Scars // LH

Chapter40- A Late Birthday Present

Yes, you've probably guessed by the title of this chapter. Sophie's gonna get a nice surprise!

A Late Birthday Present

The clouds were grey and bulging with rain on the flight home. Matched my mood perfectly. I had a little cry to myself on the plane. I didn't think it would hit me this hard. Luckily, most of the people on the plane were asleep or having their own conversations. I sat with my earphones in, staring out of the window and letting the silent tears spill down my cheeks. 

'Close As Strangers' started to play in my ears. But I didn't skip it. I put both earphones into my ears and turned the volume up, closing my eyes. It described exactly how I felt right now. Which was actually what I needed.

When Luke's solo came round, I couldn't help but cry again. It hurt me to think that I'd probably never see his face or hear his voice again. Well, apart from photos, videos, songs, but it wasn't the same.

I was completely silent when the plane landed, when I went through Customs, when I went to get my suitcase. There was nothing to be said, and no one to talk to. Simple.

Luckily, there was no one in the airport that recognized me. Thank God. The last thing I needed right now was a huge ambush. I found a seat with my suitcase and figured that I should call my mom. She picked up immediately. "Hey sweetie, you okay?"

"Im at the airport now. I've got my suitcase." My voice sounded hoarse and shaky even to my own ears. "Aren't you coming to pick me up?"

I heard her sigh deeply, but there was a twinge of excitement, and I knew that she was up to something. "No honey, I'm busy. But I've sent for someone to pick you up." I frowned in both confusion and shock. "Mom, you've just sent a random stranger to get me?!"

"He'll meet you at the front doors of the airport." She continued, not even bothering to answer my question. "Don't worry, you'll know him." I opened my mouth to argue when she cut the call. I stared at my phone with a frown. So it was a him? My mind started to work, and it hit me.

Maybe it was Luke.

I rushed to grab my suitcase and hurried towards the exit.The excitement was unbearable. I weaved my way through the crowds and finally reached the escalator that lead to the front doors. I quickly stepped on and started to descend down, while frantically looking around. But I couldn't see his blonde quiff anywhere. I tried to hide my disappointment, when I locked eyes with someone else, and the world seemed to stop. He was a man, maybe slightly older than my mom, and he was staring back up at me. He was a stranger, but his face looked awfully familiar. He looked a lot like...

My dad.

Then it hit me. It was my dad. 

My eyes lit up in realization. "DAD!" I screamed, tumbling down the moving stairs to get to him. It was like the scene from Railway Children. My legs seemed to be moving so slowly. I finally reached him, dropping my suitcase and jumping into his arms. I wrapped my arms around him tightly, crying into his shoulder. His whole body shook; he was obviously crying too. He lifted me back down to my feet. I stared up at him, the man that I hadn't seen for 4 years. The man that I looked up to. "I can't believe it's you." I choked, my eyes welling with tears again.

"I can't believe it's you!" He held my face protectively. "You've changed so much, Strawberry. You're a big girl now!" 

"Woman!" I corrected him, the grin not leaving my face. "You haven't changed a bit! What are you doing here?! I mean, not that I'm not happy to see you, because I am, I-I'm thrilled!" I babbled excitedly, and he chuckled, picking up my suitcase and leading me out of the airport. "Well, these past few years, I've realized that I can't really live without your mom, Carly, Ivy, and you. So I came back, and your mom seemed to take me back." My eyes widened. "So you're back together?!"