Shorts. Check.
Tank tops. Check.
Bras. Check.
Passport… Not check. 256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RF5bnVb4a
Shit.256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYJcLHTfZH
“Mum!” I yelled down the hallway. “Have you got my passport?”256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvdefnhosH
…256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPwbi6uA0A
“Mum!?”
I dropped the pen in my hand and curved around the door frame scanning for signs of life. I let out a frustrated sigh at the sound of her footsteps echoing up the hallway.256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTkObT0lSC
“Maeve if you want to ask me something, come and ask me. Don’t scream it from your room.”
“Sorry, sorry. Do you have my passport? It’s not in my drawer.”
Her jet-black eyebrows creased up her forehead disturbing her fringe. She gave me a demeaning look. 256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjygBUHcVc
“Do you, have it?” I asked, starting to get twitchy with irritation. The words were a little more drawn out and patronising than I’d anticipated.256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxn5N32WcyD
She unfolded her arms and let them hang by her side. I waited for the explosion. Surprisingly it didn’t come.256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAGMRrZZ71
“It’s in my carry-on luggage.”256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYxIQMPNZp
That’s all you had to freaking say.
“Okay, thank you.”256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsohXrd0yVl
She glanced over at the Google Home sitting on my bedside table. “It’s nearly 12, try to get to bed soon.”256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSc1MN2F7d1
I nodded, staring back at the pile of folded clothes sprawled across my duvet.256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh7Fb8D0WxZ
She swivelled her socks on the grey carpet and stepped onto the floorboards. She muttered something inaudible under her breath as she walked away.
Fuck why is this trip making me so stressed?
I pushed the pile of evening dresses to the right and slumped into the line of fluffy cushions lying against the wall. I stared up at the ceiling in thought. In 5 hours, I’ll be swapping this with a view of the Caribbean. Hang in there until then. I reached over and pulled the charger out of my phone sending the screen to become illuminated from incoming notifications. I opened my contacts and pressed Charlotte’s contact. The FaceTime sound rang as I waited for her curly brown hair to pop up.256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9XC52JBUI
“Hey,” she said excitedly, her eyes trailing off to the side as she patted her dog.256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWMswcFy5t
“You going to manage without me?” I asked trying to hide my smile.256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJ6anlSvFJ
“Sadly, not but take pictures for me bitch. It’s gonna be so boring while you’re gone,”
I chuckled. “Char, you will live. Give Marino all my love in my absence.” I giggled slightly.
Her middle finger rose on screen. “I will not give your professor all your love you sick fuck.”
I burst out in laughter. “He’ll probably ask where I am eh?”
“I hope not, I doubt he’d be able to hide his disappointment for his favourite student being away. But seriously, have fun and stay safe. Find a hot Cuban guy while you’re there too.’
I laughed louder than I expected. “I very much doubt it.”
“You never know…”
The conversation trailed into the early hours of the morning, something I knew I would regret. I turned the phone to my pillow and felt my body sink into the freshly washed sheets, Charlotte’s message becoming engraved into my brain.
‘Find a hot Cuban guy.’
Find a hot guy.
Find a guy.
I pulled the duvet to my chin and swung my body to the side, the view of the blue wall only visible. Sure, there were bound to be people my age there; probably with their families like me. Or maybe, they were on vacations that somehow managed to make it out of the group chat. It was naïve of me to hope for a boy to be in the same situation as me. Designated babysitter, crowded by people all the time. Unlikely. I pulled a strand of hair behind my ear. What if I really do meet someone? I pondered for a second. They wouldn’t let me; it’s a family trip. I sighed and reluctantly let my eyelids fall and my body shift deeper under the blankets. The thought played sweet melodies to my dreams. I felt the weight of a Vans sneaker rest over my thigh and was reminded of the stack of clothes about to fall onto the floor. I pushed those thoughts aside even though they bugged me and kept my focus on the trip ahead. The first since my siblings had their kids and the first since I had grown out of the awkward pre-teen phase, meaning bathers and makeup contributed to about two-thirds of my luggage now. The list of things to do in the morning grew by the second, yet falling asleep was easier than I thought.
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