“I uh. . .can’t afford first class, for the record,” I cut in.
“You really don’t need to explain. You have every right to be sitting there,” Alessa says, giving her head a nod. My guess is she’s the older one. She just has an air of responsibility about her.
“You’re only saying that because you aren’t sitting beside him,” Lili retorts. “He’s also using my armrest.”
This Lili is a piece of work.
“You could just ask me to remove my arm,” I interrupt their conversation.
She turns her head and watches me with narrow eyes. “I was just hoping you’d take the hint.”
Damn, she’s mean.
I remove my hand from the armrest. I’m not used to this type of hostility from a woman. Chicks back at Westfall mostly give me googly eyes and try to proposition me.
“Lili, stop it,” Alessa snaps. “Abuela treated us to this vacation so you could take it easy and relax, not bite off the head of a handsome stranger.”
It does not fly past me that she called me handsome. I know I’m a good-looking guy. I’m not blind to the attention I receive from the opposite sex, but I’ve never met a girl worth the time I need to invest in a relationship. Between hockey and my medical issues, I didn’t have time for much else. I’m not a guy who can just hook up with random girls because of the way I grew up. Mom had a revolving door of men come through our apartment and it always left her feeling hollow. It’s because of her I view sex as something that should be meaningful.
“Excuse me, sorry. I need to get up,” I say. I unbuckle my seat belt and stand. I have to squeeze by to get past Lili, who doesn’t make a move to let me through. I feel kind of bad because my crotch is level with her face. Thankfully, Alessa stands and moves out of the way as I slide into the aisle.
“Sorry to inconvenience you,” I say to Alessa, who gives me a friendly smile.
“It’s really no problem. And please ignore my sister.” She rolls her eyes playfully.
“Will do,” I confirm, and I head to the back of the plane to use the restroom. There’s a line when I arrive but I’m grateful to be standing for a little bit. I check my watch to see there are eight hours left of the flight. Shit, this is going to be a long eight hours.
I use the restroom and return to my seat. Alessa has her eyes closed and Lili is laughing at some movie she is watching.
I hate to wake Alessa, but I have no choice. There is no way I can just climb over her.
“Sorry, can I get by?” I ask but there’s no response. Lili must not sense my return and her sister is out cold. With no choice, I give Alessa’s shoulder a small tap. No reaction. I give it a little bit of a stronger tap and she awakens. “Sorry to bother you again.”
“No worries.” She stands and lets me go by.
Lili doesn’t move though. What is up with this girl? She is starting to get on my nerves.
“Lili,” Alessa snaps once again. No answer. “Lili.” She leans over and gives her sister’s shoulder a good shake. Lili gives her a whatever kind of look and picks her legs up on her chair. It still isn’t enough room for me to pass, but I do. I take a seat and use my earphones to watch a comedy, figuring it will be a good distraction. I don’t know why I feel so unsettled, but I do. I can’t get into the movie. When lunch is served, the food is some awful stew, and that’s saying a lot because I’m not a picky eater.
After lunch I doze off. I’m sleeping, but it isn’t a deep sleep. The fact I am in the air feels like I don’t have control. The whir of the engine in the back of my mind makes me worry that we are flying over a major body of water. My anxiety is there, despite my attempt to sleep, and the stitch in my neck is painful. Overall, I’m deducing flying long distances isn’t for me unless I can afford first class, which won’t be until I start playing for the NHL.
“Oh, he’s adorable,” I hear a voice say.
“Get this ogre off me,” another voice says.
I must have been sleeping deeper than I thought because when I open my eyes I’m leaning to the side with my head on Lili’s shoulder and, if I’m not mistaken, the ogre she was referring to is me.
I sit up quickly holding my neck. “Shoot. Sorry. I must have dozed.”
“I think you got some drool on my shoulder,” Lili says with her lip curling.
“I really am sorry. I’m not much of a flyer,” I say.
“Neither are we,” Alessa responds. “We were visiting our abuela, and she was kind enough to send us on this amazing trip. Instead of being ecstatic about going to Honolulu, my sister is moping.”
“Stop talking about me like I’m not here,” Lili says to Alessa.
“Then start behaving human again,” her sister retorts.
Lili rolls her eyes and goes back to her movie.
“Are you a college student?” Alessa asks.
“No,” Lili cuts in, even though I’m pretty sure the question was directed at me. “We agreed we weren’t going on this trip to meet anyone. So don’t ask him any personal questions.”
“First, you came up with that stupid rule,” Alessa replies. “And second, I wasn’t going to ask him where he’s from just what he’s taking,” she says to her sister. Then she looks at me. “I’m not trying to hit on you. Sorry if I gave you that impression. I have a boyfriend. I was just trying to be polite because my sister is in a mood. I’m sure it isn’t pleasant for you as a stranger to be sitting beside such a sour person.”
I’m pretty sure Lili hears what her sister just said but she ignores her jabs.
I chuckle. “It’s fine. I’ll survive. I actually find her moodiness to be refreshing.” That buys me a weird look from Alessa, but it’s true. Not having a girl falling at my feet is a nice change.
Alessa gives me a curious look. “I’m in college. I’m a senior. Biomedical engineering major,” I inform her.
“I didn’t peg you as the science type. I’m a software engineering major. I’m in grad school. My sister Lili is a senior, pre-law,” Alessa explains. I don’t know Lili all that well, other than she seems to be a firecracker. Pre-law suits her.
Dinner is served and I go back to watching another movie. I need to really piss but I feel bad to bother the sisters again since they’re both sleeping. Lili has shifted my way and her head falls on my shoulder. I take in the fruity scent of her shampoo. I also check out her features. High cheekbones, full heart-shaped lips, cute little button nose. She’s a little curvy with long legs. She’s hot and feisty. She’s gorgeous. I go back to watching my movie and when the plane lands I couldn’t be more grateful. Everyone is quick to grab their carry-on bags and leave the plane, me included.
When I get to the carousel to pick up my luggage, my luck, it’s one of the last ones to come out. I take my blue suitcase and roll it out toward the main area of the terminal. I spot my brother waiting for me in a Hawaiian shirt and khaki shorts. He waves at me, even though I already spotted him.
I walk over to him and give him a hug. “How was the flight?” he asks. At the same moment Alessa and her sister walk by us.
Alessa waves and Lili turns up her chin and walks past us.