Imperfectly Perfect

22.

I snapped the gum in my mouth as the plane shuddered and shook as it ran down the runway. Then it processed. I'm in Scarlet's time zone. In her state. We've nearly closed the distance, less than 2,000 miles apart. We only had approximately 100 miles that separated us. As if in a dream, I followed my family off the plane to the baggage claim, and finally to the car we rented.

~*~
California was so different than the hot, humid Florida that I was accustomed to. It was different, but it was nice; different could be good. Who knew? We were now in La Jolla, I was ten to fifteen minutes away from Scarlet. A small part of me still feared that she was a crusty old man, but I sincerely hoped that I was wrong. It was beautiful, today we were going to walk along the beach, go sight seeing, go on a tour in downtown San Diego, and finally, finally, finally meet Scarlet.

I rushed out of bed hoping the day would speed by, yet also hoping that it would never end. I didn't want to have to leave Scarlet. To have to say goodbye.

The day flew by until I was anxiously waiting for the tour to end.

A: I just want to see you!! I can't wait for this to end...

S: Ugh me too!! I'm on my way there right now

A: UGH FLDLFLJSFJDFKL

I waited a few minutes of silence...

A: Scarlet?

A: Babe?

A: Where'd ya go??

S: HEY

S: Sorryyy I was finishing something

A: OOH

S: It may or may not be for you??

A: CANT WAIT CANT WAIT CANT WAIT

A: Grrrr... you're making me anxious to see

A: Why do you do this to me?

A: Why don't you love meeee???

S: I do love you so very much

S: How far are you?

A: Like ten minutes I think?

A: Let me ask my dad

S: We're in front of the Old Spaghetti Factory

A: GAH

A: Okay

A: We're like 10 minutes away

S: OKAY

S: CANT WAIT

S: HURRRYYYYYY

A: IM TRYING IM TRYING

A: You guys have traffic

A: This makes it sort of difficult

S: True true

I zone out for a bit, letting my family's voices wash over me as I start to doze off.

"Ariel, we're here," my eyes fly open and I see my mom turned around in the front seat shaking my shoulder.

"We're here??"

I ask, as if I'm making sure that it's really happening, the moment I've dreamt about. The moment that I never could've imagined would ever happen. The moment was here. A couple blocks from me, Scarlet was standing in front of a restaurant in walking distance.

"Ariel?"

My mom is now standing outside of the car door, which is now open, or was it before?

"Yeah," I breathe, "alright, let's go."

A: I'm here.

S: Alright

S: Let's stop texting

S: I wanna see you walk up

A: Okay

We walked in silence through the busy streets of the Gas Lamp District. That is, until I see her— Scarlet standing across the street nervously looking around and fiddling with the ring on her finger.

"Mama, that's her right there."

I see her sister, Kenidi poke her in the shoulder and gesture our way across the street. They join hands as Scarlet would probably run across the street if it wasn't for their joint hands, fingers laced together