Finding Home

Terminal B

Helena

I squeeze the bottle of leave-in conditioner and say a prayer, hoping there is just enough left for today. I’ve been meaning to go to the store but haven’t found the time between classes and working on my capstone project. I won’t have time to get any before my flight home, it will have to wait until Monday night when I get back here. Before I can forget, I make a shopping list in the notes app on my phone.

While I’m typing out the list Sophia sticks her head in the bathroom. “You going to see Weston before you abandon me for the weekend?”

“Yep.” I roll my eyes at her. “Don’t act like you’re upset about having the room to yourself for four days.”

“I’m wounded. You know I’m hopeless without you, Lena.” Sophia whines.

I ignore her whining, putting on my mascara instead of replying.

“You know, I think you should take me with you. I want to meet that hot cousin of yours.”

I shake my head and toss the mascara into my makeup bag. “Girl, you need your eyes checked. Josiah is not hot.”

“You have to say that because he’s your cousin, but I’m telling you he is a babe.”

“Gross!” I walk past her into our dorm room. “Do you think of anything else?”

Sophia raises her eyebrows. “Not everyone has a sexy ROTC boyfriend. We can’t all be so lucky, Lena!”

“Speaking of Weston, I am going to be late if I don’t leave now.” I throw my makeup bag and a sweater into my carry-on. When I look up, Sophia is now laying on her bed with her phone out. “Are you going to say goodbye to your favorite roomie?”

“Hmm? Of course!” She sets her phone on the bed and bounces up to give me a hug. “Tell Wes I say hey.”

“I will. Try to stay out of trouble this weekend.” I give her a little wave as I head out the door.

As I walk out to the parking lot to meet Wes, I shoot a text to Cait to make sure she’s awake.

Me: Don’t be late to the airport!

I start to worry when she doesn’t reply right away.

Me: Text me so I know you’re at least awake, brat!

Me: I’m going to have Wes bring me over to your place so I can whoop your ass if you don’t reply in 5 minutes.

After what seems like a lifetime, she finally replies.

Cait: Ugh you’re a nightmare! I’ve been up since 6 am, thank you very much!

Me: Are you feeling okay? Do you feel like the sun is burning you?

Cait: Oh shut up, I’m fine. I’m not a vampire, you ass.

Me: Someone is cranky this morning! :P

Cait: Of course I am, it’s unnatural to wake up before the sun rises.

Cait: I have to go, we’ll talk at the airport. Quinn is being annoying and I still have to finish packing.

Me: Good luck with that (o.o)

Some pervert cat-calling me causes me to look up from my screen.

“Hey sexy lady, show me some skin!”

At first I’m pissed, but then I see the guy yelling from his car. It’s Wes, my boyfriend of two years. I purse my lips and narrow my eyes at him.

“Oh, come on. Don’t be like that, babe,” he pouts.

I sigh dramatically and climb into the passenger seat, where he gives me a kiss on the cheek. I’m not really annoyed with him, but he doesn’t need to know that yet.

“You know I was just joking,” Weston says and flashes me his puppy dog eyes.

“Maybe…” I raise my eyebrows, as if I don’t believe him.

“Trust me, babe. I’ve only got eyes for you and I’d never really catcall someone like that!”

“You better not! Since it was just a joke, you can make it up to me by stopping for coffee on the way to the airport.” I give him an overly innocent smile.

He laughs and says, “Oh, I see what this is. You just wanted me to stop at Biggby!”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I say with a wink.

“Your sugar addiction is out of control. I can’t believe you’d trick me into feeling bad so I’d get you a latte!” He scolds me with mock outrage.

I shrug my shoulders. “Shows how well you know me, then.”

“So devious!”

I smirk, “You know you love me.”

“I do.”

****

The ride to the airport is over quickly and before I’m ready, I’m saying goodbye to Weston. I’ll only be gone for four days but I am still sad to leave him behind. Originally he was supposed to come with me for my parents’ 21st anniversary but he has ROTC training over the weekend that he can’t miss.

I’m not the only one disappointed he can’t make it, both mom and dad really like Weston. Last time I was home, mom kept asking me questions about how serious the relationship is and if I think Weston is going to propose soon. I didn’t know what to tell her. Weston and I started dating our sophomore year of college but we haven’t talked much about getting married or the future.

We’re both waiting to see where he is assigned after graduation before we make any major decisions. Once I’m done with school, I want to live as close to my family as possible but I know that might not be an option if Weston and I stay together. I can’t imagine a life without him, but I also can’t imagine living more than a couple of hours away from everyone I grew up with.

I’m really close with everyone in my family, even my half-brother Gabriel who is ten years older than me. I wouldn’t only be leaving them behind, but also my best friends and their families. It may seem odd to say I’d miss my friends’ parents as much as my own, but the way we grew up together it was like having four sets of parents that we all shared.

I give Weston an extra tight squeeze before I end our hug. I feel sad thinking about having to choose between him and my family, and I don’t even know if I will have to make that decision yet.

“I love you, babe. Text me when you land.” Weston waves as he walks around to the driver side.

I return his wave and blow him a kiss. “I’ll call you later tonight.”

My phone buzzes in my pocket while I’m in line to go through security. When I look at my text messages I almost laugh out loud.

Cait: We are at the gate. I swear to God, if you don’t get here soon I might be on the no-fly list for strangling Quinn.

Me: s**t! He can’t be that annoying to travel with.

Cait: That’s easy for you to say, he hasn’t been bugging you since 6am!

Me: They just checked my ID at security and I’m waiting to go into the body scanner. Take some deep breaths, I’ll be there soon.

Cait: I make no promises that Quinn will still be here when you’re done.