Her whole life Samantha was known as Mikey's little sister. This, along with the fact that she hit puberty later than the rest of the girls and spent all her time kicking a soccer ball around with her brother and his friends, made it nearly impossi...
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I SNATCHED MY heavy suitcase from the baggage claim area, threw my carry on bag over the handle bar and lugged it down towards where the exit signs were pointed.
The excitement was so overwhelming that I actually stumbled a couple times trying to navigate my way through the crowds of rushing people in the busy airport.
But who could blame me, really?
The moment the plane had touched down and the doors had opened, the entire atmosphere had somehow changed... Even in a crowded airport that was filled with tens of thousands of people, I could just feel the shift in the air. It felt more electrifying. It was familiar and the feeling of home was so powerful that it made me wonder how I had managed to stay away for a whole year.
Outside the airport, there was an even more overwhelming amount of activity. Taxi cabs and Uber drivers had filled the streets, people were waiting to be picked up, others were dragging luggages into illegally parked cars.
I looked around trying to spot the familiar car, but my dad's prized red Camaro was no where in sight. Reading the time on my phone, it was almost ten minutes past the time he was suppose to pick me up. Unless he had gotten lost, he should have been here by now.
I dragged my fingers on the screen of the phone, about to press call when an all too familiar voice called my name.
"Sammy!"
The smile erupted over my face before I had even completely turned to face him. He looked exactly like how I'd seen him last yet somehow different. Slightly older, in the way one does when you haven't seen them in seven months. His chocolate hair was longer, more shaggy, as if he couldn't be bothered to manage it. His beard was longer and un-groomed. He had gained a new wrinkle or two on his forehead and around his eyes, and he looked slightly tanner, as if he'd spent some time outside since the winter holidays. The California sun had gifted him with a slight golden tan and sun freckles. He had always been lucky in that department. I unfortunately had taken after my mother who was always pale, regardless of the weather.
"Daddy!" I exclaimed, closing the short distance left between us and throwing my arms around him.
His chest rose and fell in laughter as he held on tightly and I felt him kiss the top of my head.
He smelled like peppermint and cigarettes. And somehow it was one of the best scents to ever hit my nose. It smelled familiar and real. It was my dad.
"Wow, I missed you kid!" I'd heard his voice over the phone every single night since we had left but it right now, in person, it sounded like like music to my ears. "Let me get a look at you!"
His bright blue eyes mirrored the happiness in my own as we surveyed each other. "How is it possible you grew even more since Christmas?"
I chuckled. "You're one to talk! What is this new hair style of yours? Are you trying to go for the grubby look or is this just an off day for you?"
