Evette blinks awake, her eyes adjusting to the dim lighting of the cabin. She shifts slightly and feels warmth against her cheek. Her stomach drops as she realizes—she had been sleeping on Evan's shoulder.
Her head snaps up, and she quickly glances at the aeroplane clock. 45 minutes had passed.
Evan turns to her, grinning. "Well, good morning, Sleeping Beauty."
Her face heats up instantly. "Oh my god—why didn't you wake me up?" she whispers harshly, adjusting in her seat, suddenly hyper-aware of how close they are.
Evan chuckles. "You looked peaceful. Plus, I didn't mind."
Evette groans, covering her face with her hands. "This is so embarrassing."
Evan nudges her playfully. "Relax, Eve. It's not a big deal. Though, I gotta say—you drool in your sleep."
Her eyes widen in horror. "I do not!"
He smirks. "You do."
She huffs, crossing her arms. "I hate you."
Evan laughs, shaking his head. "No, you don't."
Evette glares at him but can't help the small smile tugging at her lips.
Evan stretches in his seat and glances at the clock. "Flight's three hours, so we've only got about twenty minutes left."
Evette sighs in relief. "Finally." She unbuckles her seatbelt. "I'm going to the washroom."
As she walks down the narrow aisle, she feels the faint hum of the plane beneath her feet. Inside the tiny restroom, she stares at herself in the mirror. Her grey eyes, still heavy with sleep, blink back at her. She groans, running her fingers through her chocolate brown hair before tying it up into a loose ponytail.
She turns on the tap, splashing cool water on her face, hoping it'll wash away the last traces of drowsiness. After patting her skin dry, she smoothens her pink hoodie, making sure it doesn't look too wrinkled.
Taking a deep breath, she steps back into the aisle, ready for whatever is to come.
As Evette steps out of the washroom, a voice echoes through the speakers.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we will be landing in approximately ten minutes. Please fasten your seat belts and prepare for arrival."
She makes her way back to her seat and buckles up. The sky outside is a swirl of orange and pink, the fading sunlight casting a golden glow over the distant buildings. She presses her forehead against the cool window, watching as the city below gets closer and closer.
Evan nudges her gently. "I still can't believe we're finally here," he says, grinning. " And the best part? I you're here with me."
Evette turns to him, smiling. "Yeah, it still doesn't feel real."
The plane dips lower, and as the city lights flicker on beneath them, a thrill runs through her. This is it. What she had always wanted.
The announcement crackles through the speakers.
"Welcome to Pennsylvania. We have arrived at our destination. Thank you for flying with us."
Evette unbuckles her seat belt and stretches slightly. Around her, the passengers start standing, gathering their bags from the overhead compartments. She glances around—there are about a hundred people in total, three families with young kids, two couples, and the rest seem to be solo travelers.
As she picks up her small carry-on bag, a random thought crosses her mind. If anyone were observing, they might assume she and Evan were a couple. The idea doesn't bother her as much as she expects it to.
Evan nudges her. "Come on, Eve, let's go before we're stuck behind the slow walkers."
She rolls her eyes but follows him down the narrow aisle. Together, they step toward the exit.
Lost in thought about her future at West Gate Law College, Evette barely notices the wall ahead of her—until she's about to walk straight into it.
Before she can embarrass herself completely, a strong hand grabs hers and pulls her back.
"Eve, are you trying to walk through solid objects now?" Evan teases, still holding her hand.
Evette blinks, feeling her cheeks warm. "I was just, thinking."
He smirks but doesn't let go of her hand. Instead, they keep walking together, fingers loosely intertwined, as they approach the security checkpoint. After getting their IDs checked, they step into the bustling airport lobby, filled with travelers rushing in different directions.
Evan suddenly veers off toward a vending machine. "Be right back."
She watches as he presses a few buttons, then grabs the snack that falls into the tray. He walks back over and hands her a chocolate almond granola bar without a word.
"You got this for me?" she asks, surprised.
"Yeah," he shrugs. "I know you always get hungry after a flight."
A flutter runs through her stomach, "probably just nerves", she tells herself. Probably just the excitement of starting college.
She opens the wrapper and takes a bite, stealing a glance at Evan as they head toward the airport exit.
As they step outside into the crisp Pennsylvania air, Evan pulls out his phone and scrolls through his emails.
"There should be a limousine waiting for us," he says casually.
Evette stops mid-step. "A what?"
Evan smirks and tilts his screen toward her, showing an official email from West Gate Law College. The highlighted part of the E- Mail reads:
"Dear West Gate Scholars, A limousine will pick you up at 7:00 PM sharp from the airport to transport you to campus. Welcome to West Gate!"
Evette stares at him. "You're joking."
"Nope." He pockets his phone. "Though, technically, it's 7:02 PM, so I guess they're slacking."
She lets out a laugh, shaking her head. "I've never even been in a limo before."
Evan grins. "First time for everything, Eve."
As if on cue, a sleek black limousine pulls up near the curb, its polished surface reflecting the airport lights. A chauffeur steps out, adjusting his cap before opening the door for them.
Evette exhales, still processing. "Well, this is insane."
Evan nudges her playfully. "Get used to it. West Gate likes to go all out."