Disclaimer: I don't own Lizzie McGuire.
Chapter 13
I groaned as we hit another wave of bumper-to-bumper traffic. It was raining so hard it seemed as though bullets were ricocheting off the roof of the car.
"Oh, for pity's sake," I muttered. It was only a few more miles to the airport, but it seemed as if the traffic wouldn't let up. I checked my watch impatiently. Fifteen more minutes until Larry's plane left.
I banged my head against the window in frustration. This was all my fault. I was the one to break up. I was the one who took so long to realize where my true feelings were.
If you hadn't broken up with him, a little voice in my head taunted, and if you hadn't decided to get an abortion, you could have been married and had a child. In fact, you would probably be together now.
After what seemed like an eternity, signs directing to the airport appeared. The roads were still packed with cars. I checked my watch again. Seven minutes. It didn't seem like the line to get into the parking lot would move anytime soon.
"Um, sir, I think I'll just get off here," I said, checking the meter and pulling out the money.
"Are you sure? It's pouring out there," the cabbie pointed out. "I can drop you off right outside the door."
"Well, as you can see, it's not that big of a difference, and the plane is about to leave. I'm making a run for it."
"Good luck, ma'am," he said, taking my money and shaking his head at me like I was crazy. Well, maybe I was.
I opened the door and shrieked as the freezing rain pelted me. Slamming the door behind me, I darted towards the airport entrance. I was soaked within seconds.
When I reached the revolving doors, I felt as though I had just come in from a swim in the ocean. I shivered as I entered the fairly crowded airport. Many people had damp clothes and sodden luggage. But I seemed to be the only one drenched to the bone.
"Chicago, Chicago…" I murmured, brushing away the water dripping from my hair onto my face and skimming the monitor. "Flight 634, Gate 15. Five more minutes!"
I flew into the terminal, not stopping by the bathroom to dry out. There was no time!
"Last call for Flight 634," a voice over the intercom. I silently cursed myself for deciding to wear my heels. I finally slipped up to the woman at the counter.
"Flight 634," I gasped, clutching my side.
"Excuse me? I didn't catch that," the woman chirped, wearing her perpetually friendly smile.
"Did Flight 634 to Chicago leave yet?" I repeated, still trying to catch my breath.
"I believe, they have just finished boarding. They should be departing soon."
Before she was even done speaking, I had already rushed to the flight attendant that had been letting people on the airplane.
"Just in time! And wet too." he whistled. "They're just about ready to leave! Ticket, please."
"Uh, no, actually, I don't want to go to Chicago-"
"Oh, sorry, then this is the wrong-"
"No, I just need to talk to somebody who's on that plane," I said quickly.
"I'm sorry, we can't let you on the airplane," he replied.
"Ugh, you don't understand!" I cried impatiently. He shook his head. "Fine! Then can you at least call him out here so I can at least say goodbye or something?"
There was a 30 second pause as another attendant came out and whispered in his ear.
"My heart goes out to you, Miss," he said regretfully, "but the pilot says we're departing now, in order to maintain our schedule."
I stepped back helplessly, thinking desperately of something to do. In a trance, I sank down on a gray chair, not caring that my wet pants were getting water all over the plastic.
"Look, honey, Daddy's airplane is about to fly! He's flying off to Chicago!"
I turned to see a mother holding her young son. They were walking towards the big windows. I followed them. Through the rain, the big airplane slowly began to move. Gradually, it gained speed and sped down the runway. Then it was gone.
A tear leaked out of my eye and dripped down the side of my nose. He was gone. I closed my eyes and tried to swallow the lump forming in my throat.
Struggling not to cry among so many strangers, I slowly exited the airport. The storm had reduced to a mere drizzle. Seeing that I was already sopping wet, a little more rain wouldn't hurt me. And seeing my bad luck with taxis, I decided to simply walk to the subway station.
I dragged myself to the station slowly. There were less people walking today, and from the pedestrians that were there, all I could see of them was their colorful umbrella shielding their heads. I didn't mind. I wasn't particularly in the mood for social interaction.
I didn't lose it until I walked past a shopping mall blaring music outside.
I can be your hero baby
I can kiss away the pain
I will stand by you forever
You can take my breath away
Enrique Iglesia. The song. Our song.
So many memories came flooding back to me. When we first kissed. Our secret rendezvous. Our night together. A wave of emotions came over me and tears welled up inside my eyes. The floodgates opened and I burst out crying. At that moment I wanted nothing else but to be home, in bed, and huddled under my cover. Brushing away my tears, I began to walk hurriedly. Not watching where I was going, my heel slipped and I fell right down. If possible, I began to sob even harder.
"Miranda?" Somebody was calling me. Whoever it was, I didn't feel like dealing with them right now. "Miranda!"
I tried to get up, but I must have damaged my ankle somehow. I would have fallen again when I attempted to put my weight on it, but strong arms caught me.
"Miranda, are you alright?"
"La…Larry?" I said weakly, still clutching his arm. He looked pretty damp from the rain too.
"We should go sit down," he murmured, and helped me hobble to a nearby bench.
I was still speechless.
"Larry, you're…here," I stuttered.
"Yeah, my flight was delayed for a day. They had some problems with the computer system and overbooked, so I volunteered to stay back a day." He looked at me. "Why are you here? I thought you'd be celebrating you're engagement with Kevin." I heard a hint of coldness in his voice.
I looked back at him waveringly and shook my head. "No, it's off," I whispered, sniffling. I shivered.
"Are you cold?" Larry asked me, after a moment of silence. "We should get inside." It was still raining lightly. He scooted closer to me and rubbed the sides of my arms. I was so close to him. Quietly, I began to cry again. He noticed.
"Miranda, what's wrong?" Larry asked softly, tilting my head up gently to look at him.
"It's just that… I thought you left," I said in a quivering voice. He was still staring at me. "Larry, I'm so, so, sorry," I cried, burying my face in his jacket. He pulled me away so he could see me. He lightly brushed away a few stray tears.
"I'm the one who's sorry," he whispered. We were hardly an inch away from each other. God, he looks adorable with his hair all wet, I couldn't help thinking. I saw a raindrop land on his long eyelashes.
"Miranda," he said. I felt lost in his deep brown eyes. "I'll never leave you again." His lips moved closer and closer until they touched mine in one electrifying moment. In those few minutes, everything had changed around me. But they had changed in a good way.
"I love you, Larry," I said, smiling through the last of my tears.
"I love you too," he murmured. And we kissed again.
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A/N: Whew! It's done! The End! I may make an epilogue if you guys want me to- please tell me what you think. Otherwise… it's over! Thanks soooo very much to all of you who took the time to read my story! I love you guys so much! Please review this and read my new story that's up, called "Ocean Front," which I wrote with some help from my friend, Tormented Soul. Thanks again for reading my story!
*MissEmmy