Ch.17 | Smoke

Riley

"She's been sleeping the entire flight, is that normal?" I heard Leo speaking. His voice pulling me out of this sleepy trance.

"Very normal. This is the most activity she's had since she came to us. She'll wake up soon and be perfectly fine. I promise." Amanda's voice could be heard this time.

I slowly opened my eyes to see I was leaning on Leo. He had covered me in his hoodie and a few blankets from the plane. I'd thank him later, I was freezing.

I stretched out, peeling myself away from Leo.

"Sleeping beauty awakes." He joked and brushed a piece of brown hair away from my face.

"Morning," I yawned.

"How you feeling, girly?" Amanda asked from my left. I was in between the two of them and boy was it awful.

They both kept pestering me on how I felt.

"Im good. A little hungry." I didn't remember the last time I ate, It was rare for me to have an appetite.

"Excuse me miss, Can we get a packet of crackers or something?" Leo asked a flight attendant who was passing by.

She flashed him a flirty smile and nodded, shaking her hips as she walked down the aisles.

I shouldn't be surprised when stuff like that happens. Leo is an attractive, strong , young man. I wasn't sure why he was with me.

I was sick. Contaminated. I wasn't beautiful compared to that girl.

"Baby, Eat." Leo handed me a pack of peanut butter crackers.

"Oooh, girl he called you a petname!" Amanda whispered in my ear.

Did he? I hadn't noticed. My face turned red again. I shook my head and grabbed the crackers, wiping the peanut butter off of each one.

Amanda had made me cut down on a lot of the protein I was eating. It makes my kidneys work harder and thatll burn them out faster.

"Wasteful." Leo shook his head and picked up the half of the crackers that had peanut butter.

"Eat up," I chuckled.

"Please make sure to remain seated and fasten your seatbelts. We will be landing the plane very soon." A message played a few times over the plane speakers.

"I hate planes," Leo whispered to me. I giggled and grabbed his hand, leaning my head on his shoulder.

"It'll be okay." I said sleepily, closing my eyes again. This sleeping thing was getting tiring.

♡

"Can you just grab her bag, Mandi?" Leo's voice once again, awoke me. I loved the sound of it, but god every time something good happens in my dreams, he wakes me up.

"I got it."I yawned and took my bag from Amanda.

"You sure, sweetheart? I don't mind." She kept her hand where it was and looked at me with worry.

"Stop worrying! Im fine. Lets get off this plane, huh?" I smiled and took a few shaky steps down the aisle.

I felt Leo's hand on my back and I swatted it away. This is something I needed to do.

I pushed forward and managed to make it out of the plane and into the airport. It was hard and I have never felt so lightheaded in my life.

But I did it.

"Good job, Ry." Leo kissed the top of my head and took my bag.

"Hey! I got it." I went to reach for the bag and he shook his head, "You're strong. You proved it. We believe you. Dont wear yourself out trying to prove it to everyone else, okay?" Leo smiled and I nodded.

He was right. One small baby step at a time.

We made it through the rest of the airport & customs without too much of an issue. I kept stopping for breaks and that annoyed Amanda and Leo.

But they could suck it up. Were they dying? Didnt think so.

"Hey, We forgot your machine." Amanda looked down at our luggage.

"Shit. I'll go get it." Leo sighed and sat down our bags.

"I'll go with, You dont know what it looks like." Amanda shook her head and they both looked at me.

"Im not walking back there. Ill wait right here though." I smiled and they both hesitantly nodded.

"You sure? I could give you a piggy back ride?" Leo turned and pointed at his back.

"Im fine, Go." I laughed.

"We'll be right back sweet pea." Amanda smiled and off they went.

I leaned against a nearby pillar. Tiredness slowly fading back.

I looked around, trying to find something to keep me awake and upright. Families and couples could be seen carrying around luggage and eating meals from the food court. It seemed so peaceful.

The jets that kept passing up above kind of ruined it. Another jet passed and the building began to shake.

I looked around to see if the other families felt it. The crowd racing towards me could confirm. Everyone was fleeing, but why?

An explosion towards where we came from answered my question.

Bombs.