I stared out the windshield at the airport enlarging in front of me. Taxi’s, ubers, crazy suit and tie men were swerving out of parkings lots looking like they were on a search and destroy mission.  The clouds look especially great for cross country flights. 

Beautiful, clear, blue sky.

“Thanks for the ride.” I tapped the unlock button and pulled the door open and my long time platoon leader and friend popped the trunk on his Camaro. I stepped out and was instantly hit by the heat, it felt like it radiated off the pavement and the bodies of those standing with luggages awaiting for their rides.

Why in the fuck, didn’t they stay in side? 

I swagger to the back and grabbed my green duffle bag, huffing it over my shoulder as the blonde asshole slammed the trunk closed. He punched my arm and gave me a serious look.

“If you can’t make it in the north or can’t get a job. Let me know, I know some contractors that’ll hook you up. You got skills, best not to wait too long for them to become rusty. I’m sure they’ll work out something that’ll keep you around your little girl, at least three times a week.” He glanced around while his brows were scrunching up due to the heat.

“Yeah, I'll give you a call if I can’t find something sustainable. Anyway, I got twenty minutes before the plane took off due to your grandma's driving style. I’ll give you a call when I touchdown.” I jested while slapping his shoulder. 

Moving backward to sidestep someone trying to rush between the car behind us and us. The fucker didn’t even say sorry for almost running over my feed with that fucking trolley. God, the stupid fuckers better be glad I can’t bring a gun on the airport.

“Hey, you never complained about my driving when we were heading to training.” CO laughed and walked towards the driver door, popping it open as he leaned against the hood.

“Who would complain about having more time to sleep? That’s when you want the safe grandma to drive her best. Smooth ride equals a full eight hours of sleep. Alright, see ya man.” I winked and spun around with a crisp about-face.

Shit was still in my genes.

I marched into the airport and walked up to one of those ticket dispensers. Printing out my ticket as well as the baggage tag. I took the big bag off my shoulder and moved aside as some lady behind me looked impatient to get to the machine, tapping her feet like she was.

I folded the tap over the handle and pinched the sticky parts together before lifting it back up and heading for… C2.

I walked up to the terminal and passed over my bag after showing my ticket. They put it through a scanner machine before moving onto a belt.

People didn’t seem all that in a rush as they lingering around food stalls or stores.. I noticed a lady buying two neck pillows and passed on to a little boy. She was smart, those things were god sends.

I checked the line and noticed it was pretty short. I checked my watch and noticed I still had a good fifteen minutes, plenty of time to nab a pillow. I walked over and grabbed a light blue neck pillow, the only other choice was pink. I had not fallen so low as to walk around like a true man toting a pink pillow.

People didn’t need much reason to judge you than that. 

I swagger behind the lady in front of me and noticed she had one of those eye blind things. I tapped her shoulder and she turned to me with a wary expression.

I gestured at the eye blinders, “sorry to disturb Miss, I was just curious where you got that from.”

The lady broke into a smile when she realized it wasn’t a crazy request, which makes you wonder. What the fuck kind of requests has the lady heard.

“Oh, over there by the umbrellas.”she gestured with her elbow as her arm was full of stuff. 

I looked over but didn’t see it right away but it could be on that stand that turned? I rushed over with anticipation for great sleep only to find that the area was wiped clean. 

What kind of store didn’t continue updating their stock? 

I glanced at my watch and realized five minutes flew by, I just grabbed two bandanas and rushed back into line. This time behind two people, instead of just the lady I was in front of before, but they had small items. So it would go fast, hopefully.

The lady who pointed me towards the area with the blinders seemed to take ages. Fuck sakes, she asked the worker lady to get another blinder. If the bish didn’t bring back a box, I would just forget about it.

I checked my watch and eight minutes left. When the clerk came back it was six minutes left. I tapped my feet impatiently thinking about putting the shit back and heading for the dock. Even though I wasn’t all that far, maybe a minute if I jog. It was still best to get into that line quick and take up the window seat.

I hate blokes elbowing me when they have to piss. Like couldn't they utilize personal space and their body gravity to maneuver down a lane which had ample space for two people to move side by side? Did they think they were king kong and had to take up the whole plane just to traverse a short distance?

I glance at my watch as I put down my items, four minutes  left. I pulled out my credit card and tapped the counter as the clerk slowly scanned the items. Flipping the pillow through heads and tails before finding the tag. Thank god the bandanas were folded or else I might have curse this bish out for being so stupid.

“Is that all, sir?” she gave me a smile that might have been beautiful on any other day but not today.

I shocked my head, “No.”

She pressed a button and I saw the pay menu show up. I stuck my card in, hit the pin speedily and grabbed my items without waiting for her to bag them.

Two minutes. 

“Do you want a..”

“No thanks.” I walked away after seeing the payment go through. I rushed out of the store and down the corridor, dodging those suit and tie bastards on their phones and pacing around the walking area like it's their personal home.

“Please board Flight 107 to Indiana now. I repeat, please board Flight 107 to Indiana now.” the announcer sounded really close and loud to me. I glanced at my watch and it was negative two minutes as I stepped into the crowd walking onto the airplane loading dock.

Someone had applied too much peach perfume, smelled like she was trying to choke out the whole crowd as I swept by. I spotted my three man window seat and dropped in feeling like the world was at least going to plan. I reached into my pockets for the portable wireless earbuds and usb cord. Plugging the cord into the port at the bottom of the seat, while the other end into my phone.

I put the neck pillow around my neck, stretch out my legs as far as possible, and put in earbuds.

I turned on my favorite playlist, a light symphony that calms the nerves and helps elicit a deeper sleep. I took the packaging off the bandanas and folded them so they formed a long rectangle then tied it over my eyes.

I felt the chair tilt back a bit as someone else dropped into the seat and threw his bag into the seat in between us. The guy waited literally for a few minutes before patting my arm.

“Hey, guy! Hey, guy! Let’s trade seats, huh? I prefer the window seats but I won’t let you take a  loss. How about I give you two hundred for that seat, huh?” the imbecile asked without taking into the account that maybe I couldn’t hear him.

I pretended not to hear him anyway and allowed myself to be rocked to sleep as the plane took off moments later.

**

I woke up and tugged the bandana up over my forehead. The moment I did the suit and tie man started talking loud, like he was trying to annoy me or something. Is he that petty?

“Why are you headed to Indiana? Change of orders? You are a soldier, right? You look like one with the hairstyle shaved on the sides. Though I didn’t know you were allowed to let the top grow out so much. Are you really a soldier or just like military camo stuff?” he pointed at my earbuds pod which had a camo case covering. 

It wasn’t like I liked military stuff. It’s just that it is cheap and there is so much camo stuff that I think it's discounted. 

“It’s okay to like military stuff. When I was younger I had the same problem. My old man was a soldier that retired, he would always bring up military this, military that. To be honest, by the time I got into high school and was planning my future, I knew what I didn’t want to be with hundred percent. I didn’t want to be some soldier listening to the orders of another man when I was making egg shells. Thus when I had a choice of colleges to pick from I went straight into finance. I wanted to be the next big wall street guy but even if I couldn’t make it that big, at least I wouldn’t go hungry, right? Anybody would higher a success money maker no matter what the company did before he was released.” he lamented while I checked my watch.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

Thanking god that the plane was just about to land in twenty more minutes. This guy didn’t stop talking, smacking my arm as he thought of something funny. 

Fucker was having the time of his life.

When the plane shook due to resting its weight on the wheels, this fucker didn’t pack up. Seeming to get really deep into a story about the time he made his company almost sixty-six million dollar investment but his rival brought in a billion dollar investment.

As the plane clerks cleared the aisles and people began pulling their bags from the overhead compartments, this fucker was still lampooning. He didn’t even get up when people started heading out the gate and literally waited for the fucking last person to go buy.

What a petty fucker this guy is?

I checked my watch as he got up and walked away. Still talking. I could only shake my head and follow him out. When we got into the airport terminal, the fucker hit my chest and rubbed his knuckles.

“Good talking with you, mate. I hope things end up swell for you and you don’t turn into one of those bums that retire with ghosts.” He chuckled as he walked away.

My jaws clenched and I considered punching the guy but reconsidered. I wasn’t here because of that guy, I didn’t want to let him put me behind schedule.

I checked my phone battery before calling a taxi and then I called my CO.

“I touchdown.” 

“Good, remember if you need anything just give me a call. Also, don’t be afraid to… Clarke, what the fuck do you think you doing? Do you think this is fucking playground? Go to attention when I’m talking to you. You know what fellow. You look like a funny person, how about your right face? Down.” My CO went from normal person to asshole in seconds. 

What a fucking bastard.

“Oh, anyway, I was saying, you need to get laid. Don’t let that woman become your sorrows. I saw way too many men pine after their ex.. Did I say you can stop pushing?”

“But you didn’t even tell me to push to begin with!” I heard another voice and I couldn’t stop laughing.

“Fucker, you funny funny, huh. Down! Up! Half-way down!” CO yelled, then turned easy going. “Hey, call me back after you get home or something. Actually, in four days from now, I will send you some housewarming gifts and stuff.” 

He cut the line and I knew that part sergeant was in for the time of his life.

I got a call moments later from an unknown caller, I answered and they gave a simple reply.

“I’m outside, blue land rover.” Then hung up.

I grabbed my bag and headed outside to really see the taxi driver showing up in a land rover, these guys were really rich huh.

The guy didn't even get out to open the door or trunk, just hit the switch and the trunk popped open. I tossed my bag in and got into the back seat. The trunk closed and the middle aged driver glanced at me in the rearview mirror before pulling out.

He played this really old school country stuff that was more annoying than pleasant to listen to. I put in my ear buds and played my own music, watching the landscape pass us by in blurs as he hit the major highway.

I noticed we passed over a bridge and river that seem to divide the city, I guess this was why it was called West Lafayette. I noticed we passed by a university on our way to the bank.

“Hey, do you mind pulling over at a store so I can buy a briefcase or something?”

The middle aged man grunted and hit the blinkers. 

I subconsciously grabbed my seat as he swerved through the traffic into a parking lot. Like he didn’t even have his blinkers on for long before he cut the wheel. 

Dude fucking crazy.

He parked at the front and pointed at the handicap parking space. 

“I’ll be in one of those spots. I’ll honk my horn when you come out.”

I nodded and got out, having to tap dance as I closed the gate because a car came oh so close to pancaking me. 

People were really crazy fucking drivers.

I rushed across the street to the store that looked like it sold bags or something. I didn’t want to be on the five o’clock news for being a victim of a hit and run. I just retired, couldn’t I make it a few more months, huh?

I rushed in and immediately saw bookbags. It must have been school starting seasons. I picked up a medium size black and blue one. Price tag said twenty-seven dollars, but was it really worth that? Just for going to school? I mean, how many fucking students actually carried books in their backpacks? It wasn’t like this fucker could hold over eighty pounds of traveling gear, plus food, water, and a folded up tent.

Tsk, I don’t believe this is actually worth the money they make it out to be.

I got into line behind this woman wearing daisy dukes but no ass. Like it wasn’t that she didn’t have ass because everybody had one, it was just that it was flat and that you could run your hand down her back and hit her legs before you knew it.

She wouldn’t even be able to claim you touch her ass because you can say you thought it was her back. 

The lady fumbled into her purse, pulling out bottles of lipstick, perfume, lotion, wrappers, and some other stuff before she got to her wallet. 

To be honest, I don’t know why she didn’t just take out her wallet in the car. Some people like making a show of themselves. 

I shook my head after she paid and glanced at me. I might be looking good but she needed to at least have something back there to hold on to. Just having a big breast wasn’t going to cut it. I’m old enough at this point that breasts are just decoration.

I dropped the bag down and felt a ping in my soul for buying something costing twenty bucks when it should really be about ten.

I walked out and spotted the land rover at once, even though I was heading to the bastard. He still blew his horn and rolled down his window, waving like I was blind.

Civilians are so fucking weird.

I tossed the bag in as I climbed back in.

“To the bank then the car dealership.” He said it like he was just stating a purpose and not asking me.

The bank looks more like some super fancy building where you go in and get your diseased checked then come out a saved man.

I hopped out after the man parked and walked in. I only had to wait a few minutes before walking up to the Teller and requesting a withdrawal of forty K. The Teller looked at the bag in my hand before nodding and turning around. 

A manager walked over and typed something in before leaving back to whatever she was doing and my teller disappeared into a vault.

I glanced back and noticed that from my angle, there were two direct exits leading to two different parking lots. Cameras were pointing at were covering the whole area but I felt that they could have been hidden better. Any robber merely had to shoot them as they walked in then took care of the money before leaving.

The woman counted the stacks out which took a good twenty minutes of my day away. Though I guess it was fast, considering how slow it would have been counting out forty thousand rounds of ammunition. 

I signed the receipt and started loading up my bag and took the copy of the receipt before heading out. We dropped by a dealership and I didn’t want to waste too much more of the day.

“Hey, do you have a specific car you want or want to take a look around?” an old man came walking up to me with a smile on his face.

“I called earlier about the Genesis G80, you guys have. Is it still for sale?” 

The old man nodded and walked in with me.

“Let me check.”

He typed something on a computer before smiling at me. 

“It’s still for sale, want to take it for a spin?” 

I shook my head.

“Let’s begin the paperwork now.”

The old man nodded and pressed a button on the phone system thing. 

“Bring the G80 around, one of the new ones. Thanks.”

He took only a few minutes to print out the paperwork and get me to sign my life away. Cough, jokes. I grabbed the keys and felt the backpack lighten considerably as I walked out to transition my bag into the trunk of the car. I paid the taxi driver through the card then drove out myself, putting in coordinates for a decent dinner.

**

I dropped into a booth at dinner and ordered their special dish. I pulled out my phone and called my ex, dreading this moment but I had to do this. 

“Chase?” Faye's voice came over kind of shaky.

“Yeah, I am just letting you know I am here in Lafayette. Also, I’m going to have the weekends with Jamie. So let her know, from friday to sunday. If she has plans, I don’t mind taking her to them.” I reported like how I would when addressing subordinates.

“Okay, you know she's still in school, right? And she attends a club so you have to pick her up from that.” 

“Understood. Give me your address.”

“Why?”

“How else am I going to pick her up and take her to school if I don’t know your address?”

“Oh, I’ll text you.”

I heard a ding and checked the directions to their house then searched what school was nearby, before searching what apartments were for rent nearby.

The closest was one point eight miles which was decent. I marked them and hung up, hopefully annoying that cheating bish.

“Hello, this is Waterfront Apartment Manager, Walter Noel, how may I help you?”

“Hey, I am looking to take a walk through of your apartments. Do you have any two bedroom units left, preferable the ground floor.”

“I do, when do you want to come by and take a look? My schedule is open tomorrow around Ten a.m. until two p.m.”

“We can do tomorrow at ten a.m. My name is Chase Cross, I’ll contact your office if I’m late due to traffic. Thanks.”

I hung up and turned to the waiter who placed what looked like spaghetta down in front of me. He didn’t even ask me if I needed anything else, just dipped.

City people are so rude.

I dug in and enjoyed the scenery of people walking by with their lovers. Holding hands while looking like they were just about to skip off down the yellow brick road. Let’s not ignore those brave people who were darting across the street. I would have had a heart attack if that was me. Fucking people are insane as hell.

I chuckled to myself as I watched a brave fool touch his chest after almost having a close shave. He stuck up his middle finger and probably said some curse words. I prayed for his soul when he made that decision to cross the street with green light up.

I washed down my food with several sips of lemonade while I hunted down for a hotel with a good review. Booking a room before heading out to just get used to driving in this city.  

I think I arrived at the hotel pretty late but it was fine, the clerk was pretty upbeat. Making quick work of my sign in before releasing me. I rushed up the elevator and divided into my room. Hitting the showers before I slide under the thick fluffy covers that didn’t do the hotel pictures any justices. It was much much better than how it looked.