Xx, Ashton || a.i.

Chapter 19: Aussies

Aussies

I woke up to someone blowing air every so gently at my face.

"Lyddie, wake up!" Ashton's eyes were inches from mine when I opened them, and his face was lit up like the fourth of July.

"Hi." I took a long breath and stretched my arms upward, immediately realizing where I was when my hands hit the air conditioning vents above me.

"We're here!" Ashton gestured toward the window, eagerly looking down on wherever we were flying over.

I leaned over him, trying to get a glance at whatever he was seeing.

Wow.

We were flying over the city of Sydney, right over the harbor. The sun was setting here and it was absolutely breathtaking. It was summer here and the city below us looked absolutely incredible.

Ashton was practically jumping up and down in his seat, despite the buckle that held him down.

"We're here?" Luke looked up from the picture he was coloring and tried to lean over us, looking out the window. I glanced at the Hello Kitty coloring book, which was flipped open to the last page.

This kid spent his whole flight coloring pictures of Hello Kitty.

"Can you believe it?" Ashton sighed. "I feel like I haven't been here in years."

"Attention passengers." Wendy's voice came on the loudspeaker again, startling Luke, who was in awe at the view we had. "Welcome to Sydney, Australia. If you look to your right, you can see that we are flying over Sydney's famous harbor. We will be landing shortly, until then, the pilot asks that you stay buckled and keep your seats in an upright position."

Within a few minutes of Ashton squirming in his seat, we had come in for a landing.

"Thank you for flying with us. On behalf of the pilot and our whole crew, we wish you happy and safe travels."

"Thanks, Wendy!" Michael called from the back, winking at her.

We were off the plane in no time. Ashton practically skipped down the tunnel to the gate, swerving through the crowd. He had tried to hold my hand, but got irritated when I was "being slow" so he skipped ahead of me. Luke and I made our way to the exit to see Ashton standing there, looking impatient as he waited for everyone.

"Mum is here." He smiled at his phone before shoving it back into his pocket.

"Hurry up guys, Ashton's gonna shit himself!" Luke called behind us to the rest of the group.

"Again?" Michael laughed, picking up his pace a little.

They met us at the edge of the gate until Ashton took off again, making his way to the luggage claim.

He grabbed his bag and mine, slinging them easily over his shoulder and refusing my requests to carry my own bag.

"MUM!" He dropped the bags to the floor and ran across the baggage area when he saw his mother.

He looked like a child, sprinting to his mother after a few hours of being without her.

He pulled her into a bear hug, picking her up off the ground and swinging her around, making her giggle when he kissed her forehead.

"I missed you." He looked around to find me and gestured that I walk over to them.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and stepped toward them, nearly tripping over my own feet. She didn't look intimidating, but god, I was nervous.