One Step at a Time

At the airport it was anything but sane. Everyone was running everywhere and it was hard to find anything. But I managed to get inside, checked in, through security, get Jackson and Cheyenne in crates, and get to my terminal by11:15. We could board at 11:30. Tris and Trent somehow managed to get this far with me. I don’t know how but I wasn’t going to complain. I checked my carry-on bag and made sure I had everything I needed. I looked at my brother and my best friend, and just sat there until it was 11:30…

“Everyone on flight 596A to Chicago may now board.” I heard the lady at the front desk announce over the loud speaker. I stood up, and so did they. I turned and looked at Tris. She was very emotional, but she was Tris and I loved her.

“Come here” I said as I wrapped her into a hug, “I’ll Skype you later tonight okay? Keep Champagne company for me. Hell, I can probably get the guys to let you come and visit. I love you, Tris.”

“I love you too.” I heard her mutter. “Here, for your birthday.” She pulled away from me and handed me some kind of box. I opened it up and found a locket with our prom picture in it. That was the year that I just went with a group of my friends. The best year I had. I took it out of the box and put it on. I smiled and thanked her.

My goodbye with Trent wasn’t as heartfelt, but I knew he was upset, he just never showed it. We said out goodbye and I picked up my carry-on bag and boarded the plane. I hadn’t realized it until I was there, but Kane bought me a 1st class ticket. Dang, I owed him big time. I sent a quick text to everyone saying I was on my way, then put my phone on airplane mode, turned on my music, and laid back and left to Chicago
“Passengers, it is now 2:35 and we are now approaching the O’Hare international airport and preparing for decent. Please put your chairs into an upright position and buckle up.”

I woke up as soon as that came on, and wondered where I was. Then I remembered and looked out the window. There it was. Chicago. It was more beautiful than I remembered. I followed the pilot’s command and placed my chair up, took off the blanket that was mysteriously given to me and buckled up. Then, within 5 minutes, we were on the ground and getting on the plane. As soon as we landed I sent a text to Kaner, Toews, and Q and announced I was there,

èKane: Kk, see you soon
èToews: ;) welcome home
èAnd nothing from Uncle Q, typical.

I grabbed my purse and carry-on bag and got off the plane and walked through my terminal to the luggage claim. From there I was looking around for them and got another text, from Toews.

èLook to the left

I looked around and followed his instructions and saw him, Kaner, and Uncle Q all standing there holding a sign with my name on it. I smiled and ran up to them, it felt great to be here.

“Hey!” I exclaimed as I set down my stuff but was swept up by Patrick. He hugged me tightly.
“Its so good to see you.” He said into my neck as he put me down. I laughed at him
“Its good to see you too!”

I then turned to Uncle Q and gave him a hug. “I missed you so much! Thank you so much for the job.”

“Hey you, dang, you’ve grown so much! You were what, 15 when I last saw you?” He laughed as he returned the hug and let me go and stood back to get a better look at me.

“Yeah, it’s crazy. You look great!”

“Well thank you, so what, how old are you now?”

“20, turning 21 in ten days, I can’t wait.” I laughed. I then turned around to Jonathan. He was so much taller than me. I was tall for my age, 5’9, but he made me feel short.

“Hey, I just wanted to say thanks. For letting me stay with you and Kaner until I get enough money to go on my own. It means a lot to me.”

He shrugged, “It’s no big deal, anything for Coach’s family, but wait. Where’s my hug?” He winked as he bent down to give me a tight hug. He smelled great. I happily returned it and blushed.

Kane stepped in and clapped his hands. “Well, how about we go get food?” We all laughed, and I went to grab my bags but Jonathan and Kaner got them for me.

“Thanks guys and that sounds amazing. But we gotta get the dogs first. I can’t believe you forgot about them. That one hurts.” I joked, as we started walking to the animal claim area outside of the airport terminal. Once we arrived, Kaner and Uncle Q offered to take my bags while Toews and I got the dogs, I accepted and walked into the building. We were greeted by a lady at the front desk who happily accepted my ticket and went to get my dogs. Jonathan thanked her and she blushed and hurried away.

“Do you always do that to girls?” I asked

“Do what? I don’t do anything, honest.” He replied flashing me a smile.

“Yeah, okay. She kept blushing and you say you don’t do anything.” I joked with him in which he laughed.

“Maybe she likes hockey players. Sorry, I don’t realize if someone is looking at me like that unless I’m around them 24/7.” He laughed back and nudged me. “So coach said you played hockey, how long?”

“About 10 years. I quit when we moved. I miss it, I’m glad I’m working with you guys though. It gives me a chance to maybe skate around and be near the ice.”

“Well we’re glad to have you.” He said smiling as the lady came back with my dogs and another lady followed with 3 large boxes. Toews looked at me “Um, is that just for the dogs?”

“No, I think 2 of the boxes are my clothes.”

“Oh, gotcha.” The lady looked at me and smiled as she handed me Jackson and Cheyenne’s leashes. I thanked her and Toews took the boxes. I kneeled down and hugged my dogs, I gave them some love and a reached in my purse to give them a treat that I put in there before the flight.

“What kind are they?” Jonathan asked.

“Excuse me?”

“Dogs, what kind are they?”

“Oh, yeah, sorry. They’re Australian Shepherds, Jackson and Cheyenne. They’re named after spots in Wyoming.”

“Ah, do you mind if I pet them?”

“Here, give them a treat. Say sit then give it to them.” I said as I handed him the treats.

I held onto their leashes as they went forward to sniff him. He told them to sit and they immediately sat. He fed them the treat and bent over to pet them, in which they both licked him and gave him love in return. We both laughed as we stood up, I commanded the dogs to sit and heel which they again did.

“They’re great dogs from what I know now. I hope they stay like that.” He laughed, and picked up the boxes. “Well hopefully Kaner has the car pulled up. It’s a big SUV, with a cargo hold, hopefully he put the luggage there, and we can put the dogs in the back.”

I nodded, “Sounds good! Thanks again Jonathan.”

He smiled at me, “You can call me Jon or Tazer, I mean. Not like we’re strangers anymore.”

I smiled, “Okay then.” He rolled his eyes and smirked as we walked out of the building and into the warm Chicago sun.

Notes

Sorry I haven't updated in so long been super busy with band and finals to cram for! I'll try to work on it as much as I can! Don't forget to rate, comment and suscribe! :) Thank you guys!