Elle Jones

Chapter 29: Free Vegan Steak

Minutes after the plane landed, Austin, the rest of the passengers, and I collected our luggage then left our comfortable seats to begin the adventure. 

Hands gripped their suitcase handles, as the passengers' lazy feet shuffled across the small aisle and the tingly cold sensation of air subsided.

"Man, " I said aloud. "I am so relieved."

Austin gives me a mere nod, stretching his arms.  

"Yeah, " he agreed. "I thought I'd never get away from that God awful coffee smell."

Willingly, I reached for Austin's free right hand and grasped it, like a little girl clutching her mother's strong legs.

"Hey, at least we are outside," I say as a matter of fact. 

Austin smiled even wider. "Yeah, I guess so."

Among the treacherous sea of people, I saw the boy again, but this time, he was more focused on getting out of the plane.

Removing his small, silver-gray suitcase from the top right compartment, the boy's dark blond hair bounce uneasily, as he hoists up its long, silver handle, tugs it behind his lanky legs, and pursued forward, hustling past me.

It was then I notice the sturdiness of his jaw, the keen smile on his lips, and the way his strong hands clutched his belongings.

I continue to marvel at the boy when Austin shakes me from my daze.

"Jack, " he whispered. "Jack."

I turn my face to see my best friend giving me one of his stern looks.

"What?" I ask.

Austin sighed, pulling my hand.

"Let's go," he said impatiently. "We are not going to make a movie if we are standing here."

I ducked my head so he wouldn't see my flustered cheeks.

"Yeah, " I said, chuckling. "Sorry."

Austin studies me for a second, clutches his backpack, and with a gentle tug, he leads me out of the airplane.

Pressing our feet against the white, metallic stairs, Austin and I escalated onto the light brown concrete where the bright sun hit our tired faces.

"God, " I yawned. "Maybe I should have brought some pillows from home."

Austin scrunched his eyebrows at me.

"Really?" he asked in surprise. "I thought my seat was pretty comfortable."

I roll my eyes. "Yeah, because you slept through the entire flight."

Austin shuffled past an elderly woman, ignoring me.

Rolling my eyes, I approached the sultry pale blond boy, grabbed his hand, then said, "come on Austin, we need to stick together."

"Jack, as much as I want to Thelma and Louise this shit, we need some real food," said Austin.

I gave him a look. "Really?"

"Yes really, " replied Austin. "The last time I had shitty food was last Christmas when Kristy and Olivia made me try those carb-free meals."

I sigh again. "I am sure we will find something."

"Like what?" asked Austin in disbelief. "We have thirty dollars in our pockets, drank shitty airplane coffee, and now, we have no idea where we are going."

Giving him a sultry look, I told him to stop complaining.

Dragging his feet, Austin retorted: "I'll stop complaining if there was a sign that says, 'free vegan steak'."