Chapter Five

    The ride to the airport was nerve wracking. Not only did I smoke almost 3 cigarettes on a half hour drive, I barely talked the whole time. I wasn't just nervous about living in a different country, I was nervous getting there too. Planes freaked me out. Especially when you are in the air, and they dipped? It feels like you are falling 10,000 feet when it did that! I've flown a few times, but nothing more than two hours. I managed to sneak in a blunt before the drive there. The hardest part was going to be saying goodbye to the little man in the car seat behind me.

I wonder if he understands that I am leaving.

    Bri dropped me off at the entrance, and went to go park the car. I gathered my bags, and headed in with my ticket. This was all just happening so fast. Swallowing my fear, I dragged my bags up to the counter and put them on the belt. The lady at the desk took my ticket, and asked for my passport.

Crap.

    Suddenly, a very colorfully tattooed arm reaches out to the desk and plops down my passport. Bri thinks of everything. The woman took it and smiled down at Bentley, and he shyly hid behind his mom. After everything was all settled and my bags were checked, things were starting to sink in. I started biting my nails. Even though Brianna was preoccupied to get a gate pass, she grabbed my hand out of my mouth, without even stopping what she was doing. Looking through my paperwork, we headed up the escalator to go through security. Looking at my watch, it was 6:00. My plane left at 7:30. I took a sharp breath in, and stripped my shoes, bag, and emptied my pockets into the containers to be scanned. I held my breath, walking through the metal detector. I don't even know why I do that, expecting something to go off. I know I have nothing on me, but they still make me feel weird. Kind of like when you are driving down the road and see a cop and tense up?
    After the security guards cleared all three of us, we made our way down the hall, looking at the gate signs. I was gate C4, and as we walked, the numbers and letters increased, as did the butterflies in my stomach. I read as we walked.

B8, B9, B10, holy crap- we're in the Cs.

    When we got to C4, I walked up and plopped my carry-on beside me. Bentley, smiling, came up and crawled up onto my lap. I held him tight. "So, you're nervous. Don't be, you'll do great" Bri offered some words of encouragement, but I could tell she was upset. "You know, if you need me to stay I can call this all off and not go..." I stated. Brianna's face softened. "Vanessa, I am happy for you. Am I going to miss you? F**k yes! But it's something you'll do great at. Just, relax. Have faith."

Easy for you to say, you aren't the one on a plane for the next few hours.
    While we sat, we made small talk. "So do you think you'll see any kangaroos?" she joked. "It's Australia, Bri. Of course I will see some kangaroos." I teased back. I knew what she was doing, and I appreciated it. The small banter back and forth helped calm my nerves a little. I checked my watch.

7:20.
    
    As a unnecessarily loud voice came over the loud speaker, calling people to board, I held Bentley tighter. "You are going to be fine, Ness." She said, picking Bentley off my lap and standing. She handed me my bag and walked over to the line of people with their passes, waiting to board the plane. I turned to her, and gave her a hug. Which is weird for me, I am not a very touchy feely person. I was silent, I didn't know what to say. "Cya little man" I said, crouching down to get onto his level. Bentley looked up at me, and wrapped his little arms around my neck, squeezing tight. He buried his head into my neck, and squeezed out something that sounded like "I love you, Aunt Nenna" I choked back tears as I kissed his forehead and took my place in line. A few people piled behind me, waiting, as Brianna took a hold of my nephew's hand and stepped back out of the way. When I got to the front of the line, I handed the flight attendant my boarding pass, and turned around and waved.

    When I got onto the plane, I ordered a bottle of Whiskey. It was only 3 oz, however they charged $10.00 for such a thing. Lord. After chugging it, I was happy that I was tired enough to sleep the rest of the way. Makes sense, I didn't sleep a wink last night. When I woke up, we were still in the air. I twitched in my seat, and decided to open a book and read to get my mind off of the flight. After about 30 minutes, I heard the captain beep over the intercom. "Folks, we'll be arriving here soon, about another 20 minutes and we will be landing." I closed my eyes, and took a deep breath. Well, here goes nothing.

    After landing, I gave a call to Melanie. She arrived two days before I did, and told me to let her know that I landed safely. I was just happy to be off of the plane. "Hello Vanessa! Great to see a call from you! I trust you had a good flight?" She greeted. "I did, thank you." I said politely. "Okay, well Glenn arranged to have someone pick you up in baggage claim. He will show you to your hotel until we get your living arrangements sorted." I thanked her, then hung up. This airport is huge!

Baggage claim B...Baggage claim B...

    After getting lost twice, I finally found baggage claim B. As I walked up, I saw a man, who stood about 5"10', and was holding up what looked like a piece of a ripped up envelope up, with my name written on it in big black letters. Classy.
    "Vanessa?" He said, as he saw me slowly approaching. Holy hell. Not many guys catch my attention, but this man was gorgeous. Despite him being dressed in cargo pants and army boots, with what I can only describe as an Aussie hat, atop his head- he was strikingly handsome. What was weird, was he didn't sport the fake smile that I have been seeing so frequently. He had a neutral face, as he looked down at me with his dark eyes. Flustered, I acknowledged him by shaking my head. "Alrighty then, welcome to Gladdy, which bags are yours?" His accent was far thicker than Melanie's, but somehow, I understood him. I glanced over at the baggage belt, and wondered over to it.
Why did I pack a black bag? Everyone packs black luggage.
    After I grabbed my bags off of the belt, he walked over and grabbed them, tossing both over his shoulder like they didn't weigh anything at all. We walked to his car in silence. "So, what did you say your name was?" I said, trying to fill the quiet as we approached the car. He opened the hatchback and replied, "didn't." He grabbed the bag I was rolling around, and tossed it into the back with the others. As I went to get into the car, he followed me. With a small smirk, "wrong side," he corrected.

Well, that's embarrassing.

    I walked to the other side and climbed in. This car looks so weird. This man, mystery man, started the car and put it into reverse. "Jax." he said, after about 10 minutes. What? "Excuse me?", "My name is Jax. Short for Jackson. I am a volunteer at the Humanity Relief Project." he stated. I responded, hoping the awkward silence would cease. "Oh, nice to meet you, I'm Vanessa.", "Yeah, I know, I am the one who wrote the sign" he said, gesturing to the envelope he threw in his center console. "Ah." I said. Squeezing conversation out of this guy was damn near impossible.

    As we pulled up to the hotel, he helped me carry my bags inside to check in. He was quiet, and expressionless the whole time.
Does this guy not like me?
    After everything was set, he said a polite goodbye, and off he went. I wonder if all of the people I am going to be working will will be like him.


    After I got all situated in my hotel room, I decided to grab a nap. My neck was stiff from sleeping in that god awful plane. When I awoke 2 hours later, I checked my phone. S**t. Two missed calls, from Melanie. I pressed the call button, not bothering to check my messages. "Vanessa! I've tried calling you a couple times, did you get all situated?", "Yes, I did, I am sorry I missed your calls, I must have fallen asleep by accident" Lies. "No worries, now i'd like to see you at the office. Since you're already acquainted with Jackson, I will have him swing by. I'll see you in an hour" And just like that, she hung up.
    Great, this guy again. I know I don't like when people pretend, but it's just, odd, that he shows no emotion. I got up, and hopped in the shower. I felt disgusting. The shower was hot, and felt good on my skin. I relaxed as I let the stream of water fall down my back. After I toweled off, I dried my hair and squeezed into some clothes, just in time to check my watch.
    I grabbed my purse and headed down stairs, to see Jax waiting in the lobby. He was sitting in the lobby, leafing through magazines, far to quickly to be reading anything. "I hope I didn't keep you long..." I said apologetically. "No worries, my unit is just down the road." He seems a little more friendly today, but still emotionless. When we arrive to the office, he escorts me through a set of doors, scanning a card as he goes through. He weaves me in and out of a few hallways, and I can barely catch up. Why is he walking so fast? When he takes me into a room, where I see Ms. Loveless waiting for me. "Thank you Jackson, that's all." she dismisses him. I don't know why, but a part of me wanted him to stay here. "Right then, down this hall to your right is your office. I need to go over some paperwork with you..." she continues. I glance back at the door, my escort is already gone.
    That night, I video chatted with Brianna. "So how is it there?" She said. She had her Xbox ear bud in. Typical. "Its...different." I still wasn't quite sure how I felt about it here, yet. "The cars drive on the wrong side and there is so much slang, it's almost like a whole different language completely." Bri laughed.

I wasn't joking.

    "So how is my little man?" I asked, changing the subject. I couldn't believe I missed that little stinker so much already. "Come here, Bent...look who it is!" She turned the computer so he could look at the screen. "NENNA!" He screeched, pointing at the screen. "Hi buddy!" I said, his face turning shocked. I guess he didn't know I could move and talk to him through the computer. He had a huge smile on his face. "He is doing good, he has asked about you a few times. I just tell him you're playing hop-scotch with the kangaroos." Brianna informed me, giggling.
    In a sense, the video call with Bri made me feel more comfortable. I can do this, I can do this. I turned off my light and snuggled under the covers and fell into a great sleep.