Everything Has Changed (On Hold)

CHAPTER 9: Changes & Airports

CHAPTER 9: CHANGES & AIRPORTS

*QANTAS FLIGHT TO HEATHROW STATUS: BOARDING*

The screen above me flashes, I sigh as I head through with my backpack slung over my shoulder, my hands are shaking, my legs have pins and needles, my face is breaking out in sweat and I’m not even on the plane yet. Flying doesn’t affect me; it’s what I’m flying to that is scaring me.

I sit down and put in my iPod headphones, if this plane crashes, we are all going to die, and no stupid safety procedure will change that. As you can tell I don’t bother listening, Coldplay is too busy trying to save my nerves for me to care about how to put on the oxygen mask.

I’m sitting next to a business woman, she’s got sensible shoes on, business length skirt right at the knee, (my high school principal would love this lady) and a sensible blouse and cardigan on. She doesn’t look like a terrorist or that she would be rude, but I don’t want to disturb her frantic reading of the safety card.

Oh well, I'll bother her any way.

“Hi I’m Grace!” I say sticking out my hand, the lady turns to me, sweat dripping down her brows in fear and frustration.

“HI there I didn’t notice you sitting there, I didn’t notice many things though, oh my goss, there is so much to read and understand, how am I supposed to read this before we start moving?” As if on cue the plane starts to head towards the runway. “Oh no! I haven’t even finished the first page! Oh and I’m Genevieve, call me Gen though,” I smile at her.

“What brings you to London Gen?” I say catching onto the fact that she’s scared of planes, hopefully I can distract her til she’s tired enough to sleep.

“I have a massive expo to attend, I am an interior designer, quite successful apparently, so I have been asked to speak, but I accepted before I realised that it required flight travel. What brings you to London if you don’t mind me asking?” Gen smiles at me.

Now that she mentions it, I have seen her designs on the television. Sleek and sharp cut, a lot like her appearance; her straight hair goes down to her ribs, and she has pale skin colour, she looks quite like anyone else except for the fact her hair is flaming red. Very recognisable indeed.

“Well, I am going to London to meet my birth mum, I just finished school 2 weeks ago, and found out I am adopted just yesterday actually,” I say matter-of-factly.

“Wow, I admire your courage, I would be scared as hell!” Gen laughs.

I am so happy I have diverted her attention from the flight, yet from my small amount of flying knowledge I know that we are about to take off.

“Well I am scared, I was shaking as I walked on, but meeting you has helped a lot! Would you like some gum to chew?” I ask offering my packet of Extra gum.

“I would love some,” she starts to chew just as the plane starts to move at high speed.

“Do you live in Sydney, Gen?” I ask as I see the blood drain from her face.

“Well, yeah, I do!” Gen says laughing, “All my life! That’s why I admire you for dropping everything to move to London,”

“I moved from England when I was 1, otherwise I’m Sydney grown.” I laugh.

We aimlessly talk on and on, til we’re interrupted by the Seatbeat sign being turned off. I guess that’s my cue to say I would like to sleep.

“Not trying to be rude or anything but I really need to get some shuteye because I’m meeting my family in the morning!” I say politely.

“Definitely Grace, don’t worry you are not rude at all! Besides I need to sleep as well! Good night!” Gen says as she rumbles around in her seat getting comfy. I do the same and before I know it I’m fast asleep.

*****

“The plane will begin its descent, please make sure your seatbelt is done up, miss” I open my groggy eyes and see a flight attendant talking to me. I had taken my seat-belt off to sleep, those things are awfully painful. I smile at the attendant who shuffles away.

Sitting in my seat with my seatbelt done up I look out the window it’s early morning here in London and I’m still nervous. I can feel butterflies in the pit of my belly, and they aren’t from flying.

Ah poo, I’m meeting my family today. Fudge.

*****

The landing was average, nothing special. It was bumpy, but seriously if you complain about that you’ll be so busy complaining about everything in life you could never enjoy a thing. Maybe if I stop overanalysing the first impression I’m going to give my family, I could rest easy. That won’t happen, not a chance. My English teacher always said that the best thing I could do in her classes was analyse stories and poetry. Fair comment, I spend half my days contemplating everything.

I don’t even know who is picking me up from the airport. Now that is a proper worry. I don't know where to go say I had to take a cab. Nor do I know where I am apart from the fact that there are trillions of signs saying welcome to London. Obviously I’m in London.

Baggage claim is a pain and my god, Custom, is a living nightmare. Yet as I walk out of the customs, there is a man standing there with a sign with my name on it. I thought I would have my mum come meet me, obviously not.

“Hi sir, I’m Grace Stone, like it says on the sign you’re holding,”

“Grace, hello dear, don’t call me sir! I’m your Mum’s friend, we I’ll take you to her and everything will be explained, plus you’ll be meeting some family members!” The man says, “Oh I forgot I’m Jeff,” Laughing I follow Jeff out to his car, and hop in before he drives away.

*****

“So where are we going?” I ask watching the buildings and scenery blur past the car.

“We are heading to Cheshire, your mum and family are there! They are very excited to finally have the full family,” Jeff says.

“Um, Jeff, don’t you find this weird. I mean I’ve been adopted my whole life, and no one is even blinking. I mean y’all acting like I’ve just been on a long holiday or I’m going to meet my boyfriend’s family!” I say.

“Sweetie, there are a lot of things you don’t know yet, how about you, me and your mum have a nice long chat when we get there before you meet anyone?” Jeff says compromising.

“Yes please, thank you Jeff,”

The rest of ride is quiet until we reach Cheshire, well I presume its Cheshire, from the signs that I can see around the place. Cheshire Hairdressers, Cheshire Bakery, Cheshire Cats Clothing Store. It seems like the one store in town that doesn’t have the word Cheshire in its name is the cute little tea and coffee shop on the corner. Oh and the supermarket. That was just called supermarket. Original right?

We pull into a drive way of a normal looking house, nothing special, nothing abnormal, you wouldn’t remember this house if you were to drive by. For some strange reason, I really liked that. I liked that it was average, normal, boring, plain old Jane.

I quickly pull out my phone and whip up a quick text to Des. He has been so supportive of the whole, I’m adopted and I’m heading overseas for a while. I don’t know when I'll be back idea especially since we haven’t been dating that long.

We walk inside the house and Jeff takes me into a room, I awkwardly sit on the couch and look around. It’s a pretty nice room to be honest, nice and homey. A lady with brown hair walks in and takes a seat in front of me.

“Hi Grace, I’m Anne and I guess you could say I’m your other mum.”

AN: I'm going to dedicate to a random person that is reading my story if no one comments on the chatper previous! but please comment on chapters it really makes my day!