Chapter Four

We had arrived at the airport safely. My phone had buzzed a couple of times in the car but I was too afraid to look at the notifications. I had a feeling it was messages from Elliot and Vera. I couldn't handle reading them just yet. I had to get through security with a clear state of mind although my anxiety was gradually rising. My heart rate had already increased and there was an unpleasantness conducting itself in my stomach.

The airport was moderately busy as it was the evening now. This was the first time I would be traveling on a plane alone. Leaving San Diego I guess was a metamorphic step into independency for me. Dad explained to me that there would be someone waiting for me at the airport in Seattle. I would know when I saw them. Apparently, I also wasn't the only one being collected from the airport. Dad and I stood in the check-in line. I attempted to spot some possible Supernaturals but everyone looked mundane. I guess that was the whole point anyway. I decided I would wait and see until I got to school to see how "normal" everyone looked.

Checking in my bag was surprisingly easy. I felt a bit more at ease now that I had one more task to go. I had my hand luggage and ticket in hand. "Well I guess this is it." Dad opened his arms for me. I smiled and wrapped my arms around him. I made sure to squeeze him tightly. "You're killing me, Ren," he let out a light cough. "Don't miss me too much alright," he said. I pulled back from the hug. "Trust me I won't Dad. This is kind of like sending me off to College," I rolled my eyes and scoffed. He chuckled at my response. "I love you okay kiddo," Dad placed his hand on my shoulder. Those words didn't leave his mouth often so when they did it pinched my heart and left me feeling emotionally vulnerable. Water began collecting in my eyes. "I love you too Dad," I lost control of my voice because my pitch was higher than how it usually sounded.

I pursed my lips together slightly and formed a small smile. I attempted to gulp and blink away my tears but they ended up falling. "Hey," Dad pulled me in for another hug. "You're absolutely going to kill it there. Do you understand?" I nodded with much enthusiasm. Dad helped me wiped my tears. I was currently really embarrassed with myself for crying in public like this. We hugged once more before I started walking off to the airport security where I would have my small bag and myself scanned.

I finally reached a point where I couldn't see my Father anymore. The airport security check was a success. Which led to me waiting for a bit in the airport lounge before heading to my gate and onto the flight. I followed the path in front of me in search of my seat number "26A". I realized I still had to put my bag in the overhead compartment and there were a few people behind me that were right on my tail. I paused as I reached my row. I lifted my partially heavy bag into the overhead compartment and slid into my row. There was no one else in row 26 yet. I wondered who I would be sitting next to. I kind of hoped I would sit next to a really attractive person. We can all dream, right? I smiled and let out a partial scoff at my thoughts. I settled down in my seat. This would be a long flight.

Although, we were still on the ground the view outside was pretty panoramic. I noticed someone enter my row. I think I might've manifested this beauty. My eyes widened as soon as the guy next to me made eye contact with me. I turned my head in the opposite direction due to my embarrassment. I bit my lip and shut my eyes in the process. He looked like he came out of the pages of a YA novel. My heart drummed in my chest and that uneasy knot returned to my stomach. I noticed he sat in the aisle seat which was one seat away from me. It seems like my wish wasn't granted then. A lady who had a sprinkle of gray strands in her hair looked at the row number and back at her ticket. She must've been confirming her seat number. She attempted to lift her small luggage but it appeared she was too frail for the lifting. "Let me help you ma'am," The guy who seemed to be around my age lifted the old lady's bag with ease. He held a radiant smile on his lips that lit up the entire aircraft.

I wasn't the only one who had my eyes on him because his smile caught the attention of other passengers who were on the plane. He was like a flame and all of us who gazed were like moths. "Oh, you're such a gentleman. Thank you young man," the old lady grinned and began petting his shoulder. "No worries ma'am," his eyes came in contact with mine again. His feline eyes were intensely alluring for some reason it took a while for me to look away this time. I could see him smirking in the corner of my eye. I played with my fingers out of nervousness. I don't think I had ever been this close in proximity to someone good-looking before.

"Ma'am if it's okay with you I would really like to sit next to my girlfriend here," wait he was referring to me. Was he referring to me? He widened his eyes slightly as if he wanted me to play along. "Why did you two book two separate seats?" The old lady looked at him and me. My mouth opened but no words could come out. "I think that's a question only she can answer," he put me on the spot for real now. I had to say something but my mind had no ideas. "Simple answer. He uh made me angry. How could I sit next to someone who was flirting with the waitress?" I crossed my arms. The guy chuckled. What a beautiful chuckle he had. "My husband and I used to fight too. We didn't speak for a week and we were in the same house. Piece of advice. It isn't worth it kids. I'll let you two talk it out," the mystery guy smiled at the old lady and helped her out of her seat into the next.

"Thank you so much ma'am."

"No problem at all," my heart was beating harder all because of his tall stature towering over me. He finally took his seat and yet there was an obvious height difference. We were right next to each other considering we were in coach. "Hiroshi," he introduced himself in a low volume to a point where I almost couldn't hear him. Up close he was still pretty much perfect. He didn't have a single blemish or mark on his face other than a beauty mark above his cheekbone which I wouldn't consider an imperfection. He opened up his palm for me to shake which I gladly accepted. His hands dominated and wrapped around mine like a blanket of warmth. "I'm Ren, it's uh nice to meet you," I giggled quietly. Our hands were still connected which didn't bother me but I did initiate the break-off. "Nice to meet you too, I hope I didn't scare you with the improv," he ran his fingers through the strands of his jet black hair which honestly aroused me.

A normal person would've responded but all I did was shake my head sideways and smile. His eyes were the darkest shade of brown that I had ever seen. They seemed closer to matching the midnight sky than any cocoa combination and even though I and the majority of people on this airplane shared the same eye color as him there was absolutely nothing ordinary about his eyes. They called and enchanted me like the pied piper and his flute.

"You have something really different about you," I blurted out. I immediately regretted what I had said and internally smacked my forehead. "Should I take that as a compliment?" He let out a chuckle and smirked. "Absolutely, I'm sorry if that sounded weird. There's just something different about your aura," what if he was a Supernatural being?

This whole time I was looking for one but what if I didn't have to. What if there was one sitting right next to me? "So, you can read aura's?" I couldn't tell by his tone if whether he had a genuine wonder or if his words were fully laced with sarcasm. "No," I chucked. "I can't read aura's it's more about your vibe you know?" I was being truthful. I currently didn't and have never had the ability to see aurae. Maybe that'd be something I'd learn at school. He chuckled slightly at my comments. I honestly felt dumb and embarrassed. I really shouldn't have said what I said. "I know exactly what you're talking about. The feelings mutual Ren," the way he said my name made me like it even more. I decided to ask him some more questions to figure out if he was human. "Why are you headed to Seattle anyway?"

"I'm meeting friends," his answer was brief which didn't help with my theories at all. "But I bet I can guess why you're going to seattle," I didn't understand why he sounded so confident. He even ran his fingers through his hair which pretty much seemed like a mannerism at this point. His eyes examined my face for a few seconds before he spoke. I instantly stared down as I was too shy to face his gaze. "You're going somewhere new. Somewhere you've never been before. I'm assuming it's a school considering it is August. I think you're going to a boarding school," my eyes widened as soon as he started. Was I that easy to read or did something else allow him to be this accurate about my life right now? "How did you do that?" You could see the shock all over my face and I could tell that he was satisfied. His proud smirk reigned over his features. I couldn't believe I only had three hours to talk to him. "I can't reveal my secret now can I?"

"Is there really a secret or am I just easy to read?" I raised my brows at him. The state of my face must've been funny because he laughed gracefully. His eyes even smiled at me. The little dimple on his left cheek which I only noticed now smiled at me too. Could his face get any better? "There is a secret and if I tell you... I'd have to kill you," the intensity in his eyes increased which gave me the impression that there was some truth to his words. I chuckled choosing to make him believe I didn't believe his words. "Right... and hypothetically speaking. If you did tell me your "secret" how would you kill me on a flight with all these people?"

"You really want to know?" he chuckled softly. "Yeah I do really want to know," I know the subject matter was pretty dark. Asking someone how they'd kill me on a flight but I was curious.

"Come closer," he whispered. My heart rate began running laps again. I attempted to gulp the nerves away but it didn't seem to work. I brought my face closer to his, this was the closest my face had ever been to a guy I found attractive. "That's a secret too," he whispered. His warm breath hit my ear which caused a surge of goosebumps to rise on my skin. The sound of his voice in a low tone was so satisfying. "You suck," I attempted to laugh away my feelings of nervousness. Why did he have such a strong effect on me? I hadn't even known him for a full day.

"I've been told," he raised his eyebrows with a small and slight laugh. "How old are you then? I hope that isn't a secret," I rolled my eyes. There would be no way I'd be able to get out any information from him so I gave up and decided to just enjoy his company instead. "I'm seventeen what about you?" I expected him to be nineteen so I wasn't surprised by his age. "I'm going to be seventeen. I'm a junior," It was kind of embarrassing for me to announce that I was currently sixteen. I don't know why I felt this way but I just did.

Conversation with Hiroshi was surprisingly really easy. There was always something to talk about with him and I could honestly only have an effortless conversation like that with Elliot and Vera. Maybe I have been shielding myself my whole life by not trying to get to know other people other than them but maybe it's time to let people in. Maybe it's time I emerge from the cocoon I've wrapped around myself. I think it's time for me to fly.