Chapter 23: Field Trip!
The class couldn't stop fidgeting. All of us were so excited; we could barely keep ourselves silent. The deputy headmistress had been trying for at least five minutes to calm us all down, but to no avail. But, obviously, everyone would listen to the headmaster. Especially one who used to be the most well-liked professor in the entire school. And he's a pretty good whistler, too. He stuck two fingers between his lips and whistled so loud even the kids in the back of the auditorium got their eardrums blasted. "Thank you." Layton said, walking back and forth on the small stage-like floor in the front of the room. "Now, I know it's very early for most of you, but I need you all to calm down for a while, alright? Good." He looked around the room. I checked my watch, which said 2:30 AM. Most of us were in pajamas; I wore a pair of Kat's shorts - they actually fit me pretty well - and a grey v-neck shirt. Even Hershel wasn't wearing what he normally would; he had on a white, button-down shirt, and a pair of jeans. And sneakers. He wasn't even wearing his hat! As if on cue, he mentioned his hat to us all. "I realize I'm not wearing the hat, alright? Shut it." He joked, and most of us laughed; those who didn't were probably too tired. "I will be going on as many roller coasters as I can. They're going to make me remove it anyway, so what's the use in bringing it?" He shrugged. "Anyway. To the parents who decided to come, we're most grateful for it. The hotel we will be staying at for tonight can only take six people per room, and the four professors - along with myself - can't take that many kids on our own." He pulled out a sheet of paper from the suitcase he had. Then he started saying a chaperone's name, along with the five students that would be accompanying him. Hershel himself was a chaperone, too, and I got into his group. I'm sure he had arranged that, but whatever.
"Now, to recap what we'll all be doing..." He looked around, a smile forming on his lips. "We're going to get on a plane, fly to America..." He looked at me and smirked. "...Florida, specifically..." I beamed at him. He continued. "... And we will be going to a theme park - well, two, actually - known as Universal Studios, and Islands of Adventure." Everyone looked around, giddy with excitement, but no one dared to speak. No one wanted to miss the plane. "Now, we will need to go on separate planes. There are four planes that leave for our destination at the same time, and they're all reserved for us." He looked around, continuing to walk around as he spoke. "The planes leave at 4:00, and not a moment later. There are six buses outside waiting to be boarded, and they will be taking us to the airport. I've already announced who will be going with whom, so I suppose all we have left to do is get on the buses." He put the paper away and picked up his suitcase. "Well, what are we waiting for? Come on, then!"
When we got there, it went much more smoothly than I thought it would. It went very quickly; the plane's even left early because we had spare time - a whole half an hour early.
And Hershel obviously insisted I sit next to him. I grabbed the armrest between the two of us - I was sitting next to the window - and pulled it up, wedging it between the two seats. I leaned on his arm, and he shrugged me off, putting it around my shoulders. He let go a second later. "Hang on." He stood up - by that time, the captain had signaled it was OK - and pulled his black jacket out of his suitcase. He put it around my shoulders, and I didn't bother to put my arms through the sleeves, I just let him pull me back in, put his finger gently under my chin, and give me a soft peck on the lips. I smiled up at him. "Are you excited?" He asked. I nodded. "It's only been a few months, but the name 'America' already feels foreign to me." I thought for a moment. "Like the fact that my house feels like a stranger because I practically live with you." I smirked. He chuckled. "I know. You even have a few drawers of your things at my house." He chuckled, leaning his head back. "Gosh, I'm exhausted." I looked around. I was pretty sure that what I was about to say would make him laugh; I didn't really feel like awkwardly breaking the silence. Thankfully, there was no silence to break; the plane was actually very loud with chattering, talking, laughter; the works. "I'm sure you are; even Mister Two-A-M isn't used to waking up this early." He cackled, just like I thought he would. "That is true, isn't it?" I laughed. "Yup." He smiled. Just then, a flight attendant came up to us. She looked at Hershel as if to say, "You look like an educated man..." Just then, she babbled, "Parlez-vous français?" I blinked. "Huh?" I looked at Hershel, who instantly replied, "Oui." I blinked even harder. Since when does he know French? I wondered. Her eyes lit up. She spoke again, "Je n'ai pastravailléici depuis longtemps." I decided to put my head back, close my eyes, and let him deal with this; he knows what he's doing. They didn't talk very long, though. I asked him when she walked away what she sad said. He told me she had simply asked him how to properly ask passengers how she could assist them, because she had just moved to America. "She caught on very quickly, as well." He said. He put his arm back around me and leaned his head so his lips were at my ear. "She also asked if you were..." He stopped, thinking. "What? What did she ask?" Hershel smiled. "I'm sure you'll flip when I say this, but..." He leaned in again. "She asked if you were my wife." I jumped. "What?" He laughed, pushing my head gently back onto his shoulder. "Relax. I clarified the situation. No harm done." I sighed wearily, looking at my watch. "Oh, shoot, I seem to have left mine up there..." He glanced upward, toward his suitcase. "I'm very comfortable, so I really don't want to have to stand up just to fetch my watch..." He laughed. "Pardon my laziness, even I'm not used to waking up at... What time is it?" I giggled, checking the time. "Three forty-two." He groaned. "You don't mind if I fall asleep, do you?" I chuckled, shaking my head. "Can I keep your jacket until the plane lands?" He laughed. "Yes." I smiled. "Then, no. I don't mind. Honestly, I'm about to knock out, too."
He never did end up falling asleep. I, however, knocked out instantly.
I know I haven't been on in a while; I just came back from a school trip to Universal/IoA. But I actually live in Florida, so xD. I got home last night around 10:45, so X_X Yeah. But I'm back! Let me know what you think!