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ASHLEY

The next morning I felt guilty. I got up at dawn to apologise to Stefan for my
angry outburst. After all, the poor guy's probably feeling down. Down. I walked
to his house down the block, gait fast and head low. I knocked three times.
Nothing. Again. Sally opened it. "Oh, Ashley. Stefan just left for the airport.
He's headed to the States." the States. Why the hell was Stefan leaving all of a
sudden without telling me? "He left another plane ticket on the desk, I assume
you're here for it?" "Oh, yes, thank you Mrs. Abingdon." She disappeared for a
moment, then came back with a sealed envelope, unmarked. I took it and bid a
polite yet quick farewell to Sally and raced home. I ripped open the envelope.
Inside the parcel, there was a letter and a plane ticket. The letter read: Dear
Mum, I am off to the States. I will probably not return. Consider this
a...permanent...valediction. I'm sorry Mum. Sincerely, Stefan. What the hell?
This was for Sally! Why would he leave her a plane ticket if he said goodbye? I
knew the only I had to do. I had to catch him. What was this about? I hastily
threw in a few pairs of clothes in my car and floored the gas pedal.

When I got to the airport, I ran as fast as I could. I read the ticket. Gate
forty-three. Departure: nonstop flight to New York. Virgin Atlantic. I spent an
annoyingly long time buying a brief breakfast from McDonald's, which left me
with about two minutes til boarding stopped. Shit. I sprinted toward the gate.
Panting, I shoved my boarding pass at the flight manager. "Little late aren't
we?" she said cheerily, swiping my pass and closing the doors to the jetway
behind me. My bag pounded against my legs, probably bruising them. I didn't
care. I just wanted to get to Stefan.


STEFAN

I adjusted comfortably to my seat. I had a whole row to myself, which was pretty
surprising because the plane was absolutely packed. The captain's voice came
from the cockpit announcer: "Thank you for being patient while we addressed that
brief delay. Welcome aboard Virgin Atlantic Flight 122, nonstop to New York,
USA. We offer..." I didn't pay much attention. I was too curious on why the
flight was delayed. I asked a passing flight attendant. "S'cuse me, m'am, but do
you know why the flight was delayed?" "Ah, yes sir, we had to wait for an
unexpected passenger. But he's on board, and now we're going to depart." she
replied happily. I shrugged and situated myself further.

It was two hours since takeoff. Still over the blue Atlantic. I had woken up
about a minute ago. Whispers flooded the cabin as time passed. Then I saw
someone who caught my eye. He was a guy, tall, muscular, and brown haired. It
took me two seconds to realise it was Ashley.
I grabbed his sleeve. "What are you doing here?" I murmured. He flashed me his
electric smile. "Surely you didn't think you'd leave me behind? Why'd ya leave
so suddenly without telling me, mate?" he said. I sighed. "'Cause you obviously
want me out of your life." "What, you thought you could run away from me? That'd
make everything better?" His flexible eyebrows narrowed and he was serious now.
"I...I dunno. Seemed like a good idea at the time." I said. "Well, I'm coming.
Anyways, why'd you leave a ticket for your mother if you planning on leaving
permanently? And you'd really leave England just to make ME happy? Come on, you
know I'd be crushed if that happened." It was true. He would be crushed. "Apart
from that, let's focus on a nice holiday to New York." he flashed his turn-on
grin and I died inside.