate it." He laughs at my remark. Although he doesn't know I don't hate the place Delaware, but the people in it.

"I'm Harry by the way." he holds out his hand. "Kris." I say shaking his hand. "Is that short for something?" "My full name is Kristen, but I like just Kris." "Okay just Kris, so what brings you to New York?" He smiles. "I am starting over. I am leaving my past behind. I am going to build a life in New York, a new life. I will get an apartment, a job, a car, and I will be happy. Sorry for the long explanation." I say my face blushing.

"Thats ok." Harry laughs. "I was the one who asked." I blush again tucking my long, dark hair behind my ear. I look down at my ring, then say, "So why are you going to New York?"

"Well to be honest, I don't know what the hell I want to do with my life. I have a college degree, but still don't know what the fuck I want to do. So my older sister, Gemma, lives in the city and I am going to go stay with her for a little bit and hopefully get inspired or some shit like that! My parents are making me." He laughs. I laugh too. I like his company.

"Do you have an apartment already in New York?" Harry asks. "No not yet. I will be staying in a hotel until I can find one that I can afford." He nods his head and says, "Oh okay."

A voice comes on the intercom breaking me out of my trans of staring at Harry. "Attention passengers we will be landing in 5 minutes please fasten your seat belts."

I take in a deep breath and look down at my ring. "Are you okay?" Harry asks me in concern as I begin to close my eyes and breathe. "Yes. Just nervous." He pulls out his phone. "Dont worry, you will be fine. If you need anything call me, I'll give you my number." He taps me with his elbow. "Hey you have a friend in New York!" He says smiling. I smile back and put my number in his phone as he does the same to mine.

Harry and I take our belongings out of the overhead compartment and as I step off the plane, I take my first few steps into my new life.