Looking into the eyes of evil

I boarded the plane and was able to find a seat by the window which made me happy because I always enjoy looking at the view. I was also happy because I had already eaten my dinner. Airline food always leaves something to be desired when you fly in coach. I listened to the stewardess give the safety instructions with as much attention as I could muster, but I just could not bring myself to listen too closely considering all of the problems that I have been having over the last two days. I think about the concert. I think about how much my relationship with Becca has changed. I think about how I made two of my friends cry in one day. The blonde stewardess wearing glasses mentioned that they would be showing the movie You've Got Mail.

Even though that is one of my favorite movies, I still could not get happy about the news because I have a problem traveling in airplanes. Some people are nervous fliers, but not me. I am a sleepy flier. I have only flied the friendly skies twice before this and it has never taken longer than fifteen minutes for me to be out like a light. The one good thing about my little problem is that I will not have to look about the drab gray decor of the airplane for long. This journey was no exception. Twenty minutes after I buckled my seat belt, I was dead to the world. The only indication that I had that my trip was over was when the blonde stewardess shook my right shoulder to wake me up. As I was rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I learned that her name was Tina by looking at her name tag.

"Are you okay?" Tina wondered.

"Yeah, flying always puts my lights out," I explained.

I got up from my seat to do a few quick stretches and then marched out of the plane. I looked around at all of the flashy lights and movie posters of the airport I was in and knew that I had made it to Hollywood. I took a moment to look at the direction signs so I could find out where to reunite myself with my suitcase. I ran my right hand through my red hair to steady myself. That is when a familiar and welcome friend tapped me on my right shoulder which caused me to turn around and greet him.

"It's good to see you, Portia," James greeted.

"It's been a while, stranger," I joked while collecting a hug from my friend.

"I take it you have some luggage to claim," James guessed.

"You got it," I agreed.

"Right this way," James ordered while motioning with his right hand.

I followed my buddy through the airport on my way to the baggage carousel. We exchanged some delightful small talk until James broached the subject that I had been dreading.

"So how is Kaitlyn?" James asked which caused me to freeze in place. I could do nothing but wring my hands together and look at the floor.

"Did something happen?" James pressed.

"Um... Kaitlyn and I split up this morning," I whined in a squeaky voice.

"I'm so sorry," James cooed while wrapping his arms around me in a warm hug.

I was trying to fight back tears as James carried my suitcase to the car for me. I did not want to cry in the middle of a crowded airport. It was a struggle. It was a struggle I lost as soon as I got to the door. I felt my eyes start to get moist which was immediately followed by my concerned bearded friend wrapping one arm around my shoulders. I knew that I did the right thing breaking up with my former girlfriend but that did not make it easier for me to take. James helped me into the passenger seat of his blue rental car and buckled me in. He soon got into the driver's seat and looked at me forlornly.

"Kaitlyn was a fool to break up with you," James stated to console me.

"Actually, I broke up with her," I corrected at the same time James handed me a blue handkerchief.

"Why?" James probed.

"Let's just say that Kaitlyn is a hand full," I hinted.

"Oh," James sighed.

"You were there when Kaitlyn had a small problem with **** and had to go to the hospital," I droned out.

"Yeah, small problem," James snorted.

"I would have to say that our biggest war happened because we went with Kaitlyn's parents to watch a play," I mused.

"Seems innocent enough," James guessed.

"She hadn't come out to her parents yet and we got hot for each other," I continued. "We thought that we would be safe going outside to make out."

"Let me guess. You weren't as safe as you thought." James declared with a knowing smile."

"Right. They followed us outside and caught us. Kaitlyn and I had a huge shouting match the next day. We somehow patched things up after that, but _ _I don't think that we were ever the same after that."

"That sounds rough," James offered.

"I knew that I should have been more understanding of what Kaitlyn was going through, but my parents have known about me for years," I rambled. "I think that made me less supportive than I should have been."

"I can understand why you would feel that way," James answered while putting a hand on my shoulder.

"The straw that really broke the camel's back was the fight we had last night," I remembered.

"What happened then?" James pressed.

"Kaitlyn has recently joined a punk band," I began. "The concert broke out into a riot and we all had to escape. Kaitlyn got mad at me and said it was my fault the riot happened."

"Harsh!" James growled.

"There have been times when dating Kaitlyn made me feel like I was trapped inside a pinball machine and the word TILT was flashing inside my heart after the concert," I complained.

"Yeah, I would feel that way too," James agreed.

"There have been minor squabbles besides the ones I have mentioned," I elaborated. "Our most frequent one was about the horror movies she likes to watch. They make me sick. Kaitlyn and I are too different to be girlfriends."

"That would be my diagnosis," James concurred.

"Two girls broke up with me in high school, but I didn't really care about them so it didn't hurt so much. Kaitlyn and I are different. We have been best friends ever since I got to Hartfeld. It hurt me so much to have to hurt my best friend." I confessed which caused a tear to run down my face.

"I wish that I knew what to tell you," James offered. "I had something that I wanted to bounce off of you, but it can wait until morning since I can see how tired you are."

I would have encouraged James to tell me his problem, but he was right. The combination of the flight and all of the confessions that I have made to my aspiring pal have really wiped me out. I leaned back on the car seat and tried to relax while James headed for his apartment, but I was overrun by my feelings. I felt like I had taken a knife and cut myself open in front of James. We could not have gotten to his apartment soon enough for my taste. James showed me the couch that I would be sleeping on and then headed for his room. I got a set of white pajamas from my suitcase and headed for my friend's bathroom to clean myself off and put on my PJs. I was so tired afterwards that I fell asleep as soon as I laid down on the couch pillow. A few hours later, I got a very rude awakening.

"What are you doing here?" James' agent Jasmin shot out.

"In case you were too stupid to see this for yourself, I was sleeping!" I returned just as coldly while slowly sitting up to stare down my enemy.

As I looked into the agent, I came to a decision. I was looking into the eyes of evil incarnate. Not even Becca ever scared me this much, but I was determined not to let Jasmin know that. I still had my emergency plan, but I really did not want to pull the trigger on it.