The Open Window

Chapter 2, Spain

December 21st

"All passengers for flight 78, all passengers for flight 78 the plane to Spain will be taking off in five minutes, in five minutes." Says the lady on the speaker. I stand there anxiously and excited all at once with my ticket and passport in my sweaty hands. I'll be in Spain for two weeks depending how everything goes with my mother. I plan on telling her about Richard, my father. "Please fasten your seatbelts, the green blinkers above your heads will tell you when you're able to take them off. Thank you and enjoy the flight." We finally were able to take off our seatbelts off and I sat next to the window on the left. There was a girl next to me who sat with dirty blonde hair like mine but a little darker, more like light light brown. And she was a little darker than me, like white but with a bit of a small tan.

I wanted to stand up to get my headphones out of the cabinets above my head but couldn't because this girl has fallen asleep on my shoulder by accident. She has beats on and I'm just trying to get mine. Her music is bursting loud that I can hear every lyric, she was listening to some alternative rock; I am a music guy, and I know almost every type of song but I couldn't recognize it and it's not like I can ask her, she is asleep. I slowly start falling asleep and drifting off.

I wake up to the girl moving off my shoulder, I'm a light sleeper, and I see her rush back to the bathroom before I could really look at her. She left her beats in her chair and realized I forgot to get mine. There was 2 hours and 25 minutes left until we landed and I was bored out of my mind. The girl comes back a few minutes later with her hair and make up fixed. We just looked at each other awkward for like 0.000001 seconds as she sat down. And then she puts her beats back on and I ordered some food. Then some kid just starts kicking my back seat and what does his dad do? Nothing! Nothing at all, but I knew that this would happen. My food arrived and I got some peace and quiet until the girl randomly says, "sorry" with an awkward but energetic tone.

She had this accent but it wasn't thick or anything, it was like a cute Spanish (Spain) accent and she spoke English very clear. I could tell she was American. "I'm sorry if I fell asleep on you and got in your personal bubble. I had asked to change my seat so I could go sit next to my fiancé because I do sleep on shoulders a lot when traveling but they wouldn't change it this time. So again I'm very sorry, I'm not trying to be in your bubble..." She rambled on until I said, "it's ok, you're fiancé can switch me seats if he wants?" "No it's fine, we have a few hours left and he is asleep anyways. But I guess we could chat a bit?" She said with enthusiasm.

"So why are you going to Barcelona, Spain?" She asks.
"I thought we were getting off in Madrid airport? And I'm visiting Spain to go see my mother." I said confused because how am I suppose to go to Barcelona from Madrid!? That is a 6 hour drive.
"Oh, I'm pretty sure we are getting off at the Barcelona airport. I could give you a ride but I can only go so far. Probably a 3 hour ride but from there you would have to find a taxi or a bus or maybe a bike," she says smiling trying not to laugh.
"You're funny, I'm not riding a bike for 3+ hours. I'll find a bus or something. But why are you going to Spain?" I said crossing my arms in a playful pretending to be jealous that she has a ride kind of way.
"I have family here. I was born in Madrid, Spain and so I had moved back and forth between Spain and the U.S because of my fiancé and school." She says with a big sigh.

Two hours finally pass by and it's time to put on our seats belts back on. We will be landing in 15 minutes. I had exchanged numbers with her just in case I got lost and needed help around this big country. I also got her name, Melanie, soon to be Skye because of her fiancé. "Hey, I get married in a few days. You can come if you want and bring a guest. Here's an invitation; I always have extra ones just in case. Let your fiancé know about that hack." She says. "Oh I don't have a fiancé..." I said awkwardly and wondering why she thinks I do. "Your ring? That's on your ring finger." She says questioning and looking at it. "Oh that's my father's ring from when he got married but he passed away." I said looking down. We finally landed, got off and I gathered all my stuff. I stood on the side lines while Melanie talked over with her fiancé that I needed a ride and blah blah blah. Melanie's ride came and it was full of loud, excited Spanish 20 year olds. I stood there shocked and when they saw me they all silenced. I stood there so awkwardly with my blonde hair all in a mess and my beats around my neck with my suit case. Then they all rushed out of the car and greeted me like they did with Melanie. She explains to them that I'm a friend who needs a ride and without a second thought they all agreed. People over here seem to be very happy and generous.

I get into the car and they all start talking in Spanish. I stair out the window wondering how beautiful and lovely my mother is. I hope she is still the same women I saw when I was a kid. "So, Cameron? Right?" Melanie's cousin, Carlos says. "Right." "So where are you staying?" He says. "Oh, I'm not actually sure yet. I looked up a few but I don't know which one is in my budget." I say not realizing it. How could I not. I guess I was just so excited to see or find my mother. "Well, you can actually can stay with one of us. I have plenty of room but I don't know if you're willing to." He says shrugging. I don't know why, but I actually felt comfortable around them all and felt like I've known them all for a long time. "Actually if it isn't an issue, I would like to stay. But I would probably have to get going to Madrid after the wedding." I said as they all nodded their heads with excitement. "We love meeting new people and intruding them to our nation and families." Says Melanie's other cousin, Chica. That's what they call her. When I first saw them I didn't think they were all family. But it make sense now.