Chapter 11:Travel

I always hated airports and traveling. Even before 9/11. When I was younger and I traveled with my parents or friends I always wished I could just be alone when I travel, but now that I am alone and in an airport I had no idea to get around in looking for someone to give me a sign to where I am suppose to be found.
I have gotten lost three times, gotten mean looks from five year old girls seven times, and have been screamed at twelve times. And now I am on an escalator trying to call Sidney, who still hasn’t answered the probably twenty voicemails, and missed calls that are on his phone. Standing at hopefully the right baggage claim waiting for my bag to come through I feel someone grab my back and pull me closer.
“mmmm, I missed your smell,” Sidney. I was pissed. I didn’t think I was until I heard him, and felt his touch.
“I need to find my bag,” I answered, pulling away and going to an opening, adjusting my New York Yankee’s baseball hat on my head. Sidney must have followed me because now he is standing next to me with a dark hooded sweatshirt and RBK black hat on, covering half of his face.
“Which one is it?” He asked quietly.
“I don’t even know if this is the right baggage claim,” I answer wanting to sit down and give up. Since last Friday my life has been hell. And this whole travel day has been a blow as well.
“Let me check, Stay here, Ok.” I nod, and cross my arms and stick my left leg out so I can release my weight from it, which makes the pain which had started to increase with walking around trying to get down to my destination.
“Maddie!” Sidney called. And I turned around to notice that there he was with my bag next to him. He waved me over and I started limping, the pain in my knee soaring now. Finally when I got to him he asks, “Is this yours? I mean you’re the only Maddie Martin I have heard of, but I don’t know, there could be more,”
“Yes,” I thanked my lucky stars, “It’s mine, now not to be a total and complete bitch, but can we leave?” I ask, and Sidney laughs.
“You not a bitch, Maddie, come on my truck is right out here,” He says lifting up my bag, and grabbing a hold of my hand, and leads me out to his Range Rover. Unlocking the doors, we put my two bags into his trunk and go to the driver and passengers doors and climb in. He puts the keys in the ignition and looks at me for a minute before saying. “You okay?”
“Life.Sucks.” I reply “And so does your airport, and traveling and, sorry,” I say looking at his concerned eyes, “It’s been a hard ass week, and I don’t mean to be a Debbie Downer”
“Its fine, as long as your alright,” I nod, saying I am and he continues, “So I just got off the ice, and you just got off a plane, and personally I hate plane food, so why don’t we go to this little café near Mario’s neighborhood and you can tell me how life sucks so much, deal.”
“Deal,” I reply, pulling back my hat and resting my head against the head rest and shutting my eyes slowly.
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“I’ll have a coffee, and your veggie crêpe.” Sidney orders to the little café worker who isn’t stunned that she is taking Sidney’s order, which I thought she would be.
“And for you,” She asks me with a genuine smile.
“Green tea and a berry crêpe. Thank you,”
“Sure thing, that’s my favorite, the veggie one sucks, the only person who eats it is Sidney.” I was now confused. I rubbed my temples and Sidney and coffee house girl must have caught on because she now introduced herself. “I’m Lauren, Sidney lives in my parent’s house because he is way too lazy to get his own,”
Before I could answer Sidney goes in for the kill. “Lauren I am not lazy, I have a job that takes up my time, and promotions and Max.” Lauren doesn’t answer him, she winks to me and leaves our table waving to Sidney. “That was Mario’s daughter, Lauren” Sidney explains, and then changes the subject, “Let’s talk,” He says, “I don’t think your life sucks that bad, does it,”
“Just about,” I answer, “It’s been a week,” I explain. While another shyer waitress comes over and drops off Sidney’s coffee and my tea.
“Well….”Sidney motions me to go on, which I take advantage.
“Remember when I called and said that David, my cousin was on a date, and Izzie, my roommate was on a date,” he nodded so I continued. “Well they were on a date together, which doesn’t bother me, the thing that bothers me it’s that they have been secretly dating behind everyone’s back for three or four months now. And I mean good for them, but David is now picking Izzie over Adam, and to me, that’s not right, not at all.” Sighing I add “And that’s not the worst thing that has happened this week.”
“Well,” Sidney starts nodding to the shy waitress who now puts down the crêpes on the table. “What else happened? You know I once heard you shouldn’t keep everything in.” He finishes, cutting a piece of his crêpe off of the main piece.
“Well I have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder that they have finally found after my accident, which I really didn’t think that’s what I have but I guess I do, oh well. Oh I moved out, and my mother thinks it’s stupid for me to go to Pittsburgh for a boy I just met rather than go home. But I don’t really care what she thinks. She is just mad that I am never home, and she is always home.”
“Sounds like you had an amazing week Maddie,” Sidney says and smiles, then laughs. “I hope this next week isn’t a total blow out to this past one.” He winks and takes another bite.
“Oh if it is, I don’t think this,” I say waving my fork between the both of us. “Will ever work,” I smile, and Sidney laughs.
“Alright, well I hope Pittsburgh doesn’t disappoint you,”
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“So,” Sidney says glancing over to me. “I have an extra room in my wing, so you can stay there. It would be easier for me to get to you and all that stuff,”
“Mhhm,” I agree trying to keep my eyes open.
“So I couldn’t help but notice that you were limping at the airport.”
“It’s because I was sitting for so long. Or else that’s what I hope it is because my doctor did say that my condition could get worse.”
“You could see our trainer tomorrow. Or…or wait!” His raise of voice woke me up and I was now paying close attention. “You can come with me to practice tomorrow and then after you can see Denny, our trainer!”
“Sounds wonderful Sid, just wonderful.”