The Big Things

A Different Morning

The next morning, Jess had to leave for her flight at 7:30, and Kay was in charge of getting her to LaGuardia Airport (she was definitely just gonna call an Uber). Jessica set her 6:45 phone alarm to the sound of an angry, quacking duck, which woke Kay with a start. She balled her hands into fists and arched her back, which made a little pop! noise as she stretched. "Morning," she grunted to her sister, who was still fast asleep.

Slowly, Kay climbed out of bed, put on her baby blue slippers, and shuffled into the living room where her sister lay snoring, one arm hanging off of the white couch. Kay patted Jessica's head a few times until she batted her eyes.

"Come on, sleepy head," Kayce whispered, her voice groggy. She coughed to clear her throat, which startled her sister. "There we go, now you can wake up and get ready. Let's go, I have to leave in 10 minutes and I will drive to the airport without you."

Jessica brushed her hair out of her face. "Why would you go to the airport without me?" she asked quietly, "I'm the one going on a flight."

"I will happily take your place." Kay paused. "That's a lie."

Jess sat up and yawned like a lion. "Have you still never been on a plane?" she asked.

"Yup."

"God, I wish I had time to get you ticket."

"Jess, even if you did, I wouldn't go with you. Now get up!"

Ten minutes of extreme rushing later, Kayce waited by the front door for her sister to put on her socks and shoes.

"I don't have all day! The plane will fly with or without you!"
"I'm coming!" Jess hopped through the doorway or Kay's bedroom on one foot, slipping her other foot into her boot. "I'm coming. Okay. Let's go."

It was freezing outside, as usual. But it was even more freezing than Kay was used to. The last time she woke up this early was probably in high school. The air was crisp and fresh, and Kay could see her breath like a white puff of smoke. It hadn't even snowed last night.

"Did you call a cab?"

"Uber."

"When will it get here?"

"Any minute. Come on, let's go wait by the corner." Kayce was secretly excited for that morning. Once she got back from the airport, she would walk to the other end of the street and meet Joseph the Strawberry Guy. Heck, she might even walk around the whole block before going to Mimi's and getting something she'd never gotten before for breakfast- a pumpkin muffin. Then she would show up to work early- another thing she'd never done before. She was fully prepared for a day of change. To be completely honest, she couldn't wait to hear what Bianca had to say. And then, everything could go back to normal.

All she had to do was make her point- Kay could change, she just preferred to have multiple constants in her life!

The Uber ride was pretty boring, but Kay was mesmerized by all of the things she saw out of her window. Who knew the city could be so enchanting?

As the car pulled up to the airport, Kay shook her sister awake.

"Text me as soon as you get on the plane and as soon as you arrive,"she told her sister as they climbed out of the car and yanked opened the trunk.

"I definitely will," Jess assured her. She took her suitcase and pulled Kay in for a hug.

"I'm gonna miss you, Ce-Ce."

"I'm gonna miss you, too. We'll talk soon, okay?"

"Of course."

Jess turned around and started towards the terminal, rolling her suitcase behind her.