Jovial - Chapter Four

As we enter the airport building, I notice it's extremely crowded with people rushing to and fro, chatting away what seems to be hours of conversation in their cell phones. I feel my lips pinch together, following behind Auntie Viv and Garette.

I accidentally bump into a man, having his hot cup of coffee spill over his white T-shirt.

"Aygh!" He yells.

"Uh, I'm so sorry, sir..." I mumble, feeling my eyes widen at the large, brown stain on his chest. I notice Auntie Viv and Garette are still walking ahead, not glancing behind their shoulders once. This tells me I better start following them or else I'll end up being lost.

"Watch where you're going, kid! You're lucky that I ain't making you pay for this!" The man growls, his dark eyes staring straight into mine, which causes my insides to squirm. I blink at him, then rush over to where Auntie Viv and Garette were going. I'm finally behind them again, and I sigh with relief, grateful that I found them before they completely vanished out of my sight.

We place our luggage on the contraption that makes them go through a mysterious-looking, rectangular hole. I can't quite remember what it's called, but I don't want to ask Auntie Viv nor Garette. I am not in the mood for talking.

Half an hour passes. We have been escorted to our plane, with a long line of people leading the front, others following behind. I do not bother to look back. What's the point of it, anyway? I'm being led to a new and possibly miserable future.

Auntie Viv and Garette plant their bottoms on their seats. There's no room for a third person, but I'm okay with it. I want to stay as far away from them as possible for the next couple of flight hours.

I end up sitting far in the back next to a girl that seems to be a bit older than me, possibly around Garette's age. She has light, rosy skin, caramel-brown eyes, and a glossy, brunette bob.

"Hello." She murmurs, her eyes lowered to what seems to be a magazine on her lap.

"Hey." I say, then manage to offer a small smile. The girl glances at me and grins as well.

"Visiting London?" She assumes, her attention returning to the magazine.

"Uh, no." I feel my stomach churn as I bite my lip, wishing the words crawling out of my mouth aren't real. "I'm moving there. Permanently."

"And you're upset." The girl says, as if reading my mind. I blink at her.

"Yes." I say.

"Oh, well that's normal. You'll be over everything before you even know it." The girl reaches into her skirt pocket, pops a Tic-Tac in her mouth, grabs some more, and extends her hand under my nose. "You want?"

"Nah," I murmur, "thanks."

The girl shrugs, pops the rest in her mouth, chews, then swallows. "The name's Holly Captain, by the way." She glances at me again and purses her pink lips. "You are...?"

"May." I grab her hand and shake it politely but firmly. "Juniper May."

"Juniper," Holly echoes, then pulls her eyebrows together. "Hey, isn't that, like, a shrub or something?"

I feel my face burn of embarrassment. "Um, yeah. I guess so."

It suddenly becomes silent. I don't say anything more, for I do not want to disturb Holly and whatever magazine she's reading. I feel my head tip slightly forward as I close my eyes.

Our flight is about to start.