Title: In the World of Maggie Stone—chapter 3
Author: Tracy Winston
Summary: What's going on back in Pine Valley in the world of Maggie?
Disclaimer: still don't own em
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Chapter 3
Weaving my way through the insane crowds of people at Pine Valley International Airport, I paused upon seeing a familiar face. I never thought I'd be as happy to see Ethan Ramsey as much as I am right now. Though, at first I was a bit worried; isn't part of his bail agreement that he can't leave Pine Valley? Then what is he doing at the airport? Before I can even open my mouth to say anything to Ethan he's standing right in front of me.
"Maggie! You… did you hear about Bianca?"
The image of Bianca laying in a coma hundreds of miles away from me flashes across my mind again, and I can't form words to respond. Instead, I just nod and then gulp down the sudden lump in my throat. "Yeah, I, uh, heard it on the news." Very good, Mary Margaret, that was almost a complete sentence. Let's try again. "What are you doing here?" Great, now he probably thinks I'm turning into Jonathan, getting on his case about every little thing.
"I got a phone call from Kendall about Bianca, and I rushed over here to get on a plane." He looks behind him, I guess trying to find someone, but I can't pick out anyone I recognize. "But I was brought to my senses. I can't leave Pine Valley."
Again with the nodding. 'Words, Maggie, use them!' "It would probably be better if you didn't skip town, no matter how good your reasons may be."
This defeated look comes across his face, like he's heard this a dozen times already and still won't accept it. Looking around the airport and all the people running around, he sighs and rubs his temple. "I'm so worried about Bianca, and Kendall, she tried to sound so tough on the phone, but I know she's probably about to fall apart." His hand trails down and rubs the bridge of his nose. Wow, Ethan's really worried about someone other than himself; he seems to truly care for Kendall and Bianca. Jonathan really was wrong about him—another thing I questioned Bianca about.
Before I can punish myself any more over how I've treated Bianca, Ethan drops his hand from his face and grabs me lightly by the shoulder. "But you! You're Bianca's best friend, you could go down there!" My mouth opens, surprised at this drastic change in Ethan's tone, which is now laced with not just concern but desperation. "Please, Maggie, I can't leave the horrid confines of Pine Valley to help Kendall and make sure that Bianca's alright, but you can. From the looks of it, you were planning on a trip, anyway." I look down at the strap of my backpack on my right shoulder—the shoulder unoccupied by Ethan's hand—and shift its weight around a bit. My sight is redirected to Ethan and a small envelope-shaped grouping of papers he's holding out to me. "Here, it's the ticket I bought for myself. I can't use it; please, get on that flight, Maggie. Go!" He reaches into his suit jacket and retrieves a pen, then flips over the ticket pouch. "This is my cell phone number, please let me know when you get down to the hospital. The flight is non-stop, so you should be there in three hours, four tops."
It takes a second for me to realize that Ethan had finished talking and for my brain to go back over what was just said. He has a ticket to Florida, he can't take it, but I can take it and go be with Bianca. Before I allow my brain to start to put logic into it, to try to make up a reason for me not to go, I look up at Ethan and nod. "Okay."
"I understand that we haven't exactly gotten off on the right foot, but if you—wait, you'll go?" I can see what Kendall sees in him; Ethan's a charming guy, especially with that confused look on his face. I'm glad he and Kendall met; they seem like a good match.
Realizing that he's looking for an answer I smile, and with a little bit of a laugh I say, "Yes, I'll go to Florida. But don't think you're getting off that easy on buying the ticket; I'll pay you back somehow."
The words barely out of my mouth, I find myself engulfed in a hug in the middle of Pine Valley International Airport. "Thank you, Maggie. You have no idea what this means to me." He gives me a charming smile—so that's the smile Jonathan's been trying to do! Oh man, he's so far off… maybe Ethan will show him one day how to do it right. Not that it'll matter to me by then… 'Okay, pull your mind away from those fantasies of a possible future with Bianca, and focus on Ethan'
Even though my mind is still lingering on Bianca, I remember to reply this time. "Oh, I think I have some idea." Still smiling, I pull back and re-adjust my bag. "Thank you so much for the ticket. I ran out of my apartment so fast after hearing the news report that I didn't even think about how I was going to pay for the ticket, or if I even had enough money on me."
Ah, he's regaining that English charm, stuffing his hands into his pockets, head tilted slightly and a smile across his features. "Not a problem, I'm glad I was here to help. Just promise you'll call when you get there. And if you can, tell Ke-"
"I'll make sure Kendall knows you sent me, and that you wish you could have come down yourself."
How appropriate; with all that just getting settled, one of the airport attendants comes on the speaker system, announcing the final boarding call for my flight. "That's me. I'll keep you updated, promise."
Obviously trying not to lose his quickly-returning cool, Ethan gives me a nod. "Bon voyage, Miss Stone."
Getting my ticket ready to hand to the clerk, I smile back at him. "See you later, Mr. Ramsey."
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Okay, I can't help it if I like Ethan. He's English and charming and just a great character. And Tuesday's episode just worked perfectly for setting up a flight for Maggie to Florida. Speaking of which, I actually went on to and figured out that a flight from Pittsburg from Orlando could run anywhere from a three to five hour flight, so I stuck on the side of soap opera convenience and said three to four. If I'm wrong, well, you'll just deal with it cause I'm the writer :) Hope this chapter was to your liking. Let me know what you think!
Steph, aka Tracy Winston