Disclaimer: See Prologue.
Chapter 26: Airport Confessions
Andrea was sitting in her car on the freeway, feeling like punching the steering wheel.
First, she had gotten lost looking for the airport. She'd followed the signs but had ended up going over a bridge and off the freeway to somewhere that definitely was not the airport. She'd sighed in frustration as she looked for a place to turn around so she could get back onto the freeway.
Finally, she managed it and followed more signs to the airport. Then, disaster struck. Apparently, there had been an accident a few minutes ago and traffic was now crawling while the emergency services were dealing with it. She felt like screaming.
It didn't look too like anyone had been injured badly, but it was just her luck that she'd get stuck when she needed to get to the airport as soon as possible. If things didn't move along soon she'd be too late.
Finally, a few minutes later things started moving. She looked at her watch. Brandon and his parents probably got to the airport a while ago, but he would have to check in for his flight first. Hopefully that would buy her sometime.
A few minutes later, she was pulling in to LAX and driving towards the terminal that Brandon's flight was leaving from. She found parking in the parking structure quickly, hopped out of her car, and raced across the road to the terminal.
When she got in, she scanned the monitors to see where Brandon's airline had their check-in desks. She couldn't see it, but then out of the corner of her eye she spotted Brandon himself in the distance. He was standing at the security barrier, hugging his parent's goodbye. She got there just in time!
She ran towards them. She was halfway there when she collided with an older couple and their luggage. The couple were fine but their suitcases were knocked all over the floor.
"Sorry, sorry, sorry!" she cried and was about to help them retrieve their luggage when she saw Brandon about to pass through security.
"Brandon!" she shouted, racing towards him. The couple looked after her, the man muttering under his breath about the rudeness of youth nowadays.
Several heads turned at her shouting, including Jim's, Cindy's and, thankfully, Brandon's.
He saw Andrea running in his direction, got out of line quickly, and walked towards her.
"Andrea?" he said confused.
She panted, out of breath.
"Is something wrong with Hannah?" he asked, an awful thought striking him.
"No," she panted, struggling to regain control of her breathing so she could speak properly.
"I have to tell you something," she gasped out.
Brandon waited for her to compose herself, curious.
Andrea got her breathing under control and looked up at Brandon. Suddenly she felt the urge to turn around and run right back out of the airport. But no, she was here now and she was determined to tell him.
"Okay," she began. "Okay, here's how it is. Over the last couple of days I've been having these feelings and after what happened at the beach I think maybe you're having them too, and I know you live in D.C. and I live in New York and I know Hannah complicates things but the thing is I really care about you and I think we might have something here…"
Brandon couldn't believe what he was hearing. It was too good to be true! Andrea felt the same way about him, and she'd come here to tell him! He noticed she had been speaking very quickly for a long time. He laughed to himself. Andrea always ended up making these long speeches when she was nervous.
"Andrea," he interrupted her gently. She didn't seem to hear him, and kept on speaking.
"… And if you left now before I told you then maybe we wouldn't have a chance…"
"Andrea!" he tried again, more forcefully.
"… And even though it's scary I think sometimes you just have to take a chance…"
Brandon knew she wasn't listening to him. There was only one thing he could think of that would get his message through.
He kissed her suddenly. Andrea was shocked, as were Jim and Cindy who had been watching their exchange in amazement.
When Brandon pulled back from Andrea and looked down at her, she wore a confused expression.
"Okay, I wasn't expecting that," she said.
Brandon smiled at her, and her expression changed. Her eyes shined and she broke out into a big grin.
"I love you," he said softly.
Again, Andrea was shocked.
"Okay, I definitely wasn't expecting that," she said.
Brandon laughed. Well, even though it's scary, sometimes you just have to take a chance," he said, grinning. She grinned back.
"I love you too," she told him. He looked into her eyes for a moment, and pulled her into a kiss. When they finally broke apart, they stood looking at each other.
"So…" Brandon began.
"So…" Andrea repeated.
"Where do were go from here?" Brandon asked.
"Well, it looks like you're going to D.C. and in a few days Hannah and I are going to New York," Andrea joked.
"Andrea," Brandon muttered and laughed.
"Look," Andrea said seriously," I know you have to have to go back. I'm not trying to stop you. That's not why I came here today. I think we'll be able to work something out," she told him.
"I'll call you when I get there," he told her, and she nodded.
He kissed her softly, and then they said goodbye.
Andrea watched him go through security until she couldn't see him anymore. She felt like her heart was going to burst she was so happy. He loved her! Could life get any better than this?
She then turned around, and the first thing she saw was Brandon's parents staring at her.
"Oh!" she said surprised, and jumped. She had forgotten they were there. Suddenly she felt embarrassed. They saw (and heard!) the whole thing.
Andrea tried to think of something to say to the still silent Jim and Cindy.
"Uh… don't you just love airports? They're so…" she paused, thinking of an appropriate way to finish the sentence.
"Full of surprises?" Jim offered, a twinkle in his eye.
Andrea grinned.
"Absolutely," she replied.
Jim shook his head and walked out of the terminal with Cindy, a deliriously happy Andrea walking behind.
Author's Notes: I was in LA a while ago staying with various friends and I was in and of the airport with some of them, picking people up and of course dropping me off when it was time for me to go home. I can't remember with whom it was (so I'm not pointing fingers at anyone if any of them happen to read this someday) but one time we got lost going to the airport even though we followed all the signs. I remember being sent over a bridge and off the freeway. It was really annoying!
Anyway, I figured with Andrea probably not being too used to LA roads since she's been away for the last ten years that she might fall into the same trap that I did. I couldn't let her get to the airport without racking up the tension a bit. ;-)
