The Fic Lab Prompt 12: Missed Connections
As I sit here in O'Hare again, I look around the waiting area at all the nameless faces who otherwise have nothing in common with me or each other besides the fact we are all flying to Seattle today.
Usually, when I'm in an airport, it means I'm flying off to some war-torn or disaster-ravaged part of the world for my work with Doctors Without Borders. It's heartbreaking most of the time, the poverty, the sickness, the hunger that exists at a level most in the U.S. will never experience. But I've never felt more rewarded than when I'm out there. I know I am making a difference, even if only in the life of one person or one family.
But this trip is a happy occasion. My baby sister, Alice, had a baby. I am now officially Uncle Edward…at least it better be Uncle Edward. I refuse to answer to Uncle Eddie, I don't care how cute this kid is.
I've missed most of the big events in Alice's life - her high school graduation, her college graduation, her wedding - so I'm glad I can be here for this. Even though there's a seven year age difference between us, Alice and I have always been very close. But I was gone off to college before she even started high school, so we've been apart a lot. Alice has always understood my need to help out the less fortunate…I've been doing volunteer work since I was in high school…but I know it still disappoints her when I can't be there to celebrate the big events with her. That's why she was so happy last night when I told her I would be flying in to see the baby today.
I take another look around at the faces of the other passengers waiting for boarding to start when my eyes land on the most amazing woman I'm ever seen. She has long brown hair, just a bit of a curl to it, and deep brown eyes that I feel I could get lost in. She looks so familiar to me, but I don't think I know her. I think about going up and asking her if we've met before, but she looks nervous sitting there. Maybe she doesn't like flying. I don't want to add any more stress to her at this point, so I just stay where I am. I'm sure I would remember if we had actually met. I don't see how I could forget a woman like that.
They're finally calling us to board and I'm Group 1 due to all the traveling I do, so I get on fairly early. I'm sitting in my aisle seat when I see the woman I noticed earlier heading towards me. She stops right next to my row, smiles and tells me she's in the window seat. I'm about to stand, but as she's putting her suitcase in the overhead bin, an impatient passenger tries to squeeze past her causing her to lose her grip on her bag. I'm able to catch it before it lands on my head.
"Oh my god, I'm so sorry," she says, looking even more frazzled that she was in the waiting area. But I know it's not her fault, it's the idiot who couldn't wait 30 seconds for her to get the bag up.
I stand up and help her put the bag in the overheard bin. "Don't worry about it, it wasn't your fault. I saw that jerk knock into you." Said jerk notices my look and offers a sheepish "sorry". At least he has the decency to look chagrined by his actions.
Once we're both in our seats next to each other, I take another look at her. She still looks a little rattled.
"You look a little stressed. Are you a nervous flyer?" I ask.
"No, I'm really not, it's just been a hell of day. I was supposed to be on the earlier flight to Seattle, but I missed my connection because there was storm in New York and we took off late. I normally try to fly direct, but this was a last minute trip and the direct flight from New York was fully booked. Then the airline wasn't sure they could get me on this flight. Thank goodness it worked out, but I'm a bit frazzled by it all."
My grin gets larger as she vents her frustration from this morning. She's so cute, like a hyper little kitten, that I can't help it. I watch as her cheeks turn a beautiful shade of pink when she notices the laugh I'm trying to hold in.
"Okay, I'm embarrassed. You probably didn't want to know all of that. Sorry, it's just one of those days," she says with her own soft laugh.
"It's okay, it was cute," I say.
There's just something about her that makes me want to put her at ease. I feel so comfortable with her and I want her to feel the same with me.
"Thanks for being so sweet," she smiles back.
"So, is New York your home base or is Seattle," I ask.
I hope it's New York. I'm moving to New York for work in two months. The fact that we'd be in the same city feels like kismet. I want to know more about this woman…I want to know everything about this woman.
"New York. I'm flying to Seattle to visit my best friend. She just had a baby. I'm so excited. Even though we're not related, I'm going to make that baby call me Auntie Bella when she learns to speak. Oh, I'm Bella, by the way, though I'm sure you just figured that out."
No wonder she looks so familiar. I've never actually met Bella Swan before, but I knew she was Alice's best friend. I was already off at college by the time Bella moved to Forks, but I've seen her in Alice's graduation and wedding pictures. And while I always thought she was beautiful in the pictures, she's even more lovely in person. This 4 hour flight is going to be much more interesting than I was originally expecting.
"Nice to meet you finally, Auntie Bella. I'm Uncle Edward," I laugh as I tell her.
It takes her a second, but I can see the shock when she realizes what I'm actually saying.
"Wait, you're Alice's brother," she gasps. "I should've recognized you, Alice has shown me so many pictures over the years. Wow, she must be so excited you're actually in the country for this. She's so proud of you and the work you do. I can't believe she didn't tell me you'd be visiting this time."
"I think she didn't want to get her hopes up. But I'm taking a break from Doctors Without Borders for a while," I tell her. "So, this might be a bit of a coincidence, but I'm actually moving to New York in two months. I'm taking a job at New York-Presbyterian Hospital." I look directly at her to gauge her reaction and see her smile turn even brighter.
"Wow, New York…and New York-Presbyterian. That's impressive. I think you'll love New York. If you want a tour guide, I'd love to show you around when you get there. I think it'd be fun…and Alice will kill me if I don't," she laughs.
"That sounds great. I'd really like that," I agree.
Alice had tried to set me up with Bella over the years - she thought she was being sly about it, but I know my baby sister - but my schedule meant we were never able to connect. Her missed connection today might have just made up for all our previous ones.
