"Flight 209 to New York has been delayed one hour."
"Damn!" AJ shouted towards the ceiling at the loudspeaker. She was pacing back and forth.
"Come on, sit down. Worried about your deadline? Why don't you start writing the article?" I suggested.
"Can't. Have to save that for the plane. Keeps me from thinking about crashing."
"AJ! That's a terrible thing to say!"
"Sorry. It's just... I hate flying." She flopped down into the chair next to me, now chewing on her brown locks.
"Just relax, all right? Everything's going to be fine." I said, trying to soothe her.
"Are you psychic?"
"No."
"Then how do you know everything's going to be fine?"
"Because... I would never let anything happen to you," I said softly.
"Zac!" AJ was just as surprised as I was by my statement. There was an awkward silence between us. She looked me in the eyes and broke the silence. "Thanks," she said softly, smiling weakly.
I took her hand in mine. "You better come back."
"Of course. But I'll have to visit Maddy, too. She'll be extremely jealous if I don't."
"Well, we can't have that."
"Nope."
More awkward silence. I hated this. I racked my brain for something to say. I didn't want to start an argument, but it was the only thing I could come up with. "Why did you jump down my throat at the wedding after you told me your name? Full name that is."
"Oh, that. Yeah. Sorry. Well, it's just, I hate it first of all. And, well, I was afraid you might figure out that I worked for People. I don't know. I just... I wanted to get to know you, REALLY know you. Ya know, outside the 'I'm-on-my-best-interview-behavior.' I didn't mean to snap at you though. Really."
"It's okay. But, if you don't mind my asking, why do you hate your name? I think it's pretty." I brushed some strands of hair out of her mouth.
"I don't know. It's just... so... girlish."
"Well, you ARE a girl."
She shrugged. "Yeah."
"Not all it's cracked up to be?"
"It has its moments."
More silence, but it was comfortable this time. "I'm sorry to see you go."
"I have to. I need civilization."
"Where the hell do you think we are? The boondocks?"
"No... but, the people here are so... friendly. And there's less of them, and cars, and less sirens too."
"And that's a bad thing?"
"No, not bad, I guess. Just... different. Sorry you decided to see me off yet?"
"No. Why do you ask that?"
"Well, goodbyes blow big-time."
I rolled my eyes. "You word that so eloquently."
"Hey! You want poetry? Check out e e cummings!"
"Yeah, but you ARE a writer."
"Sylvia Plath I am not."
"Good thing, too. She committed suicide." I smiled and she smiled back.
"Well, this certainly is an uplifting conversation. Oh, listen! I love this song!" AJ's face lit up.
"Can't say I recognize it."
"They played it at Taylor and Laura's wedding."
"They did?"
"Yeah, when dinner was being served."
"You remember what song was played while dinner was served?"
"Yup. I told you, I love this piece. Pacabel's 'Canon in D'."
"What? Taco Bell?"
"No, not Taco Bell. Pacabel."
"You know, I never would've pictured you as a classical music fan." AJ just didn't look the type.
"I'm not, really. I just love this piece. I was forced at gunpoint to take piano lessons for seven years. BLECH! For whatever God forsaken reason, Ma thought I would want to take 'em just because Nikki did. Um... WRONG! Nikki only wanted to take them because our neighbor did, and she thought the instructor was cute. And sadly, the only thing she can play now is the melody of 'Heart and Soul.' You know, I always thought 'I Will Come to You' sounded like this song. It's the strings. And the opening measures, the downbeat, they're the same in both songs. I don't know. Don't listen to me. I'm no Puccini." She shrugged her shoulders.
I concentrated on listening to the music, thinking about what AJ said. "They're not exactly the same, but they do sound similar. You have a good ear."
She blushed. "Thanks."
"Any other hidden talents I should know about?" I teased her.
"Um... I have double-jointed elbows?"
"Are you asking me or telling me?"
"Telling you."
"Oh, well, that's not a talent and it's gross."
"No, it's not!"
"No, it's not what?"
"Not gross. Just..."
"Disgusting," I supplied.
AJ rolled her eyes. "You're the last person I expected to say ANYTHING is gross."
"Why?"
"Well, at the risk of sounding incredibly stereotypical, because you're a guy."
"Yeah, well, I have this thing about limbs that bend in directions they're not supposed to."
AJ shrugged. "Your loss."
"My loss? Why? What else is double-jointed?"
She laughed. "What makes you think I'm gonna tell you?"
I casually shook my head. "I don't know. Just thought maybe you'd want to share."
"Yeah, well, I think I've shared enough."
My eyes clouded over with hurt at that statement.
"About being double-jointed that is," AJ quickly added. She sighed. "I didn't mean to hurt you. I'm sorry. I've had the best time this past week, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. Not even for an interview with Leonardo DiCaprio."
I cracked a smile. "So, I rank above Leo? Hmm... just the ego boost I needed."
"Just doing my duty. It's my job to see your head gets bigger than Delta Burke's butt." AJ returned the smile.
"Oooh... That was cruel."
Once again, all AJ could manage to do was shrug. We sat there, looking at one another. It felt like forever, but in reality it was only about thirty seconds. A voice over the loudspeaker broke through the silence. "Now boarding flight 209 to New York."
AJ stood up. I followed the suit. "Well, I guess this is it," she said.
"Guess so."
"Let me know if you're ever gonna be in New York. Maybe we can get together, or something," she suggested.
"Sure. And you better some back to Tulsa."
AJ nodded her head.
Silence.
"See? I told you goodbyes blow big-time." She cracked a weak smile.
Despite the fact that she was just mere seconds from walking out of my life, quite possibly forever, I smiled. There was just something about AJ. She would ALWAYS make me smile.
She picked up her carry-on. "I'll see ya, all right? Take care of yourself. And watch Maddy for me?" She fought back tears.
I wanted to hug her, to kiss her. But physical contact would only make this harder than it already was, providing that was possible. I had my doubts. "I will. And you take care of yourself, too. Be careful."
"Mmm-hmm..."
"Last call. Now boarding flight 209 to New York."
"I gotta go. Can't miss my flight. Bye, Zac."
"Bye... Amanda Jean."
She smiled at me. Then she headed for the plane. And that was it. She was gone.