The Missing Gem

16 | Malibu

Lucas

Nicole Meyers. 

The girl who up until roughly a month ago was a complete stranger to me, was now laying her head on my shoulder and sleeping peacefully as we flew across the Atlantic ocean. 

Thank God this flight has no lay overs. I'm not the biggest fan of flights, and especially not long ones. 

"Would you want anything to drink, sir?"

"No, thank you." I politely declined the flight attendant's offer and she smiled and moved on to the next row of seats. 

I did try to be as quiet as possible with my response, but apparently it wasn't enough to keep Nicole asleep. She stirred against me, and I sighed, turning my head to look at her, her brown eyes slowly opening. 

"Sorry I woke you up." 

"That's alright." She gently held my neck with her hand and kissed my lips. "I had to pee anyway." 

"Good thing I didn't get you a drink, then." She winked at me while she bit her bottom lip, looking more adorable than ever, and she made her way through the hallway to get to the bathroom.

I decided to lean into her seat and take a look through the window. Planes and I are not the best of friends, so I gave her the window seat while I sat in the middle. 

Nothing fancy to see outside - just the ocean. I reached my hand into my pocket to fish out my phone and snapped a couple of pictures to show Lexi, remembering how badly she'd asked me to, eager to know what the view from up here is like. 

"Hey you. You want to change seats?" 

Either she got back really quickly or I spend way too much time collecting photographs of the blue horizon and the small clouds that truly looked like cotton candy. 

"Nope. I'm fine where I am." 

I slipped back into my designated seat and tucked my feet deep under my seat, allowing her to got back to where she was. 

"So, I've got something to tell you." The sheepish look in her eyes and the cheeky smile indicated it was something I was in the dark about. I couldn't help but frown in confusion and she continued. "I wanted to tell you last night but I thought I should tell you once we were in LA but I just... can't wait any longer." 

"You're starting to scare me... What is it?"

"We're going to the Pixar Animation Studios on Friday."

Okay that's not so bad.

"Really? Oh, that's great! Like on a tour?"

She scrunched her nose, and tilted her head to the side. God, she looked like the cutest person in the world when she did that. I swear she has no idea how cute she is.

"Not exactly. I mean, yes, they're giving us a tour too but... it's a little more than just that."

"What is it then? Should I be worried?"

"Not at all. I... You're gonna have a meeting with them."

"A meeting?" If it was possible, I was feeling even more confused. 

"I'll be there with you too." I lifted one eyebrow. "Diane worked on a case for them a while back, and I told her about how talented you are and she managed to get me their e-mail and I sent them your work. Your drawings. I sent them your drawings, it was only a few!" 

My mind went blank for a minute, not knowing exactly what to think of what she had just said to me. 

"Wait, you what?"