Conflict of Interest: A Naturals Fanfiction

Airport

I tried to act like I didn't care. That they're decision didn't hurt me, but Jameson didn't let it go. Seemingly every minute he was arguing with his parents about the decision. I didn't say anything to him, and maybe that was a selfish thing to do. But he didn't realize that they had no control over the situation. At least, for the most part.

Three days, an angry teenager, a fighting family, two confused children and me. No one a was happy with everyone else. Constant arguments from the kids, awkward moments when we were in the same room.

And now I was leaving.

My bags were packed, bed made, room clean. Almost as though I had erased the past year, the eraser shavings packed in the bags in my hands.

I closed the door behind me and made my way down the steps. For once, no one was yelling. No whispered arguments. No glares being passed around. They all stood at the bottom of the stairs, and even though they were coming to the airport with me, it already felt like goodbye.

***

I looked past the gates of the airport, to where I could still see the Gibsons watching me. I gave a slight smile and raised my hand in one last goodbye, before walking over to my terminal and boarding my flight to Washington D.C.

***

"You look bored," a female's voice said, drawing me out of my book.  I looked up. A tall and slender Asian girl was putting her baggage above our seats. My eyes glanced over her attire: skinny jeans, knee-high boots and a bright red tank top, before noting her hair, her nails, the way she held herself.  Rarely did I see someone radiating that much confidence.

And rarely did I see someone who was so insecure.

"Not really," I smiled, "This is actually a really good book." 

She scoffed, and I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. "Please, if you want a good book-" my brain filled in the answer before she said it, "read the Hunger Games."

"Actually I already have. Not gonna lie, it's really good."

She gave me a softer smile, one that made her look less like a girl angry at the world and more like someone who had seen terrible things and had dwelled on them for too long. Settling into the seat next to mine, she asked, "how many people are on the plane right now?"

I was confused, but I didn't ask any questions. "118," I decided. "Give or take one."  The girl made a hmphing sound and sat down next to me, putting in her earbuds to signal that the conversation was over.

No doubt she was listening to rap music.

I returned my attention back to my book, no paying any attention as the flight attendant told us what to do in case of an emergency. Trust me, I could handle myself.

***

About five hours later, we were preparing for descent.  I took out my earbuds, which I had switched to after I had finished my book an hour ago.  The Asian girl was nowhere to be seen, but I assumed she was probably in the restroom.

I looked around at the other 112 passengers on the plane. The balding man in the suit had just gotten home from a work conference. The lady with the child was divorced and was visiting her parents. The flight attendant was an only child, who regretted whatever life decisions had brought her to be in that moment.

"Are you visiting family?" The Asian girl asked upon returning to her seat, interrupting my examination of the people on board.  "I'm visiting my dad." She gave a little smile, but in my mind I could tell that her statement wasn't fully truth.  Father figure maybe?

"That's nice," I responded, not knowing what she was wanting me to say to that. "Yeah, I'm visiting family."  She raised an eyebrow before walking out into the aisle.

"See you later," she called over her shoulder, leaving before I could respond.

If she meant never, then I guess I'd see her later too.

I didn't know what I was expecting when I got off the flight, but I'd learned that people holding signs with your name on them is something that only happens in the movies.  I scanned the crowd, looking for anyone who looked remotely interested in me before realizing I knew nothing about the family I was about to join.

What if they were weird?

What if they were abusive?

What if they were cold-blooded killers?

What if they were like my parents?

I shuddered and focused on looking around. The airport was emptier than it had been a minute ago, and I was able to see the Asian girl I had sat next to on the plane. I started to walk towards her. Maybe she could help.  I was about ten feet away when she nudged the boy next to her, and belatedly I realized that it was the boy from the library.

"How'd you figure it out so quickly?" She asked me, her lower lip jutting out, but I was too fixated on the boy to realize what she said.

The boy was watching me with a hint of amusement on his face. He was wearing a button-down shirt and khaki pants, and I couldn't help but think that even in an airport, he looked out of place. But he just watched me.

"Well?" I asked, because I was getting uncomfortable over his overly scrutinizing face.

His smile grew.  "Well April, I guess you won."