chapter 4: monaco
757 Words
The plane ride was stressful.
Not the kind you prepare for, just the kind that happens. Too many hours in one place, seats that never feel comfortable, and that constant noise that makes it hard to even think properly.
At some point, we all just gave up trying to stay put.
We talked, laughed, complained, then got quiet again. Somewhere in between all that, it felt like we bonded more than we had in a long time. Maybe it was the closeness, maybe it was the fact that we were actually doing this.
By the time we were about to land, I was half asleep.
Chloe’s head had fallen on my shoulder at some point, and I was too tired to even move it. I think she drooled a little, but I didn’t even have the strength to react.
Then a voice cut through everything.
The flight attendant.
“We have arrived…”
I didn’t even catch the rest before my eyes opened properly.
Monaco.
For a second, I just sat there, trying to adjust.
Then I nudged Chloe.
“Wake up,” I muttered.
She groaned.
The others were the same. Slow movements, tired faces, everyone waking up at their own pace like we had all just come back from something long.
We made our way out eventually, dragging ourselves through the airport, through security, through all the small steps that suddenly felt like too much.
Outside, everything felt… different.
We got into a taxi, all five of us squeezing in, bags everywhere.
The ride started, but we didn’t go far without stopping.
Food.
We kept stopping for food.
It was like we were all suddenly hungry for everything. Small things, random things, just picking whatever looked good. No real plan, just eating and laughing in between.
Monaco felt strange.
In a good way.
The air was different. Clean, but not empty. It carried something I couldn’t explain.
The streets were alive, but not noisy in the way I was used to. Everything moved, but it felt controlled. Calm.
I sat there, looking out through the window as the car moved.
People walking.
Lights.
Buildings that didn’t look like anything back at Hightin.
And for the first time, it hit me properly.
I didn’t belong here.
Not in a bad way, just… I felt small.
Like I was just one person in a place that had so much going on already.
And yet, I couldn’t stop looking.
Everything felt like it had something to offer, something I hadn’t seen before.
We finally got to the motel.
I stayed near the reception area for a bit, just standing there, holding my bag, while Caroline, Betty and Eliza handled the check in. Chloe was beside me, still half tired, leaning slightly like she could fall asleep again any second.
After everything was sorted, we made our way upstairs.
The hallway felt quiet compared to outside.
Then we got to the room.
The moment the door opened, Eliza jumped forward.
“Oh my God, we’re finally here!” she said, throwing herself onto Chloe.
Chloe almost lost balance and we all just started laughing.
Real laughter this time. Not tired, not forced.
Just real.
We stepped inside properly after that, dropping bags, looking around.
The room was nice. Not too big, not too small. There was a door connecting to another room, but it was locked. You could see it, but not really use it.
It felt open and closed at the same time.
I walked around slowly, taking everything in.
And then it hit me again.
I was far from home.
Farther than I had ever been.
I paused for a second, just standing there.
God… I don’t know this place. I don’t know what I’m doing here.
The thought came quietly, but it stayed.
Before I could sit with it too long, Caroline’s voice cut in.
“I know what we’re doing tonight,” she said.
We all turned to look at her.
She had that look. The one that meant she already had something planned.
She dropped her bag on the bed and opened it.
Clothes.
A lot of them.
Different styles, different looks, things I knew I didn’t even own.
“Of course,” Betty said, laughing.
Caroline just smiled.
“You’re welcome.”
And just like that, the mood shifted again.
We started going through everything, picking things, trying them out, laughing at each other, fixing little details.
Dress up.
That was the plan.
And honestly, after everything, it didn’t sound bad at all.
- Writer
