Page 48 of Unexpected Boyfriends

Melbourne - Sydney

JUSTIN

It’s hard adjusting back to normal life. The holidays are over, and it’s back to school and getting on with my final year. It feels weird. I don’t feel the same. I don’t seem to have anything in common with my classmates anymore. We’re still friends but, I don’t know, I feel kind of… older, different. I'm a little older than most of my classmates anyway - my mum was one of those who believed you should send your girls to school early and your boys late - but also my experiences this past summer have changed me in ways I can’t quite define.

Axel and I exchange emails every couple of days and a few texts each evening, but I can't afford to get distracted from my studies. I miss him a lot. But I have to trust in what we have and I throw myself into study, which fills the days and distracts me from my feelings about our separation. I figure if I put in the extra study time now, it’ll make up for the fortnight’s holiday in April when I won’t go near the books.

On the weekends we Facetime, and my heart does a little happy skip every time his handsome face appears on the screen. But it always hurts when we have to say goodbye, and I feel a bit downafter the call has ended. I shouldn’t though. I have a gorgeous boyfriend and so far he’s willing to do the long distance thing. A tiny voice in my brain asks me how long I think that’s gonna last, but I shovethatthought away. I don’t want to hear it.

February passes.

Then March.

Before I know it, it’s April and the holidays are here. I have a flight booked to Sydney and Axel is going to pick me up at the airport. If my grandparents think that’s odd, they haven’t said anything.

I can hardly contain my excitement and my nervousness during the flight. There are butterflies in my stomach. I’m so excited I’m going to be seeing my boyfriend in, mmm, less than half an hour now.

Then I have sudden misgivings.

Will it be awkward seeing each other after all this time?

What if it doesn’t feel the same?

There’s been nothing in Axel’s messages or phone calls to suggest anything has changed, but what if he didn’t want to spook me and felt he ought to let me down in person? Surely, he wouldn’t have let me come all this way, only to call it off. Right?

Ugh, where did all this insecurity come from?

I’m nearly sick with nerves and turbulence as the plane bumps its way in for a typical Sydney airport approach. Then we’re on the runway and there’s only a few minutes before we’ll all be hurrying off the plane. The butterflies in my stomach are having a literal party. All with plus ones. I switch my phone back on and send Axel a text.

Landed

The answer pings my phone seconds later.

Waiting for you

I try to steady my nerves, but I fail, and I’m trembling as I grab my bag and walk off the plane.

As I step out of the aerobridge, my eyes fall on Axel immediately, because he’s positioned himself right at the front of the waiting crowd. I don’t have time to think or worry because he scoops me straight into a tight embrace and kisses me smack on the lips. When we break away, I’m blushing and a little embarrassed.

“Dude,” I mumble. “We’re in public.”

“Missed you,” Axel says unrepentantly, crushing me to his side and paying no attention to anyone around us who might or might not be watching. If anyone is casting dirty looks at us, I don’t see it, because when I finally let myself really look at Axel, well, I just can’t look away.

“Missed you too.” I canfeelmy cheeks almost splitting with the smile I can't contain.

“Suitcase?”

“Nah. Just this,” and I motion to the small backpack in my hand. Axel grabs the bag and slings it over his shoulder and we start talking as he leads me out of the terminal. I delight in the warmth of his arm across my back, the rub of my shoulder against his side, the little flutter in my chest, as Axel steers me towards the carpark, talking all the while.

And just like that, we’re back to how we were. It's as though we've never been apart.

“What time are the family expecting you?” Axel asks me ten minutes later, as we drive out of the carpark and head towards the busy expressway.

“I didn’t really say. I told them sometime this afternoon.”

“Good. Let’s make itlatethis afternoon.”

I can’t help smiling.

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