I jerked my head up and reached for my clock with such force it nearly made me plummet out of bed.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7IeRZPjlSN
“MAEVE!” Mum screamed.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHy8KqVGGsp
For fucks sake.
I sprinted out of my bed and ran into the bathroom in pure darkness. I switched on the light and was startled by my reflection. I stared at it until I thought I was still dreaming. The wheels in my head raced around like they were being pumped with fuel as I racked my brain for how I managed to sleep in when I specifically promised myself, I would have enough time to get ready. I felt like I was auditioning for a scene in Home Alone and Mum and Dad were walking out the door heading to the Airport, leaving me alone in this dismal place. I was brought back to reality when Dad banged his fist on the door making me shriek.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDcpFGIaWP
“You better have a 30-second shower and be packed at the door in 5 minutes.”
I wanted to tear every strand of hair out of my scalp and cry in the corner. Nothing stressed me out more than being pressured by time. But instead, I took a breath, stripped, and stepped into the steaming plume of water.
I extended my time frame by 15 minutes and nearly did get left behind. Luckily, my planning from a few hours ago paid off as I lugged the large purple suitcase into the taxi. Dad shot me an annoyed look and I gave him a half smile in return. My carry-on had been organised perfectly, so I knew exactly where everything sat. Airpods in the front pocket for waiting in the terminal, laptop for the plane and a large hollow space for duty-free snacks. Just as it should be. Dad made polite conversation with the driver as Mum, and I chatted excitedly for what was to come. As I gazed out the window, I noticed that the landscape became more and more desolate as we drove away from the bustling centre of the city. The road became barely lit, only sparse streetlights guiding our way as we waited for the sun to rise. Apartments were swapped for gum trees and trucks swapped for Rideshares pulling into waiting bays, participating in an intricate and systematic loop of picking up and dropping off. It was monotony, but it was life for these people.
I swung open the door of the taxi and popped the boot, attempting to pull my case from its position. Dad saw my struggle and gave me a boost. The sound of the wheels against the bitumen was loud and intrusive to all ears who could hear it. It caught the attention of a group of people crowding next to the large glass doors of the entrance. A small figure in a navy puffer vest darted in my direction.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHabHcsZQS
“Jax!” I exclaimed.
The little boy collapsed in my arms and nearly knocked his beanie off, pressing the top of his head to my chin.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2QQKfaGJU
“Won’t be missing this bloody weather when we get there,” a deep voice muttered from behind. Grandad was vocal about his opinions on winter.
I lifted my nephew to my hip and greeted the mob of people known as my family. Stephie walked over to me and pulled me in for a hug. She adjusted Jax’s jumper and his shoe which he was attempting to kick off. It bewilders me sometimes how much they look alike. He has her eyes exactly. Jax takes after his father with his excited and animated personality, however, which Stephie isn’t overjoyed about. It used to just be my parents, brother, sister, grandparents, and uncle, but now that my siblings have married and had kids, it has made booking tables at restaurants quite difficult.
I secured Jax in one arm and pulled the suitcase from the cobblestone through the doors of Melbourne Airport. As everyone pulled out their boarding passes and began loading their luggage at the front desk, I took Jax and Abbey to look around. This wasn’t as easy a task as it sounds. Abbey was a dream to look after; she made her own fun and wasn’t bothered by much. Jax was the total opposite and took every chance he could get to annoy Abbey, yell at the top of his lungs and run away from my desperate attempts to keep him close at all times. They were mini representations of Stephanie and Austin.
Abbey’s small fingers intertwined with mine as she gazed up at the roof. Her mousey brown hair was pulled into a ponytail with a pink scrunchie. Jax decided he was a big enough boy to walk beside me without holding my hand because to a 4-year-old that’s too babyish.
He spotted a small toy car sitting on the floor by itself and took off to go inspect it.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJphHVONbz
“Jax, you can’t be running off, otherwise you might get left behind.”
He slowly turned around to face me, red Corvette in hand, and gave me a puzzled look.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbcPLlnsxU
“The plane will leave without me?” his tone was unsure and a little fearsome.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zrwkp7YKT
“If you don’t hold onto Aunty Maeve’s hand it might,” Abbey added looking up at me for a smile of approval.
That was enough to deter the little boy from embarking on his own expeditions of adventure and he came waddling back to my open hand. I led them back to everyone as we headed up the escalators to pass the time before the plane boarded.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMSpLwz3xR
“I’m ready to have a feed before we hop on the plane. The food is a hundred per cent going to taste like shit I’m calling it now.” Uncle Michael scoffed. Food was the only thing on that man’s mind constantly.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfhWUWsFrs
Dad chimed in. “For a 14-hour flight there better be 4 meals and 2 dessert options.”232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxcRWzgQpft
Mum glared at Dad wryly. “Sorry, I didn’t realise we were flying first-class. I’ll be sure to let the air hostess know if the portions are not up to your liking Mr Hart. I doubt they’ll be offering you seconds.”
All eyes fell on Dad as his face flushed pink. His ass had just been served to him by his wife in front of the whole family. He had been defeated yet again. Nan nodded at Mum, the glint in her eye visible even from where I was standing. Dad dropped back, laughing as his brother-in-law taunted him.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkunEtknfXD
---232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWgYQ97nZaq
The hours flew by, and I barely even noticed Jax and Abbey had left their seat next to me. I took out my headphones and snapped my head to the left and right frantically scanning for their navy and blush-coloured jackets. Mum peered at me over her book.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphYZJgK0nz
“What?”232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzS9TfFDQG
“Jax and Abs... where are they?”232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0bImGlCVp
“Next to you aren’t th-” she paused once seeing the vacant seats next to me.
My face washed white. Massive airport. Boarding terminals. Departing flights. I guess this is my experience of Home Alone the sequel. I stood up quickly and rushed over to the row of seats directly behind me. Not there. I ran to the block of empty seats next to the nearest boarding terminal. Not there. The toilets, the alleys, the vending machine areas, all of them not a child in sight. My heart was in my throat. It was my responsibility to look after them; Stephie and Austin were going to throw me out of the plane.
Just as I was about to alert security, I spotted a red car lying upside down on the carpet next to the window. I held my breath as I paced over to the small block of seats in direct view of the rising sun. A squeak came from behind me.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkFl4AAwEK
“We can’t see.”
I rotated to the voice behind me and was met with a display of navy and pink. I let out the most relieved sigh that’s ever escaped my body and wanted to squeeze the life out of the children who nearly cost me my own. Of course, they chose to sit far away from us, blocked by a pillar, facing a window. I was met by a sea of relief once everyone could see they were okay. Stephie ran to them, and they pointed at the sunrise; oblivious. Such a great start to the trip and we hadn’t even left Melbourne yet.
Walking onto the gangway, the enormous engine of the Boeing 787 made my ears ring. I managed to get cut off from everyone else as boarding passengers shuffled into a single-file line. I propped my backpack in the overhead storage compartment and took a seat by the window. I couldn’t see Mum, Dad, or anyone yet but I figured they were already sitting behind me. The seats next to me remained empty until just before take-off. A girl with long, curly blonde hair stepped over to my row and gently sat down. She shot me a polite smile and pulled a tall, tanned man by their intertwined hands.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0XVTA2mjV
A couple. Great.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wbESdRgGH
“Maeve?” A soft voice questioned. I pulled my gaze from the window to the flawlessly sculpted face staring into my eyes a little too intensely. I paused in uncertainty. She ran a perfectly manicured hand through her bangs; the silhouette of a butterfly on her wrist caught my eye.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqNYkh5ycq
“It’s me, Freja.”232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHppXUQauy
I tried to conceal my hatred, but I must have done a horrible job because her eyes widened in fear. I plastered a smile across my face and in the whiniest voice I could find said, “Freja! Year 6, right?”
She grinned and nodded excitedly.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0INTONAHCx
What a flight I was in for.
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