Aurora

2

Eight months ago.

"Tell me as soon as you land, promise?" 

" I can't believe you are actually leaving."

"Kat-"

"Don't do any of your silly cross country running in the middle of the bush, you could get bitten by a snake or stomped on by an elephant or chased by Wild Dogs or even worse eaten by a Lion! Beth Ruby Jane I will be so pissed if I have to fly out to my best friends funeral in the middle of nowhere because she was eaten by a lion!!"

"Kate!"

"Or even worst you are staying near the ocean, Great White Sharks love that death trap of a counties sea! Don't you dare swim! Not even in rivers, the crocodiles and hippos will get you then."

"Ka-"

" Its all true, I saw it on a Nat-Geo Wild documentary! Don't go on a boat either, a hippo capsized a boat in it. Its like Australias cousin, nowhere is safe! You know what just stay in inside, you like reading, just read inside!"

"Ok Kate seriously SHUT UP! I'm not going to get bitten, stomped on, chased, eaten or capsized! I thought your parents had banned you from drinking coffee, bloody hell!"

"Well forgive me but its shit early and I wanted to see your ungrateful arse off."

That would be Kate, we have been best friends since year two when stupid Kim Wells tripped me in front of the whole class while I was carrying paint which went everywhere, Kate, seeing what had just happened charged at Kim slamming her to the ground. She got her first of many detentions that day and we have been best friends ever since.

"All right girls its time to go." Mom says while shuffling through our passports.

Kate immediately crushes me with a hug that would give a boa constrictor a run for its money, " I promise I'm going to come visit you soon!" She says while releasing me. "I'm looking forward to it Kate." I reply while giving her another hug and quickly picking up my bags before the tears start to appear from Kate.

I follow Henry to the check in cue which thankfully isn't very long because its so early, I'd give it another hour and this place will be packed. It doesn't take long before the attendant is loading our bags and printing our tickets.

We start walking towards the customs gate, giving Kate one last hug before joining the line, when we are just about to go through the gate Kate being her caffeinated self just about yells "Don't forget to send pics of all the South African hotties you see!!!" over the entire customs line. "Oh god."  I say while cringing. "Sorry Bee, but I don't think I'm going to miss your embarrassing friend." Henry says while laughing. 

I glare and him while sending Kate a thumbs up and avoid looking at the customs officers face who is busy chuckling. Once we were finally done with customs we start following the signs to our boarding gate. "Ok we have an hour to kill before they open the boarding gate, would you two like something to eat?" Mom says while double checking we have walked to the right gate.

"You know we could have slept for another hour, we didn't need to be here this early Mom." Henry says. He's the furtherest thing from a morning person..

"Henry, there is no harm in being early and prepared. Now come lets get some breakfast from Mugg & Bean." Mom says and begins walking away. Mom has always been an over planner when it comes to traveling wheres Dad is the exact opposite, he was always the spur-of-the-moment type of person, something that my brother and I both got from him.