Enchanted

18

Adonis

I stared at her throughout the entire flight.

She looked different from the last time I saw her and I was trying to figure out what it was.

At first, I figured it had to do with the fact that she was dressed casually in loose-fitting jeans and a flowy t-shirt. But the more I stared, the more I realised that her skin was glowing: the bags under her eyes were almost invisible. Her bones didn't sag against the seat as if hoping for rest. She wasn't as tired, as defeated, as distraught as she'd been on that starry night.

I had met her when she was bleeding. And now, I was seeing her as she was with all her thorns in place.

We sat in silence, her looking at our intertwined hands and me staring at her for an immeasurable period of time. Holly eventually woke up and complained about being hungry.

This was usually the part where I would signal the hostess to bring the cart over but I made Kelly get rid of her. The less eyes witnessed us leaving, the better.

I let go of Rose's hand and brought the cart from the back of the plane, much to Holly's delight.

There was plenty to eat and Rose hated it. I could tell from the tiny bit she ate and the sneaky glances she sent in Holly's direction. I didn't bother telling her she could eat as much as she could because I knew she was too stubborn to listen to me.

Instead, I pretended to be full after two bites of my sandwich.

"What?" she literally snapped at me. "You can't let all of that go to waste!"

I shrugged. "Does it matter? We can just throw out the rest as soon as we land."

The disgust on her face was obvious. "There are some people who are currently starving to death and you're just going to throw away a perfectly good sandwich?"

I nodded, pushing my plate away. "I don't know anyone who is starving to death so it shouldn't matter. Besides, I'm rich enough to get a hundred of these very sandwiches and give them away to a bunch of homeless people."

Holly chewed on her food slowly, glancing between me and her furious older sister.

"I can't believe you." Rose shook her head, frowning.

I turned to her. "I mean you didn't finish your food either. Why can't I leave mine?"

Her cheeks flushed. "That's not the same thing."

"It's not?" I raised my eyebrows.

"I'm just not that hungry."

"Liar." Holly called her out. "I know you haven't eaten yet. You only eat when you get home."

She sighed, staring at her food in dread. "I...I..."

"There are people who are starving to death right now and you won't even finish your pasta? I can't believe you." I said in mock-disgust, shaking my head.

Her eyes narrowed at me. "Shut up."

"Tell you what. You finish your bowl and I'll finish my plate." I held up my sandwich as a peace offering.

"Fine." she huffed.

She stabbed her pasta and shoved the forkful into her mouth to make a point.

"Lisa! Manners!" Holly spat.

Rosalina just rolled her eyes and glared at me.

I smiled before returning to my food. With that sorted, we ended up finishing everything on the cart. Holly ate most of the strawberries before passing out yet again.