Chapter 67
Sara opened the van door at the airport. Masses of photographers started swarming the luxury van. "When did we get this popular?" asked Tegan confused. "When our lives started sounding like a movie plot" said Sara and rolled her eyes. "More like a soap opera plot" laughed Tegan. "Let's go" she said and climbed out as soon as their bodyguards were at the van door. She smiled politely. "Tegan! Tegan! How are you doing? Are you healed up? Tegan! Look this way please! Tegan! Will you sing again?" photographers were shouting. Tegan casually ignored them and waited for her mom and Sara to get out of the van. Sonia didn't want the girls to accompany her to the airport, specifically for this reason but they both insisted. Erin, Alex and Kate said their goodbyes at the house. There was no way Emy and Lindsey were going to let the twins go alone, they got out on the other side of the van and some of the attention shifted. Emy walked around and looked over through the crowd searching for Sara and started making her way towards her. Sara wasn't as comfortable with the crowd as Tegan was and she put her hoody up and started walking towards the door looking down. She made sure she stuck to her bodyguard who had his hand on the small of her back. Sara started to feel more and more overwhelmed. She felt as if she was being smothered. She felt a hand grab hers and she jumped in fright "Sara... it's just me" said Emy. Sara looked embarrassed but grasped Emy's hand tightly and made her way forward. "Sara... are you and Emy back together?" Sara just kept walking without looking up. "Well d'uh" mumbled Emy. Emy looked at the paps as if she would rip them apart one by one if they dared try anything. The paps automatically parted a way for them to walk.
"Lindsey... are you pregnant?" Tegan heard a female photographer shout and her neck whipped around where she was still standing next to the car waiting for Sonia to get out. Lindsey was wearing a loose top and it wasn't really that obvious yet. Tegan was sure the pap was just making things up to get her attention. Then again, Lindsey is so tiny that the smallest amount of weight gain is noticeable, especially next to a scrawny looking Tegan. Lindsey's face did seem fuller and so did her belly, even under the loose shirt– trust the girl pap to pick it up. Tegan pushed her way to Lindsey and grabbed her hand and started walking. The paps were now all picking up on the pregnancy thing and went with it.
Tegan's chilled vibe changed and she looked uptight and walked quite fast towards the door fuelling the fire. Gone was her no care smile. She simply looked up and said "no comment" and pulled Lindsey along. She was winded by the time she reached the door and very thankful that there were now some cops keeping the photographers out of the main building. She stopped inside to catch her breath with her hands on her knees "Are you okay sweetie" said Lindsey concerned. "Yeah, I just need to catch my breath" said Tegan and stumbled backward as a wave of dizziness hit her when she straightened her upper body. "Whoa Tee" said Sara as Tegan staggered into her. "Just sit down for a sec" she said and guided Tegan to a chair. "I'm okay, just a bit overwhelmed" she said. "Tegan, Take a minute please" said Sonia looking concerned. "This is crazy! I've never seen the paps go crazy for you guys like this" said Lindsey. "Just looking for sensation" said Sara looking annoyed as she handed Tegan a bottle of water. Tegan took a swig of it and shook her head fast to get rid of the dizziness. A few minutes later Tegan was good to go again and the group was led into a private lounge by airline personnel. After an hour of talking and emotional goodbyes Sonia was taken by an airline representative to board. "She's getting a lot of VIP treatment today?" said Emy. "Alex has lots of clout in all kinds of places. That and we got her a first class ticket home... she doesn't know it though" said Sara waving at her mom. "She deserves it" smiled Tegan and waved. Sonia disappeared around the corner.
"Gosh I'm not looking to the trip back to the car" said Tegan. "We've requested some more guards and the transport police will be helping us this time. Just keep walking girls" said Jeff their new security manager. They stepped out of the private lounge and into the general airport area. "I need the toilet, I'll just be a minute" said Sara. The group stopped outside the toilet and waited. Everything seemed quiet with the paps forced outside. A group of teenage girls came walking past, obviously on a school trip of some sort. "Tegan! It's Tegan Quin" exclaimed one and ran towards Tegan. Tegan smiled even though she wasn't happy to be recognised today. "Tegan, are you okay? Tegan please can we get a photo with you? Tegan where's Sara" the girls sounded like a flock of birds all twittering away at the same time. The security guards came closer, ready to shoo them away. "It's okay guys" said Tegan softly. She smiled her soft smile and tried to answer some questions. It was noticeable that Tegan spoke softer and seemed quite delicate compared to the Tegan of a few months ago. She started posing for photos with the fans and handing out autographs.
Sara walked out of the toilet and looked distressed. "Tegan, Tee are you okay?" she said jogging towards her sister. Tegan smiled and continued to sign things "Yeah Sar, I'm fine" she said. "You guys want some photos with both of us?" said Tegan. "We're kind of in a hurry Tegan" lied Sara to get away from the fans. "Sar... just one or two photos..." said Tegan frowning, not understanding where Sara's comment came from. Sara reluctantly posed with Tegan and the fans but lost it when some of them started taking photos of Emy and Lindsey observing the spectacle from a distance. "No... guys... come on, that's off limits okay... delete it!" she said angrily. The teens stared at her, they almost looked scared to see that side of Sara. Tegan turned and whispered into Sara's ear "There's a million paparazzi pics of them out there now.." leave the kids. Sara nodded reluctantly and put her hand around Tegan's upper arm and started walking pulling Tegan along. "Thanks guys! We'll be back with a show soon" said Tegan over her shoulder. The girls were walking next to them and Tegan could sense Sara's anxiety. "What's up with you?" asked Tegan perplexed. "Nothing, let's just get out of here please" said Sara and started walking towards the door.
The speed at which Sara was dragging Tegan along left Tegan in need to catch her breath again before going outside. Sara walked outside on her own, desperate to get to the van. She was breathing fast and seemed to be panicking as she was greeted by flashing lights. The paps were kept a bit further away this time by a line of cops but they were still shouting comments and questions trying to get a reaction. Sara started jogging towards the car and got in. She leaned forward and put her face in her hands as she started to hyperventilate. Emy followed closely and put her hand on Sara's back when she got in. Sara wanted the doors to close – for the tinted windows to hide her, to protect her. She saw his face in all their faces and it scared her. She saw his face when she closed her eyes... These kinds of stressors conjured the image of her kidnapper and it freaked her out. She put her head in Emy's neck and tried to normalise her breathing. "It's okay Sara, I've got you, I've got you" said Emy over and over again. Tegan was obviously walking a lot slower than Sara, trying not to pass out in the process. She shuffled along to the van slowly, holding Lindsey's hand. She and Lindsey got in and the van door closed. Sara lifted her head as the noise dampened down. "Fuck... I'm going to have to learn to deal with this if I want a career going forward" she said. "And we're going to have to figure out how to break the news of the wedding and the pregnancy to the world" said Tegan looking serious. A second later she smiled her widest gummy smile and said "What a fucking awesome announcement we have to make". Lindsey grinned back as Tegan leaned over her and kissed her while buckling her seatbelt for her. "Buckle up now butter cup, precious cargo" she smiled and snuck in another quick kiss.