Love Maze

Chapter 17

"Where are you?"

"We're waiting for our luggage to arrive right now. Calm down, An, we'll be out in a couple of minutes."

When Anya disconnected the call to Faith, she let out a long sigh. "Why does everything take so long here?" She wondered aloud.

Her mother, who was standing next to her, put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "It's alright, sweetheart. Why don't you go get us something to eat? I'll wait here for them."

Anya nodded reluctantly. "I did see a Krispy Kreme store nearby," she admitted. "But I won't be long. They'll probably be really tired, so if they arrive while I'm still getting the food, call me."

Nina Brooks gave her daughter a gentle push in the direction of the store with an affectionate roll of her eyes. "Go. I'll be right here."

As Anya made her way through the crowded airport, she scanned her surroundings. Airports were the most interesting places to people-watch. She idly wondered where all these people were going; whether the couple wearing huge backpacks and presumably waiting for their flight were going on an adventure together, whether a group of friends in their twenties who were standing off to the side were going to go hiking, whether an old man and his wife were on their way to visit their family.

Once she had reached the store and bought doughnuts for everyone, she slowly began to go back to the place where her mother was waiting.

Anya spotted them before she had even reached them. When she was a few feet away, she heard the sound of Faith's laugh and looked up so fast she almost got whiplash.

She narrowed her eyes in annoyance at the scene unfolding in front of her. Her mother was smiling as Faith said something, and Aiden was busy looking for something in his backpack. Why hadn't anybody called her?

She marched towards them. When she got close enough, she began to hear snippets of their conversation.

"-trying to sleep but the annoying flight attendant kept asking if I wanted food..."

"... really tired, why don't you get some sleep..."

"... chocolate chip cookies for Anya-"

She perked up at the last statement, which Aiden had spoken.

"Did someone say 'chocolate chip cookies' and my name in the same sentence?" She asked cheerfully, sidling up to the group.

Aiden laughed. "How's my favourite foodie doing?" He asked warmly, reaching up to ruffle her hair.

She scowled and ducked away from his outstretched hand. "I'm good. How was your flight?"

"It was alright, but there was this really annoying flight attendant who didn't let me sleep at all," Faith interrupted loudly. "Everytime I would try to doze off, she'd pop up out of nowhere like some freakish jack-in-the-box."

Anya stifled a laugh. "I missed you, best friend."

"Bestie!" Faith cried as she pulled her into a hug. "I missed you too, An!"

"The two of you are behaving like you haven't met for years," Anya's mother chuckled.

"It feels that way," Faith nodded solemnly. "By the way, is that food?"

Anya glanced down at the box in her hands. "Yes, it is. Doughnuts, actually."

Faith squealed and grabbed at the box, but Anya quickly held it out of her reach.

"Patience, girlfriend," she tutted. "We're all eating in the car."

Faith pouted sadly, but raised her hands in defeat. "Fine, let's go."