1. bumping into you in Newark

Blair

The alarm clock went off, causing me to roll over in bed still shrouded in the darkness of the night. I took a deep breath before reaching for my cell phone on the bedside table.

Two in the morning.

I flicked on the lamp, then got up. I had no time to lose, in a little over an hour I was supposed to meet the flight crew that would be accompanying me on the flight.

I went straight to the bathroom, putting the audio lesson on while I showered. 

" Excusez-moi, je dois vous laissez," I repeated after the mechanical voice coming from the cell phone. 

What was I thinking when I decided to learn French on my own? I could afford a teacher. 

After a few minutes of allowing the hot water to run all over my body, I got out and began to devote my time to the task that always required attention. 

There were so many details that I had to pay attention to in order to achieve the perfection that my profession demanded.

" Vous pourriez me donner votre numéro téléphone... " I repeated as I brushed my hair, preparing to tie it into the low bun I wore two or three times a week.

The doorbell rang, bringing me down the stairs to the living room of the small loft I bought a few months ago. I was not at all surprised by a visitor in the middle of the night, in fact, even before I reached the door I knew who it was.

Despite the unusual hours, Abigail was perfectly groomed with her blonde hair tied up in a ponytail, and a black sweatshirt ensemble.

" Bonjour," I greeted my friend as soon as I opened the door, making room for her to enter.

" I preferred it when I was answered in Turkish," she scoffed, walking a few steps across my small kitchen to the living room as I closed the door.

" Isn't it early for you? " I crossed my arms, leaning against the counter.

" Noah just went into the control tower," she explained, "I brought you breakfast and something for you to give to him.”

I rolled my eyes, going back up to the mezzanine room, I had to finish getting ready for another flight.

Abby was my neighbor and oldest friend. Her boyfriend, soon to be fiancé, worked at the same airport as my base. Noah Mitchell was a flight controller and she was constantly looking for me to send something to the guy.

" Where are you going this time? "She sat on my bed while I separated my makeup kit, standing in front of the big mirror.

" Istanbul," I declared unceremoniously.

" Really? And you are going to see them?” 

" Sure, I'm not going to spend three days in a hotel if I can stay at my parents' house," I shrugged while working on my eyeliner.

" Three days? Blair, on Friday…”

" I'll be on time, Abby," I assured her, "I should be landing by five at the latest, and your engagement dinner will be at eight.”

She stared at me with a wary expression as I finished my mak-up.

" You have to be there," she emphasized, "please.”

"I'll be there, even if it's just to watch her take the first step to spending the rest of your life with that haunting," I winked at her before heading to the shoe store, sorting out the pair of red scarves that, along with the black suit, were part of my work uniform.

Abby complained about my picking on her future husband, but what could I do? 

The implication was mutual and was stronger than both of us. It doesn't mean that I don't like him, or consider him unsuitable for my friend. In fact they make the perfect couple.

" Here, I made you cookies," she handed me two paper bags as I carried my rolling suitcase to the front door.

" He better be on break, or I'm going to eat his cookies too," I warned, stepping out into the hallway after making sure I hadn't forgotten anything.

" Can you buy a drink to go with the cookies? " she begged.

I stared at her with a serious expression.

She had to be out of her mind if she thinks I'm going to spend even a minute in line at the coffee shop. Why doesn't he take care of his own drink? 

" Abby.”

" Please," she pouted as she stared at me with those big jade eyes, "I'll give you the money, I just want to surprise him.”

I sighed before checking the schedule. I had no time for pointless arguments.

" I'll buy the weirdest drink in the cafeteria," I warned.

I went back to listening to my class on the way, mumbling a few disconnected sentences, receiving suspicious looks from the cab driver through the rearview mirror. 

At the airport I walked confidently to the cafeteria. I loved the way I felt when I was inside that uniform, the black tailleur contoured my body perfectly, the skirt went to the curve of my knee, not an inch more or less, a red scarf adorned my neck while the beret rested at an appropriate angle on my head.

I knew I was attracting attention and I loved that feeling.

" Where are you going today? " Alisson Green, one of the airport employees, walked beside me.

" Turkey.”

" This is so unfair," she groaned, "you have an amazing life, and if I were a little taller I could have one too.”

Alisson's dream was to become a flight attendant, but her exact height of 1.52 centimeters did not allow her to pursue the profession. So she was content to take care of boarding passengers.

We both stopped in the cafeteria, looking at the menu for some time while I tried to decide what to order.

" I'll have a cinnamon latte and you, Blair? “

" A matcha latte," I decided, getting a surprised look from the girl. 

" Matcha? “

" Abby asked me to get something for Mitchell, I decided he wants to try something new," I winked at her.

It wasn't long before I picked up the paper cup with the steaming drink and made my way to the restricted area, where I hurriedly walked beside Alisson. He had better be waiting when I got to the briefing room designated for the crew meeting.

" I hope there is someone I know in the crew this time," I commented to Alison, walking faster and faster for fear of being late.

" It must be strange to spend so much time with someone you don't know," she commented as we walked down the aisles together.

" Well, on a 16 hour flight we get to know each other," I shrugged, "but it would be better if there was a familiar face there.”

That's when I felt an impact against my body, the contents of the cup were totally lost, but luckily my uniform didn't suffer any damage.

" What the hell! Why don't you watch where you're going? " I mumbled, checking to make sure everything was right with my clothes, while Alisson stood petrified beside me.

" Sorry, but as far as I know, you bumped into me," a thick voice with a slight Russian accent made me raise my head.

I blinked in amazement as I saw the white shirt the man was wearing under his black jacket completely stained green. My gaze went straight to the sleeve of his jacket, where four golden stripes adorned the garment.

No no no. Tell me I didn't drop Matcha on a commander's uniform!

Alison was unresponsive, probably because she knew that my head was about to roll.

" I'm sorry," I hastened to say, "I didn't see you.”

" No…”

" Really, I must have a tissue somewhere," I shook my head in denial before starting to rummage through my purse.

" I have a napkin," Alison offered.

I picked it up, taking it to the man's soaked shirt before he could even react.

I lifted my face to look at his, who looked very amused by the situation, despite all my embarrassment and concern.

His brown eyes looked at me with a curious expression, causing me to be disoriented for a moment. 

Holy shit, I couldn't have spilled coffee on anyone less handsome!

His brown hair was carefully combed under his hat, his face was a mixture of features that bordered on perfection, and his well-kept beard added to his charm.

This made me realize that in the midst of my contemplation, I was rubbing his jacket with Alisson's damned napkin. He seemed to have noticed the same, since he held my wrist, preventing me from continuing.

" I'm sorry," I repeated, feeling mortified by the whole situation, "I hope you don't have to fly now.”

" Don't worry, I just landed," he explained, pulling my hand away from his body.

I was relieved to receive this information. Great, he can have his uniform washed, the disaster is not complete!

" Blair, there you are. Abby said you brought something for me," Noah approached, drawing our attention.

" If the latte was the only thing she brought, it's all over his uniform," Alisson pointed at the pilot, who was still standing a few inches away from me.

Noah's eyes widened, noticing the situation I had gotten myself into. He gave me an amused look at my embarrassment. Before he could speak up, I decided to take action to put an end to it.

" Here," I held out the paper bag with the cookies to the commander, "an apology.

" It's all right, really," he reassured me, although he accepted the package.

" If she's offering, you'd better take it," Noah warned, "you're lucky she's not laying all the blame on you.”

Great, I don't have to regret one bit that I gave him his cookies instead of mine!

" I wouldn't do that, it was my fault," I assured him.

" You should make her pick up the dry cleaning bill too," Noah suggested.

" That won't be necessary.”

" I can do it, Mitchell," I muttered before turning to the man, "you can send me the laundry bill, it's the least I can do.”

He merely flashed me a half-smile that took my breath away. Struck once again by his beauty, I regretted that I was about to embark for another continent while he stayed here.

" So, where is the package Abby sent me, Blair? " Noah brought me back to reality.

In one swift movement I made it to the time on my wristwatch.

" I have to go, I'm already late for the crew meeting," I hastened to say, before starting to walk away, receiving an amused look from Alison who had already understood what I had done.

" Blair? Wait, where are you going?" he called out as I walked away " Blair?”

I turned one last time waving discreetly to the mysterious man I had left behind without even asking his name.

Would I ever meet him again?