pirouette (On Hold)

changement •two•

<< changement: "Literally "changing". A jump in which the feet change positions in the air. For example, beginning in fifth position with the right foot front, plié and jump, switching the right to the back, landing with the left foot front in fifth position." >>

••••

"Don't talk to strangers. Well, I mean strange strangers. Everyone there will be a stranger. You know what I mean, right? Just don't get into any shady looking vans."

"Call us if you have any problems. Like anything at all- even if you run out of tissues. As soon as your run out of tissues, the first thing I want you to do is call us."

"I think I might've packed your sheets upside down- don't let that throw you off when you unpack."

"I installed a translater app on your phone for anything someone says that you don't understand."

I've been nodding my head for the past ten minutes, trying to get my parents to calm down. They were fine in the car, calm and normal even. But as soon as we hit the ground of the airport, they promptly lost it and began freaking out. 

And they haven't stopped.

If this continues, I'm going to miss my flight.

"If you're offered a food, and you don't know what it is, don't be afraid to ask. I really don't want you to get food p-"

"Okay, okay, I got it, thanks," I manage to cut my mother off. She blinks a little at my forwardness, and the next thing I know she's crushing me in a hug.

My mother is not a touchy feely person. We don't hug unless people die, or we are forced to. She's a scientist. She's not exactly cold, but she's more chill than warm for sure.

She squeezes tightly, until I can feel my ribs press against each other. When I'm pretty sure I hear a few of them cracking, I lean back a little until she lets go. 

My dad looks like he might hug me too, so I smile at both of them and say, "I'm going to be fine, guys. I'll call you when my plane lands."

My dad nods, and if I didn't know better, I might think he was crying. 

"I love you guys," I say as I dig around in my bag for my passport.

"We love you too, Scarlett," my mom says just as I locate the packet. 

I pull it out and  clutch it tightly in my hands. "I'll see you guys on Winter Break?"

My dad nods and pats my head awkwardly. "I love you, kiddo."

I nod, feeling the need to cry all of a sudden. I swallow past the lump in my throat and force a nod, before sniffing a bit and waving at them.

"See you then."

And I walk towards the terminal.

••••

 I don't like airplanes. At all.

Like you are literally up in the air, flying thousands of feet above the ground, trusting the great big metal bird to not fall out of the sky and kill dozens of people.

Seems legit to me.

 It's not my fault that I don't like planes, really. I mean, when you've watched all six seasons of Lost, can you be expected to trust planes?

I'm curently sandwiched in between an overweight woman who is asleep- literally she passed out as soon as she manages to squish her butt in the seat- and a business man. I was aiming for a window seat if at all possible, but no.