Tangled Strings (sequel to Red Strings)

Chapter 43

"Well now that we're checked in, I say we go through security!" my mum says as she began to roll her carry on towards the security gates.  I follow her reluctantly, as I refresh my twitter feed as I tweet out, "From one sunny place to the next.....comin' back for you Oz." 

The line is slightly long for security as I take off my hoodie and am left in my leggings and t-shirt, as I put in my laptop, my phone, and my suitcase onto the conveyor belt.  "Natalie!" I hear a voice yell.  I don't think it's for me so I continue through.  "Next!" a security guard booms and I focus, as I walk through the metal detector.  I come up clear and I walk and begin to pack everything back into my bag.

"Natalie!" I hear the same voice yell again.  This time, it's closer.  I look up to see Calum, near the entrance of the security, as he cranes his neck, trying to spot me.  "Come on Natalie we don't want to be too late to the gate!" my mother says as she pushes her sunglasses back onto her head.  I'm too focused on Calum though to hear a word my mother has said.

Calum spots me and he tries to run ahead, but a security officer then says "Sir, you can't go beyond this point.  Unless you are a passenger-" "No you don't understand I have to say goodbye to my girlfriend, she's right over there-" "Sir I'm afraid we can't do that." the security officer reinstates as Calum looks sadly onto me.

"Please, I'm begging you, two minutes...." he says, practically pleading.  The officer turns to me and then says "Is this your boyfriend?" I nod and I can sense my mother getting tense again.  "What is HE doing here?" she spat and I turn around and say "I never told him we were leaving now.  He knew I was leaving, but he never knew when.  I didn't bother to say goodbye mom because you were trying to drag me out of the house-" "Oh don't be so dramatic!" my mum sighs and I look back as I walk over to the security officer.

"Sorry he's causing some trouble....would I be allowed to step outside and then step back in?" I ask, hoping the officer might be slightly flexible.  "We'll have to scan you again." she says and I nod and say "I'm alright with that."  Thankfully there wasn't that much of a line anyways, and we had an hour and half till our flight began to board anyways.

I step outside and I throw my arms around Calum's neck as his arms are enclosing me tightly.  "I thought you were gone, I caught you just in time." Calum whispered, burying his face into my shoulder.  "I wouldn't have thought you'd come." I say truthfully as Calum pulls away and holds my face gently and whispers "I wouldn't have let you go without saying goodbye.  Properly that is."  I nod, and there are tears welling up in my eyes and I don't wanna go but I have to at this point as Calum wipes away a stray tear and whispers "I love you, and I'll be in Oz as soon as I can yeah?"  I nod again as Calum cups my cheek and leaning in for a gentle, lingering kiss.  When he pulls away he looks back to see my mother who no doubt is probably tapping her foot impatiently and glaring at Calum.

"Go on baby girl.  I'll see you soon." he says giving me another peck before I fling myself around him one more time, trying to take in the last bit of everything.  The way his back muscles are, the roughness of his hands, the smell of his cologne.  I didn't know how long soon was, and although it was deep into December, I didn't want to have to wait for Christmas for him and boys to come home.

"I love you." I whisper, my voice cracking and Calum smiles at me before saying "I love you too."  I nod as I part, going through the security again before I see my mum who huffs when I finally get back to her.  "Well I can assume we're allowed to go on our way?" my mum asks, sarcasm practically seeping out of her voice.  I don't reply as we finally get on our way to the gate.

"Ladies and gentlemen we're about to start our descent into Sydney.  The current time is 11:45 AM, the local temperature is sitting at a nice 25 degrees.  Hopefully you have had a pleasant flight, and on behalf of the cabin crew we wish you a pleasant stay in Sydney." the pilot's voice startles me up from my nap as I rub my eyes.  I practically had slept the entire flight, even though through parts of it I had cried a little.