Find Me Alastar

The boy’s eyes light up in excitement. “We should go out at the weekend,” Jonah suggests.

“Yes,” Brielle replies. “We should.”

The stewardess walks up the aisle with the lunch tray and interrupts our conversation.

I shuffle around, searching in my bag before I retrieve my book and put my head onto my headrest,

Brielle grabs my hand. “I’m excited.”

“I wish I was more excited. I’m nervous than anything.” I sigh.

Her face drops. “Why?” She frowns.

I shrug. “If I was staying with you I would be happier. I’m living with two strangers, I have no idea

what the apartment is going to look like, and I am starting a new high pressure job with a guy I have been

crushing on for over a year.” I widen my eyes. “Kind of overwhelmed at the moment.”

She smirks. “When you put it like that…”

I open my book just to stop thinking about everything. I feel my anxiety rise.

“Once you have met everyone…” She tries to reassure me.

I nod. “I know.” I smile. “It will be fine. Once I get my head around everything, it will be good.”

“And what about Mark?” she asks with a raised brow.

I bite my bottom lip to stifle my nervous smile. “He’s picking me up from the airport.”

She takes my hand in hers. “Just take it slow with him, yeah? You are coming over here to escape

boredom and reality. Don’t go falling in love or anything stupid.”

I frown. “As if. That’s not happening.”

Her eyes hold mine in question.

“I’m here to have fun, I promise you. No man will ever determine the quality of my life again. I’m

done with being serious. I’m so done with boring.”

She laughs out loud in excitement. “I love that you’re done with boring. Let the fun begin.”

The flight is long and tiring. “Prepare for landing,” the voice announces over the loud speaker.

Chatting on and off with the boys for the last twenty-four hours has made us feel way more familiar

with them than we should, and we’ve made plans with them for Saturday night. I know it would be better

if we were going to live together, but Brielle’s-or Brelly as I call her-new position is live in. The

judge apparently works back late through the week and wants the convenience of a permanent resident in

her home, which is understandable I suppose. Brielle will get weekends off and even has her own private

furnished one-bedroom wing off the main house, complete with a kitchen, separate exit, lounge and

bathroom. I’m living with some guy and a girl. Mark helped me organize everything and said that when he

checked it out, the apartment and the flat mates were nice. I really do hope that’s true.

Customs is ridiculously slow and a man has been pulled into the office up ahead. Don’t tell me the idiotProperty of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

has been busted for drugs…

“What do you reckon he did?” Brelly murmurs as she cranes her neck to spy on the commotion.

“I don’t know. Something stupid probably.” We shuffle up as the line moves forward. “I wish we had

come earlier so we had a week together before you start work,” I murmur.

“Yeah I know, but she needed me to start this week because she is going away next week. I need to

learn the kids’ routine before she leaves.”

I shake my head. “Who leaves their kids for three days with a complete stranger?”

“My new boss, apparently.” She shrugs.

“Well, at least I can come and stay with you when she’s away next week. That’s a plus,” I add. “Yeah,

but I’m sneaking you in. I don’t want it to look like we are partying or anything.”

I smile broadly.

“What?’ She smirks.

“We’re here.” She pulls her shoulders together and widens her eyes. “Oh my God, I know. I just hope

her and the kids are nice.” I raise my chin optimistically. “They will be. Who couldn’t be nice to you?”

Looking down at herself she tries to smooth the wrinkles from her skirt. “She is picking me up. Do I

look okay?”