My One True Love

Chapter Six: Surprised to See You

ADALET...

It had been a faster ride than I expected and it had been shocking to see William again since our last encounter almost four weeks ago. He looked really handsome in his black dress pants and light blue shirt. I shook my thoughts away and focused on getting to the terminal on time, I was already behind schedule. I was passing through security when the smell of fresh bread and coffee filled me, making my stomach rumble. I hadn't eaten before leaving my small apartment and in general, Judy was making me eat an all green diet and it was slowly finishing with me. In just two weeks I had lost 8 pounds. That is a lot for someone who doesn't exercise daily.

So my first stop before running towards the area I was supposed to be, was the coffee shop. I quickly bought a medium-sized mocha and a slice of carrot cake, Judy would never know. I looked at my watch and saw that my flight was leaving in 20 minutes. I rushed to Section A exit 4 and when I arrived I saw that there was a small line to get on the plane.

In no time, I was sitting on my seat, almost at the very back, while I drank my coffee. I made sure to buy a window seat and I was looking out the window and I felt someone sit down next to me. "Hello again," I heard a playful British accent that made me start choking on my coffee. I began to cough and even a flight attendant stopped to ask if I was alright.

"Please forgive me, I did not see you were drinking and I did not mean to startle you," said William looking worried and a bit ashamed. I waved him off and took a deep breath before I answered.

"That's alright, I just didn't expect to see you here, or ever again. Two times in just an hour, wow, new record," I teased and William gave me a slight smile.

"I did not plan this trip but I am curious to meet the city of Chicago and maybe find some place to set new roots for the company," he said casually while he shrugged. I nodded, but I wasn't done teasing him.

"And why are you sitting here in third class? I always saw you as more of a first class type," I said while crossing my arms in front of me.

He shook his head and looked at me, "sadly, all the first class seats were taken, Miss Trent," he played along with a saddened tone in his voice.

I couldn't help it and I began laughing just as the seat belt light turned on and the plane began to move. I quickly followed indications and saw William do the same. The plane took a few turns before it settled and then it began to pick up speed as it began to ascend. That was my favorite part of flying, the exhilaration of feeling yourself weightless and being carried off. I looked out of the window and did not take my gaze off of it until we were above the clouds and the lights below us couldn't be seen anymore. "You really do enjoy traveling, don't you, Adalet?" William said softly and I saw as he looked at me with his eyes filled with curiosity and he also seemed to be in awe but I wasn't sure.

I nodded excitedly, "my parents and I used to travel a lot, sometimes in planes but mostly road trips. It wasn't until I was in college that I started to travel through air and I fell in love with it, the feeling of being in the air, the amazing views and the adrenaline of wanting to reach a new place every time you get on a plane," I sighed before continuing, "it's just wonderful. Don't you like it?"

William smiled but didn't say anything, instead he took out his phone. "Excuse me for a minute, Adalet, I have yet to tell my parents I will not be home for brunch," he joked and I laughed once again. It surprised me how easy going he was once he felt in confidence and the way he could easily make me laugh, that was a big deal, I didn't usually laugh so freely. No guy had ever had that effect on me, not as quickly as William did anyway. I had always imagined Princes and Princesses to be tense and formal all the time, with no sense of humor, now I see that I had been wrong, he really was something else.

After a few minutes he put his phone away and turned to look at me. I was now texting Judy, telling her I wasn't going to be able to go see flowers for the wedding with her like we had planned. She quickly responded with capitalized letters, I probably should've told her before that I was not going to be around the whole weekend but I had completely forgotten. Oh well, when I returned I could make it up to her. I sighed and turned off my phone, I was tired and all I wanted to do was sleep since I wouldn't be able to get much sleep once we reached Chicago.

"I am going to sleep a for a while," I announced before I turned to a side and took out a small pillow out of my bag. I don't remember when I fell asleep but I sure didn't remember having a blanket over me.

"Please fasten your seat belts, we are going to begin our descend," I heard a flight attendant say through a microphone. I sleepily raised my head and stretched. A loud yawn escaped me and then I realized who was sitting next to me. Quickly I sat up and tried to untangle my hair without much success. I heard William's soft chuckle before he turned to look at me, "morning, lioness," he teased and I blushed. I was beginning to think he was flirting with me... was he?

"For a minute I forgot I wasn't home," I croaked out, my typical sleepy voice and I blushed and cleared my throat. He smiled and only nodded. A few moments passed before the plane started descending. I stared out of the window in anticipation, as the city under us came to view, the sun was beginning to rise and I could make out a few buildings on the ground. I could also feel William's eyes on me but I ignored them, I wasn't ashamed for enjoying traveling. Which reminded me, William hadn't answered my question.

Once the plane was on the ground, people began to get up and reach for their suitcases. I got up as well and William passed me my bag. "Thanks," I said as I gave him a smile and began to get into the line to get out of the plane. William was right behind me and we didn't speak until we were inside the airport.

"Do you have to go get more luggage, Adalet?" was the first thing William said and I shook my head.

"Nope, the only thing I brought with me for this weekend is a bag with clothes, my oboe and my laptop and this time I brought my other case so there would be no more confusions with the laptops," I said with a soft chuckle and he nodded and smiled too.

"Well, I do need to go get my luggage," he said looking a bit uncomfortable as he passed a hand through his dark hair, nervously. I couldn't help but stare, his hair looked so soft and I wanted to run my fingers through it. I shook my head to clear my thoughts but it seemed like it didn't work.

"I can accompany you," I offered before thinking, it wasn't like I needed to be anywhere soon. The rest of the orchestra had flown in the day before but I had to work and that is why I had come on my own. I thought I saw William look relieved as he smiled and nodded and the both of us walked over to where the rest of the luggage was going.

"When will you be playing, Adalet?" asked William, wanting to start a conversation.

"Well, technically it's now Friday," I said as I looked at my watch and saw it was 12:24 am. I turned back to look at William, "that would mean the concert is tonight. At 8 pm in Fullerton Hall, at the Art Institute of Chicago." He nodded and typed something on his phone before showing me.

"Done, it's scheduled in," he said with a smile and I stared at him. I didn't really see that coming. Why would he want to go?

I smiled nervously and placed my hair behind my ear, "you really don't have to go, I know that you're busy and all and you probably don't like that type of music."

He smiled and we kept on walking, following the quick and natural flow of the airport. "Actually I want to go, Miss Trent, contrary to what you say, classical music is something I enjoy, I even played the viola back in my younger years." I stared at him in shock, he really didn't look like that type of man but it made sense that he was very educated academically and culturally speaking.

"But... why did you leave it? Why did you stop playing?" I asked once we reached the station where the luggage was circling the line. From a musician's point of view, I could say that playing music was what kept me calm and going, it helped me express my feelings when words failed me or when they were too hollow to express what I thought. It was my way to escape everything.

"Well Miss Trent, I was never very good and I had to begin to take part in the family business. Yes, it was hard at first, I was used to feeling a powerful instrument by my side and I have always appreciated the beauty and thrill of classical music, but I decided to leave it to continue on with my other responsibilities," he said with a sigh and a shrug. Then he quickly moved to grab his luggage and was back a second later pulling two suitcases behind him. "I'm all set, where are we heading now?" He asked with a smile and a gleam of excitement in his eyes.

"You really are something, Your Majesty," I said and he rolled his eyes. I laughed and continued, "we're going to the Palmer House Hotel." Then I took one of his suitcases from him, even though he began to protest I ignored him and started walking towards the exit to an awaiting cab outside. This trip was going to be very interesting, I could definitely say it was one I would always remember, especially because of all that happened after...