Page 38 of Caught in the Middle

'Have a nice flight,' she quipped.

Lucy and Austin made their way over to a coffee shop just in front of the security gate that leads into the departures lounge. 'I'll stay with you on this side until the flight is just about to be called,' Austin explained, 'and then you can clear security at the last minute. You know, just to be safe.'

Just to be safe. He kept saying that. More like he wanted to make sure that Lucy boarded that flight.

Lucy felt so dazed and exhausted from crying so hard on the journey over, that she could only sit there and sip her coffee, picking apart her croissant.

She felt hopeless. She was going to board this flight, and leave everything she'd ever known behind. She had no idea when she will be able to speak to her family again. Who knows what was waiting for her on the other end of the flight? If anyone at all? Maybe Oliver had just said that somebody was going to look after her in Barcelona because he just wanted to get her out of his hair, to forget about her, and pretend that he did all he could for her.

Fuck it, she wasn't getting on that goddamn flight.

Feeling a lot more alert at this split decision, Lucy frantically searched her surroundings for a way to get out of getting on that flight. She knew once she made it through the departures lounge there was no way she could turn right back around without arousing suspicion from the security guards - and there was no doubt in her mind that Austin would be waiting outside the airport to make sure that she didn't escape.

She didn't know how she was going to do it, but she had to get shot of Austin. She had to get out of this goddamn airport, as soon as possible. She was tired, forever cold and forever hungry. She was over it.

If Oliver had given up on her, then she'd given up on herself.

In that moment, she realised that she'd had enough - if Joey Leonardo happened to find her in England, then fuck it.

A niggling thought creeped into her mind. Maybe if Joey finds her, it’ll force Oliver to come and save her again.

Although super secretive about it, he clearly has his ways of knowing where Joey is, and what he's doing, otherwise he wouldn't know that she was a target. Even if Joey doesn't catch up with her, once Oliver finds out that she didn't board the flight, he'll come looking for her.

He must.

And then at least she can ask him, how the fuck could he leave her like that?

Time to sweeten up Austin.

'Gosh, you know, I'm actually super excited just to be leaving the country.'

Austin looked up from his coffee in surprise. 'Yeah? You were so upset in the car.'

She shrugged, trying to look nonchalant. 'Yeah, it was just a surprise. But it's so stressful here, I'd rather be on a beach in Barcelona, at least I'll be safe.'

'Exactly,' he nodded enthusiastically, 'it's so nice over there - and the man who you're staying with is lovely. And my goodness... the apartment...' he waves his arms wildly.

Lucy forced a grin and gave a little cheer. 'Wow, now I'm super excited!'

Austin was beaming, which made Lucy feel almost bad for what she was about to try and do. Hopefully Oliver didn't give him too much stick for it.

'Hey, I'm just going to pop to the toilet before I go through security,' she said calmly, hopping off of the bar stool.

'Wait -' Austin interjected, um, I'm not meant to leave you alone.'

Lucy rolled her eyes and headed in the direction of the bathroom. 'I don't think you're allowed to go into the woman's toilets, Austin.'

He stood up, and hovered by the table, debating with himself whether he should go with her or not. After a moment, he sat back down at the table, looking uneasy.

Lucy held her breath until she fell into the cubicle, and let out a sigh of relief, although straight away she realised that this was only the beginning of her task. She now had to get out of the bathroom without Austin seeing her.

Now how the fuck was she going to do that?

She was racking her brain for an idea, when she heard the thump of the bathroom door opening... and a gaggle of excited women walk in.

She listened intently. There was definitely at least five of them, hopefully more.

She unlocked the door and headed over to the sink. Trying not to stare, she realised that there was in fact at least ten girls of around her own age, dressed in shorts, sombreros and tiny strappy tops.

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