|04| Welcome To Spain

Aromatic spices and sweet breezes danced through the air as I wandered through the brightly decorated terminal of Matacan Airport. Pastel walls, intricate artwork, and giant screens flashing departures and arrivals made it look like a set from one of those fancy travel commercials. Honestly, if heaven had an airport, I was already standing in line at the gate.

Classical music hummed softly in the background as I pushed through the crowd of people, some foreign, some local, all bustling around with purpose. I tried not to look like a total tourist, but let’s be real—I was practically vibrating with excitement. I was finally in Salamanca. My scholarship adventure was officially starting, and I could already feel something magical.

Tourists snapped pictures everywhere, some posing, some making awkward faces. I almost took a selfie myself when an English couple barged in front of me to photograph an antique.

“Can you move a little? You’re blocking the light,” the man frowned.

“Naive teenagers,” hissed his wife.

The inner rude girl in me twitched. I wanted to comment on her oversized yellow sundress, but I settled on a safer option. “I don’t know much about fashion, but yellow isn’t really your color,” I muttered.

Her glare was almost a physical force. I quickly stepped back, juggling my luggage. “Happy holidays,” I said nervously. Nerds who start fights accidentally? Yep. That was me.

“Disculpe, señorita. ¿Necesita ayuda con el equipaje?”

I spun around to see an older Spaniard smiling slyly. Ratty denim shirt, worn-out black trousers, missing a tooth. My paranoia went up several notches.

“Tu hablas inglés?” I asked, flipping through my Spanish guide.

“Sorry, chica. I speak English, bags. Need help?”

“No, gracias,” I said, clutching my luggage like it contained my soul. No way was I letting anyone steal it.

I felt a hand on my shoulder. Good! Now it was two creepers against one helpless high school girl. I turned timidly and saw a girl about my age standing there, smiling warmly, gray eyes sparkling. “Hi, I’m Penny,” she said.

“I’m Annalise,” I said, shoving my hand into hers and almost toppling my suitcase.

She was in a floral dress and held a pink four-wheel suitcase. “Thanks for saving my life,” I added dramatically.

“You looked like you needed help. People like that freak me out,” she said, wrinkling her nose in the cutest way possible.

I breathed out, “You and me both, my saviour.”

“It’s Penny,” she laughed.

“So, what brings you here? Vacation?”

“I'm here for school. Newton Prep,” I said, twirling a loose strand of hair nervously.

“Me too!” she squealed, grinning. Her energy was contagious, and suddenly I felt less like a stranded nerd in a foreign airport and more like a normal human being.

My smile matched hers. "Are you waiting for the bus?"

"Yes," she answered, studying me in amusement. "Nice pigtails,"

"Thanks," I blushed. Compliments of any kind made me weak in the knees. The pigtails was my mum's idea, and I loved them.

My bowels chose that exact moment to reel in pain. I threw my eyes around in search of a bathroom stall.

"Do you need something?" Penny asked, sensing my uneasiness.

"I know we just met, but do you know where the bathroom is? 

"It's that way," she pointed out. "I'll look after your luggage,"

Five minutes later, business handled, I wandered back. That’s when I noticed a small girl, maybe four or five, crying and looking lost. “Mummy?” she sniffled.

I knelt. “Did you lose your mummy?”

She nodded as she sobbed.

“I’ll help you find her,” I said, squeezing her tiny hands. My mind screamed, Bus. Newton Prep. You will miss it. But I couldn’t just leave her alone.

We roamed through every corner of the crowded airport. After a few tense minutes, her mother appeared, "Oh my God, Carla, is that you? I thought I'd lost you."

“Mummy!” the little girl squealed, running into her arms. Relief washed over me.

"Thank you so much for finding my baby girl." The woman thanked me, pulling me into a warm, motherly hug.

I was all smiles when they turned to leave. I felt like a heroine in a soap opera, having saved a child from misery and all.

I strolled to where I'd left Penny and my luggage. I almost passed out when I saw the spot empty. Jogging through the crowd, I held onto my backpack. Which I'd thankfully taken along with me on my little pee trip.

There was still no sign of Penny. My eyes wandered about like I was possessed, mad even. No, Penny, and no luggage meant I was doomed for the worst. I double -checked just to be sure.

And that's when I realized I'd been robbed! By a girl?