An uneventful drive to the airport.

The prize of the contest even included a small shuttle to bring them to the airport. When K-T got down, everyone was already waiting around the minibus while the driver loaded the luggage in the back. K-T ran to join them and made absolutely sure that his suitcase was there and would be loaded before getting sitted inside. the back row was taken by his sister and her two friends, his parents would site in the front with the driver and it left three seats for Lily, his aunt and him in the middle row. And to his dismay they were occupied in this order, Jill had taken the middle seat, stopping K-T from sitting with his crush on the way to the airport.

K-T would have really liked sitting next to her for the whole trip but he had already accepted that it might not be possible and that even if it sucked they would still spend two weeks together most of the time, so what were a few hours more to wait? In a sense he felt that his aunt might have done so as payback for him having be against bringing on her friend. K-T didn't find it fair, if anyone wasted slots it was Emily by insisting to bring two people. K-T only hoped that his sister and her friends who do their own thing once on the island as it would leave him more time alone with Lily.

A very boring ride later they reached the airport. Boring was good, because it meant nothing happened and if nothing happened, things being good so far, it meant things would continue to go well.
As the shuttle was unloaded, K-T grabbed his suitcase, swearing in his heart to not let her go before checking, come hell or high water. Try to score a few points with Lily he offered to help her carry one of her suitcases. Most of the girls on the trip if not all had brought multiple ones with them. Somehow needing dozens of outfits for a trip where they would spend most of their time at the pool or the beach.

They all started waiting in line to check their luggage when an attendant informed them that they didn't need to wait, a line had been open just for them.

Seeing his suitcase fitted with a normal tag, identical to the other, moving on the belt was a relief. He could now completely relax. All that was left was to hope that he could sit next to Lily during the flight, go through security and take flight to paradise.