28 Going Home First Fligh (2/2)
”Happy Birthday, Boots.”
Hunter kissed her lightly on the cheek. Ash leaned her head on his chest and closed her eyes. Hunter put his arm around her. They were 2 hours early for their flight. The two of them fell asleep sitting up on the couch for close to an hour and a half.
***
Celia awoke in the backseat of Isabelle's rented car. Antony, Isabelle��s butler, had been called into the restaurant and he had lifted the sleeping Celia from the booth and carried her to the car. Isabelle had not bothered to explain what had happened, and Antony had not asked. Stranger things had happened during his service to the Valois's and he had yet to ask about any of them. The rich had their secrets and those in their employ were bound to them.
”Antony, could you carry Celia to the dorm?” Isabelle asked.
”She's awake, Miss. Perhaps we should ask her before I do that.” Antony replied. Celia wasn't sure if he was being sarcastic or not, but she could see why the Lady Valois trusted Antony to look after Isabelle. The man was trustworthy and he didn't ask any questions.
”I'm fine, Antony. Thanks. I can carry myself to the dorm,” Celia replied, getting up from the backseat.
”Very well, Miss Celia. If the Young Miss agrees, I shall allow you to carry yourself to the Ladies' Dormitory.”
”We'll be fine, Antony. I won't be long. I'll walk Celia to the Dorm and then I'll be back.”
Both girls were quiet as they walked past the first building outside of the parking lot. When they were halfway to the Dorms, Isabelle broke the silence.
”Do you know what you did, Cece?” Isabelle's tone was neutral. She did not sound angry or sad. She asked the question as though she were asking a student to show how they arrived at the solution on a math problem.
”I . . . tried to hurt Ash.”
”Why?”
”Hunter said 'werewolf' and something in my brain just snapped.”
”Why?”
”I don't know why, Izzy. It happened that way. But Ash burned my face and then I got a hold of myself.”
Isabelle stopped in her tracks. Celia stopped right behind her. Izzy turned around and put her hands on Cece's face.
”Ash didn't burn your face. My hands are on your face right now and there is nothing wring with your skin.”
Celia slapped away both of Isabelle's hands.
”I don't know!” she screamed. ”Something touched me and it burned like a cigar on an open wound. I was hearing voices in my head while I was eating a steak and suddenly I was knifing my friend. I don't know what happened, Isabelle!”
***
Ash held Hunter's hand all through their first flight together. They were seated in first class, but Hunter kept apologizing that he hadn't chartered a private plane for them.
”My dad makes me fly first class cause it's cheaper than a private plane. If I'd known that you had never been on a plane before, I would've booked a jet myself. I'm so sorry. I didn't know.”
”Dude, stop it! Flying first class is super cool! This is my first time flying and I'm super excited. I'm already really happy, I promise!”
”A private jet would have been more impressive. It would have been a good birthday present,” Hunter said, sulking.
[Is he insane? First class isn't cool enough for him and he thinks a private plane is just a ”good” birthday present? Are all rich people crazy?] Ash wondered.
The difference in their perspectives just seemed jarring. She had been at Saint Blaise's for two years and the world of the filthy rich was still so fascinating to her. They were practically from a different world to the one she lived in as an ordinary human. Were-human? Werewolf? The intersections of Ash's life were becoming more complicated then ever.
The fasten seat belt sign lit up and the flight attendant's voice came on the public announcement system. They were about to land.
”We're home, Boots,” Hunter said as their plane taxied on the runway.
Ash squeezed his hand and wondered what that meant.