Heart of Darkness • Stilinski [02]

Chapter One- Return to Beacon Hills

PART ONE

I am... Relieved to say the least - after the dreaded and entirely draining eleven hour flight that was filled with screaming babies and uncomfortable seats - that I've arrived safely back home in Beacon Hills, California. Home, I thought. As perplexing and at sometimes intimidating the place was, it's my home. In my few months of living here, I had never been so happy to breathe in the humid, fresh and familiar Californian air as I am now. A wave of nostalgia hit me right in the stomach in waves when as I stepped off the plane and into the evening air, throwing my hands up above me dramatically and ignoring the strange looks being sent my way.

"Thank you, whomever may be looking down upon us ants, for keeping it in your best interest to not let any birds fly into the engine of this flying machine," I began as I gazed up at the cloudy evening sky, descending the metal steps and placing my foot onto the concrete below, "and returning us back to the Americas in one piece. Amen."

I could feel Jenna step down beside me and I looked over to see her tucking a piece of hair behind her ear just before she grabbed my forearm, dragging my lazy ass all the way into the airport. "Stop being so dramatic, Criss. I can't be beside you without you drawing attention to yourself every five minutes,"

I placed a hand over my heart - if I had one that is - faking hurt and scoffing at Jenna. "I do not draw attention to myself every five minutes. Well, at least not that often,"

Jenna shot me a look as we both dragged our tired limbs towards the baggage area, collectively rubbing our eyes and yawning as we waited to collect their suitcases. I don't know about Jenna, but I'm just about ready to collapse into a heap on the floor at any moment. I hadn't gotten even ten seconds of shut eye on that damn plane.

"Yeah, sure you don't, " Jenna interrupted my thoughts. "It wasn't as if every time there was a little turbulence on the plane, you stood up and shouted that we were all going to crash and die in a fiery pit of flames."

"Excuse me for being cautious." I muttered as I searched for my suitcase.

Cautious... Wasn't exactly the most appropriate word that I should have used in this scenario. More like 'terrified'. This was the first time that I had been on an airplane, so that meant that I pretty much had every right to feel a little scared especially since we spent most of the flight flying over the Atlantic Ocean. I'm not exactly a huge fan of large bodies of water. Not after Titanic.

Jenna grabbed her own suitcase not a minute later, snorting in amusement and muttering, "Being cautious my ass."

I eyed a familiar looking suitcase - a plain blue one that had a purple ribbon tied onto the handle. Sure enough, it was mine. An old lady started to inspect the case as it passed by her, and she even went so far as to push it over. It toppled over onto its side and I flinched at the action. I gaped at the old woman as she turned to - I'm assuming her husband - who had just tapped her on the shoulder.

"Irene, your suitcase is pink, honey." I heard her husband say. The lady, Irene, nodded thoughtfully, muttering 'oh yes' and then started poking at a green suitcase.

I grabbed my own suitcase, shooting the oblivious old couple a death glare as Jenna rolled her eyes at me. I didn't want some random old people stealing my suitcase, I have candy stuffed inside of it somewhere and that lady wasn't getting anywhere near my Twix's.