Chapter 16~ Of Claustrophobics and Flying
PREVIOUSLY, ON BECAUSE OF A FIGHT, BELIEVE IT OR NOT:
On the table laid a chess set with the pieces strategically placed on black and white squares. The chair's owner raised a calloused hand and moved a black knight two spaces horizontally and one space vertically.
Anyone else would have thought that playing chess with oneself was absolutely absurd. He, on the other hand, was one of the few that knew that some of the world's greatest generals used this method.
Soon enough, the white king was captured. The man chuckled in triumph. Works every time.
MAX POV
"This seat is so uncomfortable!" I moaned. "Why didn't Mom get us first class seats?"
On the right of me, Iggy glanced at me and retorted, "'Cuz she knew that if she did, the flight attendants would kick Max to the back cuz she'd probably ransack the entire dessert cart."
This earned him a slap on the back of the head. "Shut up, at least I'm the one least likely to set some old lady's skirt on fire mid-flight!"
Iggy turned red. "For the hundredth time, Max, it was an accident!"
To my left, Nudge lifted her sleeping mask and peered at us to raise a finger to her lips and hissed, "Shh, I'm trying to sleep!"
I apologized sheepishly and slumped to my seat, continuously shifting around. Nudge, Iggy, and I had been going on like this for the past hour. Currently, it was around one in the morning and all of us were as cranky and bored as hell. All the magazines were read, the good movies were watched, the food was eaten, and now there was nothing left for us to do but sleep, which is kinda hard if you're sitting on something that feel likes a rock.
I crossed my arms and huffed loudly. Stupid claustrophobia. Stupid cramped seat. Stupid Mom for getting us a flight in the middle of the night. Stupid third-class. Stupid me for not thinking of getting a part-time job and using the money to fly first-class.
Stupid planes.
I guess it would all be worth it to smell the summer air of 'Cisco. I'd been dreaming of going there ever since I was a kid, and knowing I'd see it soon? It felt awesome.
Soon enough, my eyelids began to feel heavy and I drifted off to a dreamless sleep.
A hand shook my shoulder. "Yo, Max, wake up," Iggy's voice hissed in my ear. "We're in San Francisco and the plane just landed. Get up before the flight attendant decides to douse you with water."
My eyes flew open and I momentarily forgot where I was until I realized that my head was pounding due to my extremely uncomfortable seat.
Ah, yes. I was on an airplane.
I sat up straighter, using my hand to wipe off the moisture on the corner of my lip. I peered past Nudge, who at the moment was packing her things away into her satchel, and saw other planes landing by the San Francisco Airport.
Along with the rest of the passengers, I got out of my seat abruptly, which was a mistake because the ceiling above my seat was low. "Ow," I muttered, rubbing the sore spot on my head. Sighing, I lifted my bag from under the seat to join the line of people leaving the plane. As the seconds on my watch ticked, Nudge, Iggy, and I slowly moved down the aisle until we reached the front of the plane.
After we were dismissed from the plane, I practically ran through the jetway, eager to get away from the plane.
I was soon greeted by the cool, refreshing air of the SF airport. "Sweet, sweet, ground!" Iggy got down to his knees and prostrated. "I will never underestimate you again! Oh, happy day!"
"Iggy, get up before people start to stare," Nudge scolded. He took his time getting up, I might add.
I fumbled in my pockets for a map of the airport. "OK, guys," I began, "To get to the baggage claim, we need to turn right and continue." I glanced at them once to see they were ready and began to march.
I had gone a fair distance until I heard Nudge's faint voice behind me yell, "Uh, Max? You're going the wrong way!"
Stopping in my tracks, I reddened slightly and resisted a groan before turning around.
Once we had gotten our baggage, Iggy decided he really needed to go piss, so we ended up circling the building in search of the men's bathroom until we realized it was ten feet from where we started.
Cue facepalm.
Soon, we ended up in a souvenir shop to buy something for Ella and Angel when my cellphone rang.
I flipped it open. "Hello?"
"Max, babe, how are you?" A woman's voice cried. It was Tìa Cita.
"Oh, hi, Tìa!" I greeted. At the sound of her name, Iggy and Nudge perked up and scooted closer to the phone. I hit the speaker button so they could hear too.
"For the millionth time, Max, just call me Cita. Tìa makes me sound old," she scolded, causing Iggy to snicker.
For your information, "Cita" was a twenty-eight year old, a good eleven years younger than my mom, who looked like a twenty-four year old and acted like a nineteen year old. She was the type of woman who'd dye her hair different colors every week and listened to loud heavy metal 24/7. I remember always wanting to be like her when I was younger. She was like an older sister to me and Iggy.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever," I waved it off. "So when are you coming to pick us up?"
I heard her tsk on the other end. "I'm already outside waiting, chica. Hurry and come, I'm the one in the red convertible playing Green Day."
Of course.
"Alright, see you then." I ended the call and turned to talk to Nudge and the Igster. "She's here, guys. We have to go out and meet her now," I informed them.
Iggy raised a hand. "Does this mean I can't get the SF t-shirt?" he asked loudly.
"No, now move your ass and let's go."
FANG POV
I bent to my knees, panting heavily. Walking over to my sports bag, I pulled out the bottle of water and drank the whole thing in one gulp.
A girl came next to me and drank from her own bottle. "Great run today, Alex," Lissa said breathlessly.
"You too," I replied, wiping the sweat from my brow. "Another five mile jog tomorrow morning?"
She ran a hand through her curly red hair. "Only if you buy me a latte afterwards," the girl grinned.
I rolled my eyes. "No way," I refused. "I already bought you one today. Stop being such a cheapskate."
Lissa pouted. "I am not a cheapskate!" she coughed, "I'm just good at saving my money, that's all."
"Whatever helps you sleep at night, ginger." Her elbow came in contact with my stomach and I doubled over, groaning. "Damn, I forgot how strong you were," I choked out.
She smirked. "Thank my dad for being a health nut." Lissa grabbed her sports bag and lifted the strap on her shoulder. "Speaking of Daddy dearest, I have to go now. He's going to kill me if I miss my cousin's baby shower."
"I guess, I should go, too," I began, "Taxi duty calls." A groan sounded from my mouth at the reminder of my job. Freaking San Francisco State was so expensive for a guy who lived by himself. The things I have to do for college. "See you later, then."
Lissa was already walking away. "Bye!" she yelled over her shoulder.
My life after moving to California settled down after a couple weeks. Since I was already eighteen, I got my own apartment and continued my education at a nearby high school. I made a friend, Lissa Carter. We even went out for a few weeks until we decided that there was absolutely no chemistry between us and remained friends. I almost forgot about Max and the others.
Almost.
I got into my yellow cab and drove into the shopping district, where the most business was. Life was quiet now, easier to think about. He hasn't called me in a few months, which was good for me. Anything that happened before San Francisco felt distant, like it was a lifetime ago and I was reincarnated into Alex Ride.
Author's Note:
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