Beyond

Jacky's POV Three years ago " Hurry up Joan or we are going to miss the plane." "Coming." I am very excited today I didn't even get a wink of sleep the entire night. I finally get a chance to attend a book signing by my favorite author in London. Sorry I almost forgot to introduce myself. My name is Jacklin Johns and I am 25 years old. I am a paralegal at this Law firm in Kenya by day and a book author by night. I haven't published a book yet but I hope to publish my current one soon. My boss's wife is also a book lover and it turns out we share the same favorite author. My boss had bought two tickets to take her to the book signing for her birthday this coming weekend but something came up. He didn't want the expensive plane tickets and hotel reservations to go to waste so he gave me the tickets. Normally I would have declined the offer but it's my all time favorite author so I was a little delighted to accept them. I had a hard time deciding who to take with me between Evans and Joan but after a little convincing and a couple threats I decided to take my young sister Joan. We are supposed to leave today as our plane is scheduled to departure within 3 hours. I am a little punctual and I always like being in place a little earlier as I like to be prepared in case of any changes. On the other hand, my young sister and best friend Joan has never been anywhere on time her whole life. If you add my obsession with always being in time and the fact that it is also my first time in London, you'll get why I am ready three hours earlier. I am greatly hoping that I will get some time to do a little tourism before we come back so I need to have time to spare and for that to be possible, I have to get my book signed super early. "You know we are going there just for three days right?" I ask Joan the moment she steps out of her room after waiting for her to get ready for what felt like forever. Joan doesn't answer me she just rolls her eyes at me. She has two large suitcases and a duffel bag while all I have is just a small backpack. It is supposed to be just a short trip which is why I don't understand her many bags. She turns and looks at me with questioning eyes before she finally asks. "You are wearing that?" I look at my outfit but i don't we what's wrong what is wrong with it so I answer her. "Yes what's wrong with it?" "Who goes on their first trip abroad dressed in sweatpants and an oversized shirt?" Before I even get the chance for a comeback she says."Just change into the clothes I have placed on your bed and hurry up we can't be late right, can we?" I know she is just pushing me by asking that as she was just grumpy a little while ago, complaining I woke her up too early and now she is acting as if she cares about being late. I hate it when she dresses me as her style is the opposite of mine. I prefer simple,black and super comfy while she prefers girly girly, tight,revealing and heeled shoes which is never comfy. I wanna say no but I decide to just get changed as soon as possible to avoid being late as she won't let me out unless I do. My friend Evans is the one driving us to the airport as he is the only one with a car. He is also another late comer and am hoping for the first time since I have met him, he is going to be on time. This is why I always prefer doing things with some time allowance to avoid any slight inconveniences. Luckily for me today we waited for him for just thirty minutes before he finally showed up which is a huge improvement on his side. "I still don't get why I wasn't the one invited to go to London. You know I am more fun and I love London." He complains while putting the bags in the boot. Ooh no I thought we were done with this discussion. I think before getting in the car to avoid answering." "That's because you are not the sister." I hear Joan answering him as I make myself comfortable in the back seat before they start their usual bickering. I clearly never get why they are always fighting over my attention. I am basically the real definition of an introvert nerd. I only leave the house to go to work and then directly go back home where else they are always socializing and making new friends. Evans has been my friend for as long as I can remember after he defended me from a bully back in elementary school. And Joan my only sibling is 2 years younger than me and my best friend. They are literally the only people I talk to apart from mom,my boss and his family. Even after Joan took forever to get ready and Evans was late,they has to pass by the supermarket to buy some supplies. Like what supplies can one person need just for a three day trip? After their shopping, then it was the time forpictures to commemorate the moment. Ugh! these two can be so infuriating. Lucky for them they are all I got so I can't just dump them. I don't know for how long they were at it before they were satisfied and we finally got back in the car heading to the airport. The entire ride they kept on arguing on which pictures to keep and which to delete. I must have been up on the clouds trying to imagine how London looks like that I don't realize we are finally at the airport. I have been in the airport a few times before but not the international one. Everything seems bigger than I am used to and even the security seems to be tighter here. Just as I like it we manage to get here with a hour and half to spare before boarding. It hasn't even been an hour but Joan has already gotten bored of being here, that she has started wining that we got here a little too early. By the time we finally get to board she has threatened me to go back home leaving me here a hundred times. I almost called Evans and changed my mind to take him instead. As usual I get the window seat and Joan seats just next to me. It is my first time flying first class and I can finally see what the fuss is always about. This thing it's actually super comfortable. I look at Joan and she is busy watching something on the tablet on her seat with a bag of nuts on her hands. I look outside the window and start watching the clouds passing by with a smile on my face. London here I come.