“What?” she asked softly, looking up at me with teary eyes.
“It's Saturday night, for God's sake! We're two young people, and we're sitting here feeling sorry for ourselves while we should be out celebrating life, and all the good things that have happened to us – and all the amazing things we've both achieved with our dedication, hard work, and pure blood, sweat, and tears.”
She couldn't help but smile through her tears at my over-the-top, animated pep talk. “You're right,” she said, looking up at me with muted joy in her eyes. “We shouldn't be sitting here feeling miserable like this.”
“No, we shouldn't. Let's live in the present, for the moment, and just celebrate,” I suggested.
She kissed me, and we drew it out, making it long and passionate. I started feeling very aroused again, but didn't want to just spend the night having sex – as fun as that would be. No, I wanted to give Eryn a real night out.
“But, what about our secret?” she asked suddenly. “If we go out together, and someone we know sees us....”
The thought hit me hard. She was right; she hadn't left FSU yet, and if people saw us out together, there could be a lot of trouble.
“You're right,” I said. “We can't take that risk. That's why we're going to Miami.”
“Miami? When?”
“Right now. I'll call the airport and book tickets on the next flight. I think the last flight out is in an hour, so if we really hurry, we can make it. Go pack some things in an overnight bag!”
“Really? But-”
“Hurry up, Eryn, I'm dialing,” I said, cutting her off as I started looking up the airline number on my phone.
She laughed, the tears disappearing from her eyes and the sadness fading away as a smile took its place. “All right! I don't think we're gonna get seats, but I'll go start packing just in case we do.”
“You do that! Go on!”
She hurried off to her bedroom, and I called the airline at Tallahassee International Airport. “Hi,” I said as a woman answered, “I know this is seriously last minute, but do you have any seats available on the next flight to Miami?”
“Hold on, sir, let me check,” she said.
I heard the frantic typing of computer keys, and then she got back to me immediately.
“You're in luck, sir. There are three seats left on that flight. Are you able to get here in under 45 minutes to board the flight?”
“If I drive fast, yes. I'll take two of those tickets.”
“Okay, sir, may I have your credit card information please?” the lady asked.
I gave her the card info, which she entered and informed me, “Thank you, sir; you and your companion are now booked on flight 753 to Miami, departing at 10 p.m. You have 40 minutes to get to check-in; please hurry!”
“I will. Bye!”
I cut the call off and scrambled to put my clothes on as I shouted out to Eryn.
“Eryn, is that bag packed yet? We have to go! Do your makeup in the airplane bathroom because we've got 40 minutes to get there and check in. Let's go, let's go!”
A minute later she hurried out of her room, clutching an overnight bag.
“What are you gonna do about clothes?”
“I'll wear these ones! Jeans and a T-shirt work for just about anything, and I'll just buy some new clothes tomorrow morning to change into. You ready? We have to hustle!”
“I'm ready; let's go! I can't believe we're actually doing this!” she exclaimed.
“I can't, either,” I said with a grin. “Let's go!”
*****