Chapter 5

We didn't need mom to wake us. before the crack of dawn, we were up. Lucy and I took turns in having a bath, we all eat the leftover pancakes from yesterday's breakfast and set off to the airport.

The taxi stops at the entrance of the airport, and we all get down. Lucy and I take our small suitcase from the boot while mum gets us a luggage cart. we all walk for a while to locate our different airlines.

There were people everywhere, young and old. Some people walked like they had some important place to be at the moment. Security men were scattered at different points, watching everything and everyone around them.

While walking I subconsciously turn to my side and notice an airplane that had just taken off, it became smaller as every second passed.

"What are you looking at?"

I turn around, lucy was looking at me with a little frown on her face. Was she blind, I was looking at an airplane-

"Do you have to make everyone think that you've never entered one before?"

Everyone? I don't care what everyone thinks and of course, I have entered one, I've just never traveled outside the country before...Something she was going to do today.

I look away and notice a frown on my face. Ugh! Must she always do this?

Mum turns to me." Umm...Sophie?" She stretches her left hand towards me, she probably didn't hear the trash that came from lucy's mouth.

I move closer to her."I'm going to miss you." She says, wrapping her hand around my shoulders.

"Me too mom."

"I'll miss you too." Ruth pouts.

"Yeah," Jerry says slowly. "Me three."

I smile at them and turn back to mom, but she was at lucy's side.

....

We finally stop in front of a huge glass building, mom turns to me and give me a passionate hug. " ruth, Jerry, lucy; say goodbye to your sister, she's gonna be going from here."

Ruth rushes and hugs me." I am going to miss you badly soph." She was in between tears.

My body quivers as I bend to hug ruth back." I'll miss you too, baby sis." My face folds with emotion and I tried hard to steady my breath. I was going to miss them all.

I hug Jerry next who already looked tearful. then I turn to hug Lucy, she was completely silent as she held her hands together in front of her, we hug.

When I turn to mom I break down into sobs. She hugs me tight and strokes my hair." Be the good girl that you've always been."

I nod multiple times with my eyes closed and lips pressed together. From the sound of her voice, I could tell she was smiling but her voice was shaky.

Mom breaks loose and holds my shoulders." Be careful. This would be your first time on a plane alone." She pulls a paper out from her handbag and hands it to me." here. I know I've told you what to do already but just in case you forget- you are with your ticket and ID?

"Yes, mom."

"Your phone, did you charge it as I told you to?"

"Yes, mom."

"Is it full?"

"Umm, about ninety-something percent."

She rubs her palm on her jeans."okay, okay. Uuh, be careful, don't forget miss Rodriguez would put you on a call with me before you go with her.

"Yeah, I remember."

"don't talk to stran-" she sights." Just be careful."

My lips curl upwards. "Of course, Bye." I hug mom again and she hugs me tight.

I turn to lucy, I wanted to hug her again but her firmly held hands in front of her kept me back, instead, I say, "have fun in Paris, and be good."

I blow Jerry and ruth a kiss and wriggle my fingers, then I turned to go.

They flowed so quickly that I was scared I would attract attention, my vision was blurred. Rolling my luggage cart with my red suitcase and green travel bag on it, I wipe my face. Good thing I didn't apply any makeup.

After walking for a few seconds, I look back. I could still sight them, mom's arm was wrapped around lucy's shoulders as they walked behind Jerry and Ruth. I mouthed a 'bye' to them even though they didn't see me and then I turn to look forward.

The plane finally took off and landed after an hour and some minutes. I had gotten out of the plane and it was time for me to find miss Rodriguez...Or rather the time for her to find me.

Going down on the escalator, I looked for anyone that looked old and probably pale. I walked towards a pillar, rolling my suitcase and struggling to keep my hand and traveling bag strap on my shoulders.

Feeling a light tap on my shoulders, I turn around and meet face to face with a man in a black suit. He wore black shades of glasses and had a straight pointed nose and thin lips.

"Hello." He said bringing out something from the inner pocket of his suit.

I nod at him, glaring patiently at what he was going to bring out. Was it a gun?

He brought out a piece of paper."Are you Sophie west?" He was reading from it.

"Yes?" I turn fully towards him as I notice two other men behind him dressed in the same outfit. I tighten my grip on my suitcase and look around me. Nobody could possibly kidnap or rob me in such a busy place...or can they? Everyone is so busy with their business. I look back at them.

"It is okay. We are just trying to confirm if you are the right girl."

I nod even though I was not in agreement. Should I tell them they shouldn't waste their time? I am expecting an old woman...but where the heck is she?

"Your flight was from Chicago?"

Adjusting my handbag I replied," yes." I felt a bit more relaxed.

"Okay, wonderful. You are supposed to come with us."

Nice try thieves." No. I'm not!" As far as my eyes were concerned they weren't women nor were they old. I am very well aware, they are also bad people in the airport, I am no baby.

That just proves you are!

One of the men behind pulled out a phone from his pocket and made a call.

I swallowed. Where is this old woman, how could mum have trusted her?

He handed the phone to the man in front.

"Hello!" Came a loud female voice from the phone. It sounded like mom. "have you seen her?"

"Yes ma'am." The man said handing me the phone. "Speak to your mom."

I drop my traveling bag and take the phone from his hand."Hello?"

"Hello, Sophie!"

I stare at the phone and turn off the loudspeaker.

"This is mom, How was your flight?"

"Hi, mom. I didn't know it was you. My flight was good."

"Ooh! Great, I'm so relieved. I wasn't able to rest until the guards found you."

". . .guards?" I stare at them.

"Yes! Miss Rodriguez didn't tell me she wasn't in the states. She went to England, but would be back today; thinking she would be there in time to get you, but as we speak she has not landed yet, so she sent them to get you."

". . ."

"Sophie?"

"Y-yeah? "

"Did you hear me?"

"Yes, I did."

"Okay, I don't want to waste their time we would talk later?"

"Sure, Bye mom."

"Bye, darling. Ruth says she's already missing you."

I laugh." I'll miss her too."

Mom chuckles. "Okay, bye baby."

I hand the phone back to the man- guard. I can't believe I thought they were thieves, looking at them now; they were obviously guards. And how could thieves be so polite-

The two guards behind walked up to me and lifted each of my bags like it was a feather, while the other led the way.

They walked swiftly, making sure I wasn't behind, which caused me to drastically increase my pace.

I notice we attract some attention which I didn't like. As for the guards, it's either they don't care or don't notice.

We were now walking past a glass wall, I could see myself clearly in the mirror.

I looked...odd.

The men were dressed in an expensive suit and shiny black shoes, except for one- swade- even better! And black shades, they looked smart!

While this girl here wore a faded red and black checkered shirt, blue jeans, small black bag, and an old converse. Anyone not minding their business and looking at us would notice that the red suitcase, which had short, stray thread sticking out of it, and the slightly green dirty traveling bag, belonged to me. Was I blind at home? I would have thought twice before picking my outfit.

The thought of lucy flashes through my mind. Lucy had put so much into her dressing today, I remember yesterday when she carefully picked out an off-shoulder, yellow, crop top, and a short, black, flair skirt. I swear to never dress casual again, or rather horrible.

I looked forward, with my eyebrows arched, and clench my handbag.

We walk towards a Limousine. Every step we take, my heart rate increases. There was no doubt that the limo belonged to them, I was dancing with excitement inside. never had I ever entered a limo before but lucy had- whatever.

As we approached the limo, the guard in front opens a door so I can get in. I wanted to say thanks but I didn't.

I enter the limo and the first thing I do is to look around. It was a long, narrow compartment with two seats facing each other, a fully stocked bar, and a Tv screen.

It was moderately similar to lucy's portrayal, but it looked like lucy had put in some things in her description.

"Wow," I whisper, unconsciously.

I rub my hands on the black leather seat, they were so smooth. The windows were tinted black, which made seeing a little difficult.

Great! I planned of having a wonderful view of the landscape of Maryland...but nothing stops that from happening. I could already see the fun ahead.

I smile at the only present guard who was seated opposite me and surprisingly he smiles back.

Yay!