The Watchmen

In a "Fucking Plane"!

No amount of alcohol could subdue the violent swirling that wreaked havoc on my insides as the Boeing 747, jutted violently from the runway saying “Goodbye” to Texas.

White knuckled, panting erratically as the massive metal cylinder on steroids, climbed high into the cloudy blue horizon as Houston became nothing but a distant memory.

Finally, hearing the mechanical ding signaling we could resume our normal air-traveling activities. Grabbing my ear buds, while switching my Samsung over to my music playlist as my laptop fired to life with its majestic background screen of the Supernatural Zodiac.

I know… I am a dork but something about the supernatural always drew my attention, wondering what it would be like to shift into a creature regardless of what it was.

Keep Dreaming Elicia.

“Are you okay, sweety?” The well-aged woman with soft jade eyes and creamy ivory-tanned skin, smiled softly as she tapped my white knuckles with her slender finger.

“Yes, for now. I’m not a big fan of planes.” Laughing nervously as the soft, gray leather captain’s chair embraced my trembling body that was a last-minute change from coach.

Why not fly comfortably?

“I could tell by that “Death Grip” you had on that poor armrest. Would you like a drink?” She smiled softly as her soft floral fragrance graced my nostrils, recognizing the “White Diamonds” by Elizabeth Taylor that the head mistress of the orphanage wore like a second layer of clothing.

“I’m only nineteen.” I whispered to her softly, noticing how the royal blue silk blouse draped delicately over her slender frame like a dancer’s physique.

“Shush. Our little secret.” She motioned to the flight attendant working the First-class cabin, watching as the middle-aged woman brushed her hand delicately down the forearm of a gentleman as she approached with a condescending smile.

“Umm…Mary. Could I get a whiskey on the rocks and a coke for this young lady?” The lady spoke with a regal tone as she tapped her warm hand against mine.

Tilting her head enough to read the name tag “Mary”, pinned to the blue double-breasted suit jacket that flashed her cleavage with a “sultry” peek-a-boo of the red lace bra. Her curly brown locks with heavy blonde highlights, nodded firmly as she quickly turned with those red tinted lips that was “so the wrong color” for her skin complexion.

“She seemed “pleasant”.” Her soft chuckle made me feel at ease as I scrolled through my acceptance letter for the International School of Fine Arts in London with full scholarship.

“More condescending than pleasant.” Laughing lightly as her eyes flashed with a beautiful hue of jade, gazing down at my laptop with a perked brow.

“I’m Elicia by the way.” Holding my hand out to shake as her slender fingers, cupped my hand between hers with a gentle embrace like a polite southern greeting between two dear friends.

“Eve Arkas.” She smiled softly as her eyes studied my screen with a bright glint of excitement.

Her soft facial features spoke care-free, a woman of wisdom.

“Nice to meet you, Eve.” Smiling as the flight attendant returned with a whiskey on the rocks and a coke, smiling politely at the fake Mary as she went back to the gentleman in the front row.

Smirking as Eve switched our drinks, slipping me another coke from her bag as she motioned for me to drink the whiskey, while the flight attendant was busy flirting and chatting with the tailored suit gentleman with a man-bun of golden locks.

Sighing heavily as the warm burn gently coated my throat, swirling darkly as it hit my empty stomach with a soothing burn of relaxation.

“Thank you.” Whispering softly as she waved her hand softly at my remark, pointing to my laptop with a bright smile.

“Fine Arts. What area?” She smiled brightly, sipping her coke as the ice clinked hollowly against the cheap glass.

“Oh, Dance and Music.” Looking back at my screen, studying the information provided for check-in, housing, and start date, wanting to make sure I had everything in order before landing in London.

“Dance and Music, what a unique combination. What do you play?” Her voice held a certain calm, and gentleness that made me want to laydown in her lap and let those slender fingers brush gently through my purple and blue ombre locks that hung in gentle waves past my shoulders.

“Piano and everything else. I always had a natural gift to learn, and music was my “safe zone”.” Smiling softly at those jade eyes as she nodded in a soft agreement.

“It’s always good to have a “safe zone” but why would a beautiful young lady like you, need a “safe zone”?” Her question hit hard, debating if I should share my story with a stranger or just keep it simple.

Fuck it!

New Life, New me.

“I was abandoned outside a firehouse in DeWalt Texas and placed in the care of a local orphanage as an infant.” Looking out the window as the sun’s golden rays, illuminated the cotton ball field of white puffy clouds as Eve’s warm hand gently rubbed along my forearm.

Closing my eyes as her warmth stirred something deep within, feeling the hot prickles at the corners of my eyes as tears slowly slipped down my cheeks.

“Oh, Sweet Girl! I didn’t mean to make you cry.” Eve gasped softly as she reached into her purple leather Chanel purse, retrieving a soft ivory handkerchief with delicate embroidery of “EVE” stitched in a dusty blue scriptwriting along the corner.

Waving my hand as she patted at my puffy cheeks, nodding “Thank you” as she leaned back, hissing lowly as the flight attendant increased her flirting with an obnoxious laugh that sounded more like a dying cow.

“I’m sorry, it’s just my boyfriend, well, ex-boyfriend was supposed to be on this flight with me but here “I am”, alone.” Sighing heavily, closing my laptop as my ear buds blinked “ready”, looking up at the soft illumination of the cabin trying to settle the mess of emotions that swirled dangerously in my consciousness.

Abandoned again.

“It sounds like he hurt you badly.” Eve sipped her coke, side glancing me as my body went rigid at her words.

How the “Hell” could she tell?

Was she some kind of “Psychic”?

Side-glancing the petite woman as she rolled her eyes in annoyance, smirking at the fact I was not the only passenger that found the flight attendant “Mary” desperate for attention annoying.

“Relax. People don’t realize they wear their emotions so openly; plus, the tone you speak of “him” is less than pleasant.” Her smile tilted as she leaned back gracefully with her fingers laced delicately across her lap.

“Yeah.” Replying shortly, leaning back into the cool leather seat as images of Bain and Krystal flooded my thoughts, feeling a strange swirling heat creep along my body.

Miss Clay, the head mistress of the “Guiding Light Orphanage” allowed me to move out at sixteen because I was academically stable, and she knew living in a small-town orphanage was no place for a “Talented Soul” as she referred to my love of the fine arts.

So, the little studio apartment above the garage became my “home” for the next two years.

Bain was a drummer, funny, well-built with dark sandy locks that highlighted his natural amber eyes. He was the classic “Bad Boy”, so I was always getting an ear-full whenever Miss Clay saw him over at the apartment.

Rolling my eyes at the fact she was right that entire time.

It was weird, the whole time we went to school he never even acknowledged my existence, until the summer of Senior year. I was in the school auditorium, playing “Clair De Lune” on the baby grand that stayed hidden in the stage left access.

The tight twang of the cords as they reverberated off the tri-level tiers, sang tenderly to my heart as a shadow sat silently in the third level balcony. Scaring the shit out of me as I covered the baby grand with the black velvet sheet, clapping with that smug smirk that made his dimples pop cutely.

Kick-starting the rollercoaster of our relationship for the remaining Senior year, deciding to surprise him after graduation with an International trip to explore the history of Fine Arts abroad.

He always made me feel “special” so expect my fucking surprise, when I stood in the doorway of my apartment, listening to the sickening moans of Krystal as her legs wrapped tightly around Bain’s thrusting hips. Swallowing the bile that crept up angerly, turning quickly on my heel as the door slammed violently behind me.

Hearing that “Bitch’s” voice call for Bain as he rushed after me in his ripped, stone washed jeans that I “Fucking” bought for him with my “Fucking” tips, working at the diner during the dinner rush.

Gasping loudly as his hot, sweaty palm gripped my bicep turning me around to face his flushed, sweaty torso that glistened against the hot Texas sun.

Thanks to his cardio with that slut in my bed, in my apartment.

Slapping him forcefully before any words could leave his mouth.

“Enjoy.” Was all I said as the “Lyft” driver pulled-up in a metallic blue Jeep wrangler, quickly getting in with my duffle bag clinched tightly to my chest, tossing my hiking bag to the side.

“Elicia, open the fucking door.” Bain commanded as his hot palm, tapped on the tinted window with a ghostly outline of steam as the Texas heat evaporated the sweat from his palm on touch.

“Houston Airport, please.” Speaking softly as the tears finally broke past the barrier, watching as Bain ran along the sidewalk, holding up his jeans as they drifted down those muscular hips that always drove me wild.

Thank the “Gods” I managed to keep my virginity, but I still sinned.

“There’s bottled water in the back.” The driver spoke softly as he navigated the highway traffic, taking me to the airport to start the next chapter of my life without Bain.

I was stupid not listening to Miss Clay and the others, warning me about Bain and his past. Krystal was his girlfriend before we got together, knowing “full-well” she had cheated on him with a friend only made it sourer.

“Elicia?” Eve’s soft voice broke me from my treacherous thoughts as her warm hand, smoothed out the strange tingling that seemed to have intensified while I thought back on Bain and his betrayal.

“You’re better off. Besides, you are young, beautiful, and who knows what London holds for you in the future. Enjoy it.” She smiled brightly with a playful shrug of her shoulder.

“Beautiful is pushing it.” Laughing lightly as the short blonde haired flight attendant, carted our complimentary meals around with a flamboyant smile that radiated his joyful personality.

I could eat that “all” up.

OH MY GOD! Elicia, you deserve a better guy! Get yourself together.