Lights, Cameras, Maze Runner! (completed)

eleven (part one)

"Love?" I hear a British voice whisper in my ear. My eyes flutter open, and I see Thomas standing above me holding a bowl of Cheerios. I sit up in bed and wipe my eyes.

"I made you breakfast in bed," he says, handing me the cereal.

"Thank you."

He leans down and gives me a kiss. "What time is it?" I ask, remembering I'm flying home today.

"It's a few minutes past 8:30. I didn't want to wake you up too early, but we should probably be out of here in ninety minutes at the latest. The airport is about ten minutes away, and who knows how bad traffic will be. Even though I want you to stay with me as long as possible, I don't want you missing your plane. Your flight leaves at noon, right?" Thomas sits down on the bed next to me.

I nod, taking a bite of the Cheerios. "Yep. Noon."

"Okay, love. I'm gonna start packing your clothes for you." He gets up from the bed and goes to the closet, pulling out my suitcase.

I want to argue with him, saying how he doesn't have to pack my stuff for me, but I know that Thomas is Thomas and he'll pack my stuff whether I want him to or not. "Thanks, Tom."

I reach for my phone on the nightstand and begin a text to my parents and Mallory. Hey! I type. Just woke up. Leaving for the airport by 9:30. See you soon!

"Thomas, can you come with me to my gate?" I ask. "I don't want to go alone."

Thomas looks at me, stunned. He's halfway done packing my drawers. "Kelsey, I'm a little offended that you thought for a second that I wasn't walking you to the gate. Who do you think I am, some horrible boyfriend who just drops you at the airport and leaves? I'll see you to the plane," he promises, smiling.

"Thank you. I don't want to say goodbye until I absolutely have to." I finish my cereal and set the empty bowl on the nightstand. "I'm gonna go brush my teeth, and then I'll help you pack my stuff."

"Okay, love. I don't mind."

I get up from my bed, slipping on one of Thomas's gray hoodies. Then, I go through my morning routine and meet him back in my room, holding a baggie full of my toiletries from the bathroom.

"I just opened all of your dresser drawers and threw the contents into this suitcase, trying to keep some of the neat fashion," he says when I walk back in. "Anything else you have to pack?"

"Yeah. I have a bag of dirty clothes in the closet, and a couple pairs of shoes in the kitchen. Other than those and the stuff on my nightstand, that's all I have. I'm going to leave the contents of the fridge and cabinet to you, the guys and Kaya." I tuck the toiletries into the corner of the suitcase.

Thomas rubs his hands together excitedly. "Great, my love. What are you wearing to the airport?" He looks me up and down, and I forget I'm wearing his hoodie and sweatpants.

I look over into my suitcase, and grab the first things I see. I hold up what I found; it's a pair of black yoga capris and my Class of 2012 shirt from Cordice High School. "I'll wear these with a pair of flip flops. I believe comfort is essential when traveling." I slide out of the hoodie and sweatpants and put on the capris and T-shirt, slipping the hoodie back on when I'm done.

"What are you talking about? Comfort is essential with everything. Comfort over style. And you can keep the hoodie. I've got six more in my room."

"Thanks, Tom."

I start clearing out my nightstand, throwing the contents lazily into my suitcase. Right now, I just want to make sure I have everything. I can unpack it all and sort it out later at home. Neatness doesn't matter. The only things on my nightstand are my camera, phone charger and reusable water bottle.