Delayed
@split-queen
She tugged on her suitcase with as little enthusiasm as the pine tree that sat in the corner of the airport’s entrance looking sullen and freaking cold out in the blizzard that had stared as soon as the cab had parked in the drop off zone. Christmas was supposed to be a happy time, one where she baked and bought presents and just exuded this happiness of the festive season, but Raveena thought all of it was just a ruse to make money and she hadn’t even had a sweet tooth to enjoy the season like everyone else with their puddings and egg nog.
She had just about made it to check in, bag thrown onto the zip line and passport stamped for her to visit the family she had been avoiding for two years. Raveena Humbert wasn’t a socialite, she was just a simple to the point lawyer that got the job done and happened to make her mother and stepfather believe that she needed to fly all the way to London in order to achieve her goals of becoming a corporate lawyer. It took her three years to get to the wet city, undergrad in hand and finally free of the pressure she had experienced to find a boyfriend.
Graham, her brother had gotten married a few years back and just because he had a baby she had to come for the christening… it wasn’t like the little girl was going to even know who she was anyways, its not like she would ever be near her family as long as she lived in the closet. That’s right, it was all one big coming out issue that was never resolved and even if Raveena’s mother had walked in on her kissing another girl when she was sixteen, the idea that she might be a lesbian never stuck and Raveena was forced to simply nod her head and comment on how cute a guy was when she was even looking to save her mother a heart attack. Now though, with the visit she didn’t want to be making, she wondered how much pestering she would manage to take about why she was twenty eight and still not married before she snapped and came out all over again.
D E L A Y E D Great, just what she freaking needed. Pulling out her phone while she fished for a magazine she had brought along with her for entertainment, Raveena dialed her mother’s number and gave her the news that she might be late due to the storm and would take a cab to the house when she arrived instead of the entire family coming to pick her up. The idea was validated with the hope that the lawyer meet a nice man in the airport, but it was cut off when Raveena ended the call before saying goodbye. She would blame it on the bad weather.
One hour turned into two and suddenly the airport was closed for the night, leaving the brunette frantic in worry. They were snowed in, there were no available rooms anywhere and now she had to stay here in this airport with.. well… other people. Complaints were made, but none of them were listened to and finally, when Raveena sat down with a huff and pulled the magazine she read twice from her tight grasp, she couldn’t help but grumble when a man and his son sat next to her, asking her to scoot one over so that they could sit next to each other, leaving her sandwiched between an overweight man and a small woman she was leaning against in order not to be suffocated. Fuck this.
Regina had thought that London during the winter time would be beautiful. She had no reason not to go really. There were no holiday plans for her now that her father had passed and her mother was on a cruise to somewhere warmer where she could make friends. The idea of her making friends was both laughable and something that Regina did not want the details of any time soon. So she had opted to take a trip to London, a trip that she had intended to save when she had someone to share it with but, as life sometimes did, it didn’t work out that way for her. She had taken her camera with her, taking pictures of architecture and history that pre-dated her in a way that made her feel so small. She had loved every moment of it and though at times she would get curious looks when she explained that it was just her, those she had encountered had been kind enough to show her to spots outside of the normal tourist junction.
Her vacation had finally come to an end and Regina couldn’t help but think that this delay was simply London’s way of telling her not to go. If she could move she would do so in a heart beat but there were so many things to consider. She couldn’t leave her business or the home that she had made back in the states... then again, moving to London meant that she could start anew. She could move her business here, find a flat that suited her tastes and maybe even... Regina sighed wistfully. She might find love. She wouldn’t have to hide here. As she had wandered the town, Regina had politely refused dinner with a young man stating that she appreciated the gesture but she couldn’t. He had guessed her predicament in a heart beat and though he laughed, he must have seen the genuine fear in her eyes for his voice got soft and he gave her a charming smile. “It’s alright, love. Your secret is safe with me.”
No one here cared like they did back at home. Regina was allowed to be who she wanted to be and it was freeing in a way that was intoxicating. London had become her most favorite place after that. She had even found herself flirting a bit at dinner after her new companion invited her out as a friendly gesture. He would point out various women and tell her to live a little. She would blush over her glass but it was nice to be so open about it for once.
She settled into her chair. Her assistant had regrettably informed her that there were no other flights leaving any time soon and he couldn’t find a hotel that wasn’t already double booked thanks to the storm. She had sighed and resigned herself to being stuck in the airport. It wouldn’t have been so bad really if she didn’t have to share space with so many people. The woman who currently leaned against her had her elbow in Regina’s ribs and she turned to snap at her but was cut off if only by the sheer beauty of the woman.
Regina cleared her throat instead and noted that her lips were nearly brushing against dark chestnut hair. “Your elbow, dear,” she murmured. Suddenly she was very much thankful for the plus sized man slowly taking up all available space if it meant that she was in closer proximity to the woman next to her.
