Clean Slate #Wattys2019

Chapter Thirteen

I lifted my duffle bag into the overhead compartment and stuffed my backpack under the seat in front of me, trying to get settled as quickly as possible in an attempt to not be any more of a burden. When I got seated, I closed my eyes to relax while the flight attendants went over the safety protocol and the plane started moving. A few moments later, I heard a small voice next to me.

"I'm sorry about the musical chairs, I got talking to the family and they told me that this is their son's first flight. I just know that if I was that kid, I would want both of my parents next to me on my first flight." She had her head turned towards me as she spoke.

I turned my head slightly to show her that I was listening before I replied. "It's okay, I'm just glad I made the flight. I'd sit in the bathroom for the whole flight if I had to, I needed to be on this flight no matter what."

Though I didn't voice it, I thought about what she said when she mentioned how she would want her parents to both be with her on her first flight and I thought of my dad with a smile. He and my mom did the same thing with me on my first flight. I was in the middle and I felt so protected. I think I was only four or something, my mom wasn't even pregnant with Natalie yet.

My comment made her laugh, but unfortunately for her, I was in no mood to reciprocate and she obviously didn't know that I was being serious.

"Do you live in Seattle or are you just going to visit?" She asked, sounding sincerely curious after a brief pause.

"I used to live here in Boston, but I'm moving to Seattle as of right this second. Yourself?" I was trying my best to be polite since this was going to be a long flight at almost 7 hours nonstop.

She looked at me with a cocked eyebrow. "You're moving with just a duffle bag and a backpack?" She then realized what she asked and her eyes widened before she scrambled to correct herself. "Oh my god, I'm sorry, you don't have to answer that. It's really none of my business, I just happened to notice when you boarded."

It was my turn to be slightly amused, this time, at her expense. "Well, since you asked, yes, this is all I'm taking with me to Seattle. I'm in desperate need of a fresh start."

She nodded understandingly and shifted her gaze towards the TV on the seat in front of her. I think she may have sensed that it wasn't something I was going to willingly talk about, so she decided to leave well enough alone.

I stuck my hand out towards her. "I'm Dylan, by the way."

She turned her attention back towards me almost as soon as I opened my mouth. "Ellie." She placed her hand in mine and I shook it gently. "Nice to meet you." She offered a smile so slight, I wasn't sure if it was really there or if I made it up in my head.

"You, too," I replied.

She turned her body a little bit to face me. "Hey, when I say this, I mean it in the nicest way possible, but you really look like you could use a cup of coffee. That always does wonders for me no matter what the problem is." She was practically whispering as if she knew it was a delicate subject and that I, myself, am delicate at the time being, like if she spoke any louder, she feared it would literally shatter me.

"Actually, a cup of coffee sounds incredible right now. You're right, it probably would do wonders for me." I agreed sincerely. I appreciated her kindness.

"Well, I don't know if you've ever been to Seattle before, but since I live there, I know all the good spots and I just so happen to know that The Bean Cafe is the best place to get coffee. It's basically all windows and it's right in the middle of the city so you can sit with a cup of coffee and people watch for hours and not even realize how long you've been there." She rambled passionately.