After ✔

18

"Hello, you must be Daniel Price." The man greets with curt nod.

"That's me." Yawns Dani.

It's been an hour - our flight has delayed a little - and now we're waiting to board the plane like the rest of the one hundred or so people.

Mason is asleep in Gabriella's arms. When I look at her, she passes me a tired smile.

"Mr. Price, you filled out a form saying you didn't need a medic on the flight with you." He says. Some of the people look at Dani curiously, whilst others just stir in their seats.

"Attention all passengers boarding the EK21 flight to New York..." A woman's voice comes through the speaker.

"And although our staff is highly trained," the man continues, "You'll need a check-up as soon as you land. Now if you want--"

"I'll be fine." Dani says politely, but I can see the crease on his forehead as if he's mentally losing all patience. 

Meanwhile, the line to the plane continues. When Dani's dismissed, we join Gabriella whose saved us a spot, and the line slowly moves towards the plane.

Fifteen minutes later, I'm sitting comfortably in my seat with a blanket draped around my shoulders. People shuffle all around, and the air hostesses help them heave the bags into the compartments. 

Dani shifts in his seat and fiddles with the controls. "So many people." He grumbles. "I hate people."

I throw him a weird look. His gaze settles two seats in front and to the left where Gabriella and Mason are, and says, "Guess I'm not the only one."

My eyes turn to Mason, who has started whining.

But that's nothing compared to what he does when the plane lifts off. Gabriella is forced to feed him the M&Ms that I got for him earlier.

The lights automatically go off, illuminating a facade of stars above. In half an hour, Dani is already asleep.

And apparently, so is Mason.

I unbuckle my seat belt and make my way over to where Gabriella is sitting.  I flop down on the empty seat next to her and watch her nervously scratch at her temple. 

"What's wrong?" I ask.

Now she's fiddling with her fingers. "I'm scared" she draws out the words slowly. "I'm scared of my parents. What if they dont like Mason? And Nate. He won't talk to me, he --"

"Hang on." I say, furrowing my brows. "I thought you said Nate didn't come because he had some business thing or something."

She shakes her head slowly, biting her lip slowly. Then she closes her eyes and leans back.

I don't think she needs to elaborate. Nate and Gabriella always fought with issues concerning her parents.

His argument is always, 'Why are you destroying your new family for an old one?'

Which makes sense, at least to me, but I would do the same thing if I was in her shoes.

"I don't know what to do." Her voice cracks. She leans into me, resting her head on my shoulder. "Nate won't talk to me, he won't listen. We had a bloody fight this morning, and I guess..." she pauses, looking at me with her teary eyes. "By the time I come back to Madrid, there'll be nothing to save in our relationship anymore."

My heart breaks for her. I don't know what to do, but it can't hurt being optimistic.

"You two just need time to cool off." I say. "He loves you, Gabriella. Why would he leave you?"