Chapter Text
Someone shook my shoulder and I quickly woke up, looking at the person shaking me. At first it scared me but I saw who it was.
“Sorry Miss but we are about to arrive to our destination. I need you to put you table up” The flight attendant told me
“Oh okay. Thank you” I said while getting my book and laptop and putting up the table.
She smiled and walked up the aisle to let others on the plane know. I put my laptop and book away in my bag then placing it on my lap. I totally forgot what I was doing before I fell asleep. I looked out the window to see the buildings getting bigger as we got closer. I sighed and looked down at my lap and pulled some of hair behind my ear. I got my headphones out and put them on while plugging it into my phone then letting the voice of Chris Martin run through my ears.
“Ladies and Gentlemen we are now about to land please have your seat belts on and Welcome to Chicago.” The flight attendant said in the intercom
It had already gotten more cloudy when looking out the window again. Once we landed perfectly safe people started getting up to get their carry ons and heading out the plane. I took off my seat belt and when standing up I bumped my head on top of the carry on compartment.
“Woah. You okay there?” Someone said next to me and putting their hand on my arm.
I placed my hand on my head hoping it would somewhat ease the pain. I lost my balance while trying to get into the aisle but was caught by the same person. When I finally stood up right I looked up to see I was face to face with a person who turned out to be a guy.
“uhh y-yeah I’m okay.” I said. He looked at me and smiled but then notice he was still holding on to me and quickly let go.
“Um thank you for helping me.” I said while looking around me.
“No problem” He said
I noticed that everyone was still waiting for others in front of us to get out the plane. I grabbed my bag and jacket in one hand then tried to reach up to get my carry on but was having trouble with it.
“Here let me get that” He said and reached up in the compartment.
“It’s the Shiny black one with the sticker on it.” I said while putting on my bag. He grabbed it and placed it down and raised up the handle for me.
“Thank you so much.” I said
“ You’re welcome” He said while looking at me.
When I got a hold of the handle I accidentally touched his hand. He noticed and moved his hand away. I adjusted my bag on my shoulder while putting my phone in my pocket. I held onto my jacket with my arm and started heading out the plane with my suitcase in hand. When I got out the gate I started heading towards baggage claim. I noticed that the guy from the plane was following along with me. I guess he came alone on this flight as well.
I really love walking round airports. It’s just seem so comfortable to see some many people with different stories of how they ended up here. I also enjoy looking at all the different art in the airport and the structure of the airport inside was even better. Found hit funny how no one ever notices the little things in the airports, everyone just seems to always be in hurry or just focus one thing that they are looking for or if something is just really eye catching. I notice that the clouds got darker outside. I turned away from the wind and looked at the window across from me and smiled. I saw a two kids looking out at the snow falling. I opened my bag and grabbed my camera out then looked to see if the kids were still in the same position and they were. I saw what seem to be their parents off to the side. I walk up to who seemed to be the mother and waved at her to get her attention. she smiled at me and walked over to me.
“Hi, sorry to bother you but I just wanted to ask if it would be okay to take a photo of your kids. I’m a photographer and just the position they are in makes me want to capture it. would it be okay to?” I asked while holding up my camera.
“Yes, it’s fine. Thank you for asking.” She said and smiled. I nodded then put my bag down and left my suitcase next to it.
I walked over two where i was standing at before and started taking the pictures. Luckily they had stayed in the position with only little movement. I took them in different angles and I when I got done I went back over to the mom.
“Can I get one of all of you? just looking to the window?” I asked. She nodded and told what seemed to be the dad and they walked over to there kids.
They moved around a bit till they stayed still in a good position. I went back to where i stood before and started to take the pictures. Once I got done I asked the woman if she wanted the photos, she agreed to wanting them and we traded information. Once I said my goodbyes, I made my way to get something to drink at Starbucks before going to baggage claim. The line was pretty long but I was perfectly fine with it since the baggage claim was just a few feet away and my car wasn’t here yet. When I was a few people away from the front I started to put my camera back in my bag and got my wallet out. When I looked up to move up I saw the same guy from the plane just getting done ordering. Huh. small world.
I took out my phone to see if I got any messages yet, the answer to that was nothing. It kinda annoyed me to know that I haven’t heard from anyone yet. When I put my phone back in my pocket the person in front of me just got done ordering. I smiled at the barista.
“Can I get a Grande White Chocolate Mocha with an extra shot of espresso” I said while pulling my card out of my wallet.
“Okay, anything else?” She asked. I looked in the display window to see if i wanted anything else while I wait.
“Um and a oatmeal cookie.” I said
“ Okay that will be 6.95” She said while I handed her my card.
“Thank you.” I said while getting back my card and walking over to the tables to wait for my order
I put my card back in my wallet and got my phone out of my pocket to see if I got any messages yet. I turned on my phone to see a text from someone, I unlocked my phone to look at the message.
“I’m having a car pick you at the airport and take you to the hotel. See you later tonight” -Mom
“Of course “ I sighed and closed my Phone
“Oatmeal cookie for Lynn” A barista called out. I walked to the counter and got the bag from him
“Thank you” I said and smiled. He smiled back and nodded then went back to get more orders.
I waited for a few more minutes and looked around the small Starbucks cafe. The line was still getting long but they were getting the orders done fast. I saw the same guy from the plane waiting too.
“Grande White Chocolate Mocha with 2 shots” The barista called out. I walked back to the counter to get it but another hand tried getting it as well.
“Oh. I’m sorry. Go ahead.” I said and gestured the person to get it.
“No it’s fine. You take it” A male voice said. I looked up and see it was the guy from the plane.
“Oh no, you ordered before me.” I said.
“It’s fine really. Go ahead and take it, waiting a little longer can’t hurt.” He said and smiled.
“Are you sure?” I asked.
“Of course.” He said.
“Here’s the other Grande White Chocolate Mocha with 2 shots.” The barista said while placing another cup down.
“Thank you” The guy said and looked back at me smiling
“See. Wasn’t that long.” He said while getting both cups and handing one to me.
“Thank you” I said and smiled. He nodded and turned around back to get his suitcase then walked out. I walked back to the table I was at and put my bag on my shoulder while grabbing my suitcase and headed to the baggage claim.
When I got to the baggage claim people were already waiting for the machine to start sending out bags. I placed my stuff by some chairs and waited. I took a sip of my drink and looked around hoping to see the guy from the plane again but I couldn’t see him. After awhile the buzzer went off notifying us that the bags will be coming out. I placed my cup down by my bag and walked over to where everyone was. When the bags started coming out I looked around to see if I can find the guy but still didn’t see him. 5 minutes into the bags coming out I finally see my suitcase coming out. When my suitcase got close I grabbed the handle but had a hard time pulling it off. Why do I always pack so much. I was struggling to get my suitcase until someone came up beside me.
“Here, let me get that.” They said. They placed their hand on my mine and helped me pull it off.
“Oh my god thank you so much” I said while sitting my suitcase up and pulling up the handle.
“No problem really. I saw how much you were struggling and figured you needed some help.” The person said.
“Well that’s a bit embarrassing” I said and looked to see it was defiantly that guy again. He just smiled at me while holding onto his suitcase handle.
“Is it weird that we keep running into each other with you having to help me?” I asked him
“Kinda but I really don’t mind. Plus the second time was because we ordered the same drink.” He said still smiling at me. I never really realized how tall he was until now. He must be like 6ft.
“Well It was nice running into you…” I said trying to hint that I don’t know his name
“Harry” He said while holding his hand out.
“Lynn” I said while shaking his hand.
“Nice to meet you Lynn.” He said smiling.
“You as well.” I said and smiled back while letting go of his hand.
“I should be going before the traffic get bad or something.” He said while grabbing his suitcase
“Yeah same. My car is probably here.” I said grabbing onto my suitcase handle.
He smiled and walked over to his other things while I went back to get my other suitcase and bag. I hooked on the smaller suitcase on top of the bigger one then put my jacket on and placed my bag on my shoulder. I grabbed my drink and walked over to the pickup/drop-off to find my car. I saw Harry walking a couple feet away from me heading to the same pickup/drop-off as well.
Once I got to the escalators that lead down to the exits I saw people with signs with names on it to show who they were waiting for. I saw the familiar driver holding the sign up with my last name and smiled. I looked back to see that he was a couple people away from me looking down at his phone. I got my phone out of my pocket to check the time and saw that it was already 5:30.
I reached the ground and put my phone back in my pocket while walking over to my driver. He held down the sign and took my suitcase and walked me out the doors to the car. Once the air hit me outside I crossed my arms around myself. I looked back to see if he was still there and he was. He was waving to a car that was coming up. I looked at him for awhile until my driver finished putting my suitcases in the trunk and opened the door for me.
“Thank you.” I said and took one last look toward him and he looked up from closing the trunk in my direction and smiled.
There were three cars in between us but we still manage to make eye contact. I smiled and then got inside with the door closing behind me. The driver got in and started heading out of the airport and into the city.
“Welcome back Miss.” My driver said
“Thank you Andrew. Good to be here again.” I said while placing my bag down on the seat beside me and putting my cup in the cup holder and looking out the window.
30 minute car ride into the Windy city of Chicago felt so welcoming. Coming back to this city always warmed my heart because it felt like a home away from home.