As Easy As ABC

Chapter 1: The Trip

"I cannot believe it's finally the day you go to fudging China!" said my best friend Autumn, as she and Paula were helping me put my luggage in the trunk of the taxi that was taking me to the airport.

"I'm going to miss you so much! Who am I going to spend my days checking out guys at the mall with?" said Paula as I was opening the door to the cab, about to get in.

"Guys, I'm going to miss you too! But I'm so fudging excited! There are going to be so many guys from different countries. And I'll bring you a souvenir back," I promise, hugging them goodbye.

I finally closed the cab's door as Autumn said, "Bring me a German guy. No, no, a Spanish one"

"Yeah, good idea. I want a Russian please," added Paula grinning from ear to ear probably imagining the guy.

"Sure, you want anything else with that? Lemonade? A side of fries?" I replied with sarcasm.

"Nah, just the guy," she said proudly of her response but quickly changed her expression before adding, "but in all seriousness take care, please don't get sick and die".

"Yeah, I've heard lots of weird stuff happens in there", Autumn said getting lost in her thoughts while the driver started to get impatience with our long goodbyes.

"Guys, I promise. Plus I will tell you everything interesting that happens so it'll be like you're just there with me, but now I got to go before I lose my plane. Love you!" I said before signaling to the driver that we could go now.

"Love you too, Sapph", they said in unison as I just stared out the window, watching the trees starting to become a blur as the driver took me to the airport.

* * *

"Passengers of the flight 096 with destination to Shanghai, we have begun descending, and will be at the airport in 13 minutes, thank you for flying with us." finished the flight attendant saying through the intercom while I started getting more anxious with every passing minute.

I started thinking of different scenarios, 'what if I get lost on the airport of Shanghai, I mean, and I've heard it is really big. Ok don't panic, all I have to do is follow the rest of the people that get off this plane, I mean they all got suitcases, so they have to go to pick them up at the same luggage band that me' I reasoned trying to calm myself down 'ok, but what if I get lost on my way to the train station, or worse what if I get on the wrong train and get off at the wrong city? OMG I don't even speak Chinese, how will I ask for help? Will anyone speak English? What if someone steals my purse where my passport is and I can't ask for help, and then the police approaches me and I don't have my papers, will I go to prison? Oh God, I bet Chinese prisons suck, I don't want to go to prison! The food must be terrible there!' I finish my irrational rant getting even more anxious than before and my hands begin to sweat as the plane arrives at the airport.

I waited a few minutes until I could follow some people to the luggage area where I could grab my suitcase and backpack. As I started to walk there, I notice I was the only one traveling alone, and that thought alone made me a little sad. I told myself to shake it off and to get it together, I had to stay sharp in case anything happened.

I took out my phone to read the time as it light up showing me a 01:34. 'Awesome, I love it when everything is closed ', I thought dryly. But before I could get my bag, I had to go through customs.

I stood in line trying to appear like I knew what I was doing when I think it was clear to everyone that I was feeling lost with every step. When it was finally my turn, I walked up to the officer in the booth and put on a friendly smile as I said, "hello, how are you", so she could see my confidence. I didn't expect the look she threw my way, not only did it looked like she was tired and hated her job, but it was as if she hated me, which is impossible since I'm very likeable, I mean I am me after all.