"Here's your seat Miss Gaffney I hope you have a pleasant flight" the middle aged flight attendant with the overly made up face had a fake smile plastered on as she showed me to my seat.
"Thank you" I replied with a fake smile of my own as I sat down and organised my stuff on my lap. Hopefully I wouldn't have anyone sitting next to me and I could enjoy, well as much as one can enjoy a long flight, the flight in peace.
I can't help but stare at the purple gift box on my lap. Fulton said I could open it when I got of the plane but I'd just regained control over my crying and I didn't want to start again, what if I couldn't stop?
Curiosity won out in the end and I carefully removed the lid to the box.
Inside I found a black folder which upon further inspection was a photo album.
The first page contained a photo of myself and Fulton sitting by the campfire looking extremely happy sitting next to each other. I recognised it as the first night where Connie & Guys PDA's caused me to sit in between the Bash Brothers.
I flipped the pages to find all of the photos that I had taken before, during and after the goodwill games including some photos of the games that we'd gotten from our sponsors.
I got the very end to find two photos I hadn't seen before, one photo made me laugh and one photo almost made me cry.
The first was of Fulton and Portman in the airport pulling stupid faces. I couldn't help but laugh at the lengths the Bash Brothers would go to give me something this sentimental.
The last photo was of Fulton on his own flashing the shy smile that I found so adorable on him.
I found myself gently touching the photo, tracing his face with my finger as a fresh batch of tears stung my eyes.
"Are you alright Miss?" a flight attendant had appeared to my side.
"Yeah I'm fine" I replied truthfully. I really was fine it was just touching at how much Fulton and Portman really cared.
"Okay you let me know if you need anything though" the flight attendant smiled at me before she moved on.
I took one last look at the photo before putting the album away for a while.
I noticed the headset resting on the side of my armrest. I put them on and was surprised to find that the inflight movie was actually Passenger 57.
The irony struck me. They'd actually show a movie featuring a plane very much like the one I was on right now being hijacked by a notorious criminal and a young Liz Hurley as the bitchy flight attendant.
I found myself looking around at the rest of the passengers ensuring that none of them were about to hijack the plane.
Can you say paranoia?
Deciding to just go along with it, I watched the rest of the movie increasingly growing bored of watching Wesley Snipes run around a plane kung-fuing and shooting the bad guys.
It would have been just before the end when I fell asleep waking up when the flight attendant kindly informed me we were in Cincinnati and we had half an hour before we were to board again for the flight to Boston.
Damn, couldn't I just sleep for the half an hour?
"Its company policy, security. No one stays on the plane save the security guards and the pilots, even I have to get off" the flight attendant explained.
Geez was she a mind reader as well?
"Okay" I replied dragging my weary butt off the plane and clutching my carry on and Fulton's photo album along as I followed the other passengers into the airport lounge.
Damn this looks just like the one in Minnesota where I'd just said goodbye to all of my friends.
I open my purse checking how much money I have left. I was surprised to find there was still a fair bit.
I headed over to the 24 hour 'convenience' store and scoured the shelves looking for a book to read. If the first movie was anything to go by then I'd be better off reading something halfway decent. That and if I didn't read it on the plane then I could read it in the garden at home.
I passed rows of glossy magazines telling the world about the latest escapades of the latest big celebrities. I pause briefly wondering whether I should act like a typical teenage girl and buy Teen Vogue or something like that. I decided against it when I saw the bylines of "How to lose 10ibs in a week" and "How to get your crush".
Pft, I could tell you how to lose 20Ibs in a week – daily practices with Captain Blood.
And I also have my crush so screw you Teen Vogue.
I continued walking and was glad to find a row of paperbacks.
There were the typical Mills & Boon Romance novels which I took a pass on. That crap doesn't really interest me. I came across the James Patterson section. His books had names like the nursery rhymes, there were Cat & Mouse, Cradle & All, Along Came a Spider (which by the way has absolutely nothing to do with Miss Muffet or her tuffet).
I picked up a book titled "When the Wind Blows" and decided that this was the book I was going to buy. It was about a group of kids who had been genetically altered as birds, complete with wings and the ability to fly.
Wait, I'd better not show this to Charlie otherwise he'd insist we all be mutated into Ducks.
I'd just finished paying for the book and a coke (because seriously whatever they were calling Coke on the plane tasted more like dirty dishwater than coke) when the flight to Boston was being called for boarding.
I took my seat once again and placed my belongings on the seat next to me. There were even fewer people on this flight.
It took roughly ten minutes for my eyes to start drooping again and before I knew it I was fast asleep.
I was being shaken awake again "I'm sorry Miss Gaffney but we've arrived in Boston" the same flight attendant was starting to look tired as well.
Once again I picked up my belongings and exited the plane.
This time I was starving so I opted for an apple and cinnamon muffin.
"Would you like a coffee with that?" the middle aged woman asked in a tone that made her sound like she was on auto-pilot.
"No thanks" I replied as politely as I could.
Do I honestly look like I'm really old enough to drink coffee? Plus staying awake was the last thing I needed to do on the last stretch of the flight to Bangor.
For the third time that night, well really it was morning now and Fulton would be fast asleep all tucked up in his bed by now. Oh what I wouldn't give to be in his bed sleeping next to him. okay I'm getting off subject here.
So for the third time that night I boarded the plane. There were only three other people on this flight. Boston must be popular at this time of night.
I had no trouble falling asleep this time.
When I woke up, on my own this time I might add, the plane was getting close to landing at Bangor Airport.
Finally I was home.
I was the first one off the plane this time as I carried my belongings to the baggage pick up watching the conveyor belt whiz around and around until it finally spat out some luggage.
I immediately found my purple suitcase and my blue, red and white Team USA hockey bag and snatched them up.
Using a discarded luggage trolley I placed my stuff on it and proceeded to the exit.
Crap! My parents aren't here to pick me up. God damn it, I was gonna have to call a cab.
I looked over at the row of phones, the only one working was occupied.
DAMN IT! I cursed internally as I sat down and tried to wait as patiently as I could for the phone to become free.
The entire time I was staring at the sign above the exit doors.
Welcome to Bangor, Maine!
