Figuring It Out

Chapter 7

Jessie was exhausted. He hadn't slept nearly enough in the last few days having gone to every event he had time for. Not to mention the press events and social media accounts he had to maintain. Since the individual event alone, he had gained thousands of followers and subscribers, and he had interviews booked for almost three weeks once he got back home. Jackie shuffled her charges through airport security and into their gate where they collapsed into chairs to wait for their boarding group to be called. Jessie pulled out his camera and moved it so the three of them were in frame before starting to record.

"How is everyone feeling?" Jessie questioned.

"I'm so mentally exhausted," Fallon decided,"But I'm still so pumped about life and everything. So now I'm in a weird limbo between excitement and sleep,"

"Jack-man?" Jessie turned the camera to face their coach,"How're you faring?"

Jackie smiled tiredly,"I'm still just really proud of you guys, but I really miss my own bed,"

Jessie recorded a few more things for his vlog, then put the camera away and joined Fallon on the floor to play a card game. When they boarded the plane, Jessie and Fallon were seated together with Jackie two rows ahead of them.

"You can have the window seat," Fallon told him,"If I get to use you as a pillow,"

"Deal," Jessie shuffled into the row and shoved his bag under the seat in front of him.

They diligently studied for the first few hours of the plane ride before both falling asleep for the rest of the journey home. True to his word, Jessie let Fallon use him as a pillow, but took both of the pillows provided by the airline to use against the window.

As the plane touched down, they unfolded from their seats and stretched, backs cracking as they did so. Jackie waited just outside the plane in the walkway that led to the main building. She had her phone out and was reading emails.

"Okay team," she began walking with them,"People are waiting to greet you two at the baggage claim. Like a lot of people," she turned her phone to them and showed them a picture of fans lined up with posters waving in the air. Posters with their names and faces plastered on them.

"Jeez," Fallon breathed deeply and hoisted her backpack further on her shoulders, fiddling with the straps to tie them around her waist, taking some of the weight of her shoulders.

"I'm so tired," Jessie whined,"Can't we just be done for a few days?"

"We are done for a week after this," Fallon rubbed his shoulder,"We can do it,"

He leaned into her touch and sighed dramatically,"Uhhhh...Okay,"

Jackie grinned at them,"Haha, this is gonna be great," she turned and led them through the crowds, and to Fallon, it seemed like Jackie had a skip in her step at the thought of their impending doom.

They rode up the escalator from the trains, the decorative paper airplanes hanging above their heads marking the path to the crowds that were to greet them. The trio felt the excitement in the room as they stepped off the escalator and came into view of the audience that had come to welcome them. The noise was insane, and immediately, Fallon felt every eye on them, cameras flashed and pens waved at them frantically. Her shoulders lifted with the energy as they moved with practiced ease into the crowd for photos and autographs. They thanked each person for supporting them and for coming all the way to the airport just to see them arrive home. Fallon turned as Jackie sidled up beside them as they were taking a selfie with a young boy and nudged them in one direction.

"While you were being good skaters, I found some people who really want to see you," Jackie shoved them around a group of fans.

The teenagers immediately rushed to their families, being engulfed in hugs and kisses as soon as they reached the group. Hazel was crying, and Mark passed her a pack of tissues he had brought with him, although he had planned on using them himself. Jessie was quickly and efficiently covered in his siblings hugs, the five of them swarming around their brother to congratulate him. Levi and Cory attached firmly to each of his hands and refused to let go until Jessie promised he would sit in the back row with them on the drive back home. The twins released him long enough for Jessie to hug his other set of parents, Hazel and Derek, while it was Fallon's turn to be swarmed by his family.