Prologue
“That’s your seat mam, have a good journey.”
“Thank you.”
I smiled at the air hostess and proceeded to my seat. I’m so excited to go to Texas again. After three long years, I’m finally going to see my favorite people. What should I say when I meet them? Damn, I’m so excited.
Please put on your seatbelts.
As soon as I heard the announcement, I buckled up my seat belt and stared out of the window. I can’t believe that I’m going to Texas at last. The airplane took the speed and soared into the sky with its graceful wings.
“Mam, do you want something to eat or drink?”
I looked at the air hostess who stood smiling. She looked perfect with her long legs and perfect bun. She held a small notepad in one hand and, the other was a pen.
“I would like a... a strawberry milkshake.”
“Anything else?”
“No, that’s it. Thank you.”
She nodded while jotting down on her notepad and then walked away. I again looked out of the window involved in my thoughts. Then I felt a nudge in my elbow. I looked beside me and a guy was sitting next to me adjusting himself in his seat and while doing that, he accidentally nudged me again.
I couldn’t see his face though because he wasn’t facing me and I guess I saw him somewhere. He was still adjusting himself and kept on nudging me which became irritating after some time. I couldn’t tolerate that nudging anymore so I spoke up.
“Um... excuse me... um... any problem?”
“Sorry?”
He turned and faced me and then I recognized him at once.
“Eric Roberts?”
Eric’s my classmate in my 9th and 10th grade and ex-boyfriend of my best friend Melissa. He is so cool and handsome that even I had a crush on him. His deep blue eyes are so mesmerizing that you will get lost in them. Well, I shouldn’t think about him like this. After all, he was Mel’s boyfriend. I couldn’t believe that I’m meeting him after three years.
“Marie Dominguez?”
“Yes!”
“Marie, hey how are you? What are you doing here?”
“I guess I should be the one who’s supposed to ask you that? Well... I’m off to Texas.”
“Texas? Why though? Melissa is in California, right? She isn’t in Texas.”
I laughed at his confusion and said,
“Yeah, she’s in California and she’s coming tomorrow to meet me. Come on, I can’t go all the way to California only to meet her and she can’t come to Los Angeles only to meet me. So we decided to meet in Texas so that we can visit our school and also meet everyone.”
“Wow! That’s great.”
“Yeah, what are you doing here?”
“Heading off to Texas.”
“You live in Texas right?”
“Yeah, I went to Los Angeles for a wedding and now back to Texas again.”
He waved his hands as if he’s presenting something and I laughed at his gesture. We laughed for a while like dorks when we finally got interrupted by the air-hostess we stopped.
“Here’s your order Mam.”
She handed me my strawberry milkshake and then turned to Eric to give his cold coffee. I remember him ordering it when he met Mel with me.
“So how’s Texas? Did it change?”
“Yeah, a bit. Whom are you gonna meet anyway?”
“A couple of them. You know Olivia, Amanda, Amy, Axel, and a few others.”
“Katherine?”
I spilled my milkshake on me accidentally and began wiping it with tissues. I envy Katherine. She’s a bad omen in my life and is a bad influence on me. I controlled my anger as hard as I can and replied,
“I don’t wanna meet her. We had a row with each other in 10th grade.”
I lied so easily, but it wasn’t convincing. Eric raised his brow and asked,
“Really? You are not meeting her because you guys fight?”
“Long story Eric, maybe next time?”
He smiled and then continued,
“So you’re meeting Alex Parker too?”
I blushed a little and said,
“Yeah, but I didn’t tell you his name at all. I told you about Axel Nelson.”
Alex Parker is my crush since my 7th grade. Axel Nelson is one of my best friends and is like my brother.
(Don’t confuse yourselves with Alex and Axel.)
Eric laughed and said,
“I guess Alex is still your crush. You’re still blushing on listening to his name.”
I blushed again and went voiceless. He laughed again while I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. The air hostess came again and asked us whether we wanted something else. When we shook our heads, she took the empty cups and went away.
We’re landing in a few minutes. Please buckle up your seats.
Eric and I buckled up as soon as we heard the announcement. Finally, back to Texas. I’m really excited now. I think I can’t wait one more minute.
“So how long are you staying and where?”
“Well, I’m staying in 7 gates for 10 days.”
“That’s great. Meet you soon.”
“Yeah, bye Eric.”
I took the cab and headed off to 7 gates, collected my keys, and went to my room. From tomorrow, my adventure begins. A whole new life begins for 10 days. These 10 days, I’ll be my old self again but with some changes. Because I’m not that same old girl now. Let’s see what’s in store for me. I fell on my bed and dozed off to sleep.
