Traveling alone was not something Samantha enjoyed. She felt like anyone could mug her at anytime and she wouldn't be able to do anything about it. She was too scrawny. Too vulnerable.
She did, however, enjoy traveling with her sister. Her sister, Isabella, was the opposite of Samantha. While Samantha was bones with little meat and as tall as a gumball machine, Isabella was all curves and taller than most boys.
The differences between them were not only in looks but in personalities, too. Isabella was confident, smart, and outgoing. Samantha, on the other hand, was timid, smart, and socially awkward.
She wished that her sister was with her right now. Sitting beside her and heading to England with her. Not traveling somewhere else with her stupid boyfriend, Travis. That boy only brought problems between the two of them. She didn't understand how Isabella could still be with him. He was rude and intolerable. She could do so much better.
"Excuse me, miss?" The flight attendant tapped Samantha's shoulder. Samantha removed the earbuds from her ears, trying to remember when she had put them on. "The flight will take off soon. Please buckle up." Samantha nodded and gestured to the belt securely buckled. The flight attendant smiled and continued telling people to buckle up.
Samantha put the earbuds back in and waited for the flight to take off. She felt another tap and turned to look at the old couple sitting beside her.
"Yes?" She responded warmly. The old couple looked like they had lived many years with each other. Samantha felt a pang of longing.
"We were just wondering how old you are? You look really young to be traveling by yourself. Why, you seem to be not much older than 18." The old lady said. Samantha smiled at the old lady and let out a small laugh.
"I've just turned 17." Samantha responded.
"I knew it!" The old man gasped. "You owe me, darling." The old woman turned to her husband and pinched his cheeks.
"Of course, honey." The old couple didn't turn to Samantha anymore so she put her earbuds back in. Again, she felt that pang of longing. She longed for someone to love her.
Back in 7th grade, she dated a boy named Jordan. He was such a popular guy. Possibly too popular to actually notice Samantha but he did. He started talking to her and getting to know her more. Samantha started getting attached and fell for Jordan. Soon after they started dating but it was just a elementary couple. They didn't do anything. They didn't hug or hold hands.
A friend of Samantha came up to her one day and told her that her relationship was a joke. Jordan had been dared to date Samantha. He never had any real feelings for her.
She didn't cry. She didn't let herself cry. As mush as she wanted to, she didn't. She wouldn't let herself stoop that low. She went up to Jordan and broke up with him on the spot. She didn't say or do anything else.
Ever since then, Samantha hasn't dated anyone. She's been too afraid that it'll all be a joke.
Whenever she saw couples out in public, she wondered if they really loved each other. She'd read many novels to fully understand the words, I love you. To her they weren't just regular words. They were words a with powerful meaning. She made sure not to misuse the words.
Samantha wasn't sure how long the flight was. She slept through all of it and was awakened by the old couple. This was another reason why she didn't like traveling alone.
She went to claim her luggage and started looking for her aunt and uncle that were suppose to be waiting for her. She looked around and finally spotted them.
As she was walking towards them, a group of people walked into her and one of them spilled their coffee all over Samantha.
"Watch it." He muttered. Samantha glared at him but continued walking.
Maybe Samantha just hated traveling in general.
