Island X

"Oh Susie, be careful", my mum said, crying hysterically into my shoulder. God, I was only going away for a few weeks, it was just like visiting grandma… on an island.

I tried to pull away but she clung to me like a dress.

"Mum, they are expecting me there…today!" She gave me one last bone-crushing hug before letting me drift off in the throng of people boarding the plane. My step-brothers didn't even have the decency to look sad. Bored would have been a better word.

"APPARENTLY THE GREEN BUGS TASTE THE BEST!" Adam yelled at me from behind the red tape. Such an Adam thing to do. People turned to look at me and whisper, their eyebrows raised.

I was waving to my family and friends when a blonde girl with a pretty face pushed past me.

"Move Biatch, some people have a plane to catch", she shot me a disgusted look before stepping on to the airplane. What's her problem? Someone needs an attitude adjustment and being the sensitive soul that I am I showed her my middle finger.

"Welcome aboard, I hope you enjoy your flight", an over-cheerful air hostess greeted me.

12B..14B. I checked the numbers above the seats. 16B, Yes, window!

I sat down and put my cabin bag underneath my seat.

"Wanna Swap?"

A handsome guy around my age, six feet tall with brown curly hair sat beside me, gesturing to my seat.

"It's vital for my health that I sit next to a window". Was this guy for real?? Points for being hot though.

I raised an eyebrow in disbelief.

"You seriously expect me to believe that?"

"Well it was worth a try". He winked. "My names Paul", he extended a tanned hand towards my own.

"Suze" I grinned, shaking it.

"Short for Susannah?" he asked, his mahogany eyes glinted.

"Um…Yes actually". I was genuinely surprised. Most people thought it was short for Susan.

"So Suze, why are you flying?"

I couldn't tell him about Island X for two reasons; firstly, it was sort of like bragging, not everyone got to be on television. Secondly, I didn't want anyone to watch me, especially hot guys like Paul. Who knew what I'd look like after sleeping on sand for weeks?!

"Um…Vacation". I ended up saying. So I was lying… I'd done worse, it wasn't a big deal. After all Father Dominic told us that God forgives everyone… Ahem. Cough, cough.

"What could I get you this morning?" A red-haired hostess nodded a head in my direction. Her over-bright smile looked to be permanently stuck on her face. She had a badge on her tacky, blue uniform that read Hannah. Haha, Hannah the hostess. Unfortunate.

"Just water please". I answered, but she wasn't looking at me anymore, instead she was openly flirting with Paul who wasn't exactly shying away.

"I'm so thirsty". I placed a hand on my throat. "If only there was someone who could get me a drink…"

Queue dramatic sigh. "Oh wait… you can!" I gave my most innocent smile while Hannah glared at me.

"Buh-Bye" I waggled my fingers at the hostess who looked as if she was ready to blow.

"Wow", Paul laughed. "What happened to sweet innocent Suze?"

"She can kiss my ass", I replied before looking out the window. Paul was still laughing when the intercom clicked on.

"Please remain in your seats until we have reached maximum height and velocity. The hostesses will instruct you on proper aircraft safety and regulations. The temperature is currently 25° and we will arrive at our destination in approximately four hours. The time is 8:00am. Enjoy your flight."

The airport fell behind us as we ascended into the air. I knew CeeCee would give anything to be in my place. Rumour had it that a certain Pop Sensation, Jesse De Silva, would be one of the five celebrities on Island X. I don't even get what she sees in him. He's just another cocky, stuck-up celeb.

The funny thing was, I did it as a joke. I honestly believed I wouldn't get on to Island X, I guess there is a first for everything.

If I wasn't on the show I probably wouldn't even watch it. I wasn't really into reality t.v, especially ones featured on an island in the middle of nowhere, where you have to 'survive' in the 'desert' for a couple of weeks. Can you say bull?

I think I fell asleep for the rest of the journey. Man Hannah must have been pissed to return with my water, only to find I had fallen asleep- on Paul as I found out later.

"Suze, it's time to get off the plane, wake up!"

Shit. Everyone had left and Hannah was laughing, quite evilly I might add, at me. On my way out of the plane, I made sure that my foot landed on her perfectly pedicured one, hard. As a result, she said some very bad words that I'm sure would have got her fired. I could complain. The good-hearted me, instead of filing a report, curtsied and slipped off the plane before I got the other end of her throbbing foot.

I don't know what I was expecting when I walked into New York. Maybe a change in temperature or different vegetation but this airport looked almost identical to the one we had just flown from, I was quite disappointed. Paul asked me for my phone number and we said our good-byes. I was going to miss him, well… ok mostly his face but he was pretty funny too.

I made my way to the cafeteria because I was quite hungry and I had to wait an hour for the jet plane- yes, you heard me correctly jet plane.

I know… same country, different state but I was still gutted that the café didn't sell anything but sandwiches. What's that saying to tourists? We are boring, have a ham and cheese? I tried not to dwell on the fact that America's airports were slightly deficient in the food department and instead looked at the planes landing and taking off on the runway. Tourists pushed each other out of the plane, their cameras strung around their necks and snapping eagerly away at the grey airport. Wouldn't you save your film for other things? Like… oh I don't know… historical landmarks or the beach? It was pretty comical, I had to admit, all these tourists in Hawaiian shirts, this was America after all, not the islands and if they were here for the food they should just turn around and head home.

"All boarding Jet Air, please make your way to tunnel D"

I breathed a sigh of relief, just in time, I probably looked like a sad loser staring at everyone. I quickly went to the bathroom and tried to revive my sorry excuse for hair which hung in limp waves down my shoulders. Mum said I didn't give myself enough credit and that I was pretty, but isn't that what mums are supposed to say? I applied more mascara to long eyelashes that framed my hazel eyes and ran out the door. It would be just my luck if I missed the plane.

You could imagine my surprise when I got to tunnel D and saw two familiar faces…