Ch 46: Airport Evasion

Once our moving day arrived, I was both excited and nervous like I had been for our red carpet appearance. While it wasn’t our first date, it was the first time Luke and I would be traveling together. It was hard to leave my friends and family, but with Luke by my side, I felt like it was the right choice. I wanted to be with him and traveling to a picturesque place away from everything I’d known was a price I was willing to pay.
The driver Luke hired dropped us off at LAX, and we entered the airport with minimal luggage. Luke and I shipped a few things ahead, and Luke promised to buy anything else we needed when we got there. He wore a hat and sunglasses, but still not used to being famous, I hadn’t worn anything to disguise myself. When I came out of the restroom before meeting up with Luke to walk through security, I heard someone say, ”There’s that tart dating Luke Mulligan.”
I spun around to see a cameraman and a lackey running after me, trying to take my picture. By this point, I’d been called a ton of names due to my association with Luke. Tart was a new one, and the general lack of decorum made me fume. While having our picture or video taken wasn’t all that bad, I didn’t want them to win. Not after that comment. After all, I was no tart.
I could see Luke across the airport’s lobby and paused to consider whether I should run in the opposite direction. I pivoted to turn around, but I was too late. “There he is,” someone said, pointing toward Luke. We were caught. I knew Luke didn’t want to make a scene. How could I get these people off our tails?
I ran to Luke and grabbed his hand, pulling him toward the escalator leading down to arrivals. We wouldn’t make it past security in time to get to the gate before the paparazzi could catch up. And although I only saw two, there could easily be more lurking around. Like a pair of antelope, we ran away from the two hungry lions hunting us.
We zigzagged past other travelers on the escalator, arriving at baggage claim as luggage started crashing down on the conveyor belt. Luke ran to one side of the big oval where people crowded around looking for their bags. He managed to crouch behind some large suitcases amongst a group of travelers.
I stepped the opposite way and tried to blend in with the crowd. Next to me stood a tall broad woman with dark big hair teased into a sizeable pouf, dressed in a retro plaid dress, accentuating a small waist and ample bosom. Her bright red lips against her pale skin stood out along with a pair of 6-inch pink platform heels.
While I tried to hide behind her, she noticed the cameraman and started to wave, believing the paparazzi was there for her. If I ran, they’d surely see me. Instead, I prayed she was someone famous too, and they’d change the focus of their attention onto the clearly flamboyant diva. They kept scanning the room, searching, while the lady called, “Yoo-hoo, over here,” clearly annoyed they weren’t interested in her.
Bag after bag flew down the chute onto the carousel as the crowd watched for their luggage. As one bag careened onto the belt, its old style clips snapped open and the suitcase lid flung wide, spilling some of its contents. Vibrant scarves and what looked like silky lingerie floated amongst the other bags. The open suitcase circled toward me, colorful garments piled high inside. “Oh dear,” said the woman, and I knew it was her bag, half its contents strewn across the carousel.
She looked troubled, but still smiled toward the cameraman. I considered once she stepped to grab the bag, I’d be made. But before that could happen, the cameraman noticed me. As he dashed over, I contemplated my options. With a crowd packed around the carousel waiting for bags, maneuvering would be difficult. I needed something to slow him down.
As he ran nearer, I picked up a handful of clothes from the open suitcase still on the belt, threw them at the camera, and took off where I met up with Luke on the other side. I looked back to see the woman, now upset that the cameraman was trying to push her out of the way. He paused to pluck off a lacy pair of red panties stuck on the camera lens. As he held the underwear between his thumb and forefinger, the retro diva snatched them away.
I felt sorry for her with her clothes strewn about, but I think she understood my predicament as she nodded my way and stomped on the cameraman’s toe with her 6-inch pink heel, causing him to hop on one foot in pain. His partner stood and stared, more concerned with making sure his colleague was OK. It was enough time for Luke and I to get away and far enough in the security line that the paparazzi wouldn’t bother us.
“That was some quick thinking there, Stella,” Luke said once we safely sat in our seats on the plane.
“Thanks,” I said. “Luckily we got a little help from a friend.”
I rested my head on Luke’s shoulder. Flying to a beautiful island with him, I couldn’t help but be elated. I felt so close to Luke, like we were two love struck heroes fleeing the bad guys. Looking forward to our future in Hawaii, I reflected on how well we worked together and looked out for each other. With Luke by my side, I had accomplished so much. Luke squeezed my hand, and I felt our familiar connection.
Looking out the window, watching the plane soar through the clouds, I smiled and squeezed Luke’s hand back. “I love you,” I said.
Luke sat there -frozen.
Why did I say that? I thought. I didn’t mean to say that so soon. I wished I could take it back. I wondered what to do. After Luke’s stoic reaction, I sat there too, not able to move. Should I take my hand back? Apologize? Say I didn’t mean it?
I think I did mean it though. It’s so hard to know sometimes or at least know when to say it. I didn’t plan it, that’s for sure. It just came out because I had such positive feelings, because I was literally floating on air. Surely, he’d understand.
“Luke,” I said, trying not to move. “You don’t have to say anything. I just...I just, well it’s better than blurting it out during sex isn’t it?”
He gave me a funny look. I continued. “OK, I’m making it worse. I don’t expect you to say it back. I’m just so happy is all. That’s it. I say stupid things when I’m happy.”
I suddenly felt an intense pressure in my head and opened my mouth to pop my ears. I must have looked so silly when Luke turned toward me.
“It’s not stupid. It’s that…”
“No, no, no.” I waved my hand back and forth, trying to get him to stop. “Forget I said anything. Please.” I looked at him, pleading with my eyes. “You know I don’t expect anything from you. Pretend this didn’t happen.”
He nodded, looking a little unsure. “How about your sudoku? Is it empty?” I asked, pulling out the inflight magazine. Michelle told me to check, claiming the seat was lucky if the pocket magazine included an empty Sudoku.
I looked in the magazine and my Sudoku had already been filled in. Figures. Unlucky. When Luke opened his, it was empty. I pulled out a pen from my bag, and we started filing in the numbers together. I was glad for the distraction, something to occupy my mind after my gaffe.
I kept replaying my words in my head, angry with myself and my stupidity. The last thing I wanted was to make Luke uncomfortable around me or try to move things along too fast. I knew Luke cared about me. That was enough for now. I didn’t want to ruin a good thing.