What Are the Odds?

The Airport

"Now boarding Flight 8578 to Lima, passengers please make your way to the gate."
I paused a moment to check the time on my watch, and sure enough everything was moving according to schedule. I sighed in relief until I realized one major piece of this puzzle was missing. My partner.

Groaning in frustration, I checked my phone to see if Ana, my boss from MedMissions, had texted me any updates on this mystery partner I had been assigned. From what Ana had told me, my partner had left the country once, to day drink in Mexico for vacation. You could imagine how thrilled I was to be taking this novice on my first trip to Peru. I've traveled quite a bit for trips. My first was to India when I was nineteen. That's when the obsession began.

Growing up in a small town, people didn't leave. If they did leave, they almost always came back. Despite my family's deep, founder roots, I became the exception in my small Texas town. I attended university three hours away from my hometown, and it was there that I was first introduced to the wonder that is international missions.

While India forever changed my life for the better, it wasn't enough. I knew there were still people out there hurting, suffering, lacking basic necessities. So I took my love of travel and people and made a career out of it. It's far different from teaching like I originally planned on doing, but it is fulfilling nonetheless.

It's obvious why they would pair me with a new recruit, but this trip was crucial. This trip would determine the course of my career, not to mention the fact that the location is extremely dangerous. High risk missions like this one must be carried out with extreme precaution and stealth. We would just be providing medical services, but the world isn't always American friendly. All I could do is pray this rookie wouldn't screw anything up.

While I waited in line to board, I sent Ana a text saying that the rookie was nowhere in sight. As soon as I pressed "send," my phone vibrated with a text notification from an unknown number. It read "Please don't hate me, I'm almost to the gate, board without me." I scoffed out loud at the message, earning me several weary glances from the people around me.

We finally made it on to the plane, with still no sight of my rookie. After deciding it would be best to go ahead and get situated, I reached into my small carry on backpack and pulled out my Dramamine and ear buds. As I was bent over, putting my bag under the seat in front of mine, I heard a long whistle, followed by a drawl I never imagined I would hear again.

"Well that's a sight I'd know anywhere. Even after all this time." I straightened up and turned to confirm I hadn't lost my mind. What I was met with was a very familiar pair of bright blue eyes. The same eyes that I always adored, the same eyes that haunted me for months after he left. Stunned into silence, all I could do was stand and stare at the man before me. He waved a hand in front of my face, "Kay? Hello? Earth to Kayleigh." Suddenly, I felt light headed. "Whoa, hey sit down now darlin. You look like you've seen a ghost."

This was evidently the wrong thing to say because before I could even think, my mouth was saying, "That's because I'm looking at one." Realizing what I said, I abruptly closed my mouth and sat in my seat. As I gathered my thoughts and reconnected my brain to my mouth, Colton stowed his carry on and sat in his seat. When his arm brushed mine, I didn't jerk away like I should have. Instead I stood my ground and said in as steady of a voice as i could manage, "What are you doing here, Colt? You shouldn't sit there, my partner will be here any minute." I could've slapped myself for referring to him by that old nickname, but like my feelings for him, I guess it just didn't go away.

He turned to study me for what felt like an eternity before replying, "Partner? Partner for what?" Something in his tone had changed. He was less sure of himself all of the sudden but I paid it no mind. "My rookie from MedMissions, the company I work for. They were supposed to meet me at the gate, but never showed. I got a message saying to board without em and they would join," I quickly ended my rant when I realized the plane had begun moving away from the airport. Panic had set in. My partner still hadn't boarded and we were leaving. The thoughts running through my mind were interrupted when the devil himself grabbed my hand and said, "Stop. I know that look in your eyes, before you work yourself into a panic attack, maybe stop and think. Why would I be here, sitting in your partner's seat, when they're nowhere to be found?" I distractedly muttered, "Because you're my partner."

Then the realization of what I just said dawned on me. Colton was the rookie, and I would be stuck with him for three months, thousands of miles away from home.

Author's note:
Let me go ahead and apologize because this is really rough, and unedited. I got this idea, and decided to try and write it all out, but I'll probably end up deleting it at some point instead.