Minutes after the announcements ceased talking, the plane steered its wheels on the gray concrete until weightless air grabbed ahold of the machine, then let it drift across the eggshell blue atmosphere.

As everyone's belongings are currently contained in silvery white compartments, men, women, and children sat comfortably in their seats, waiting for the adventure to start.

But as for me, I watched the clouds unfold in front of a glass window while Austin is calmly seated in his chair, listening to music, and sketching Stan Lee in his notebook.

Ever since the plane left New York, I never felt so relaxed in my entire life: no bad storms, no shitty turbulence; just a kind flight attendant handing the passengers peanuts, drinks, and lovely smiles.

She even provided us Coco-Cola and dry roasted nuts to pass the time.

Setting the refreshments on our laps, I turn to the flight attendant and smiled, "Thank you."

"No problem," she said. "If you need anything, just holler."

I flashed her a wide grin. "Thank you."

As the flight attendant walked away, I noticed she was really pretty: the woman has lovely brown hair, luscious pink lips, a curvaceous body, and a butt which Austin couldn't stop staring at.

Annoyed, I smacked his arm really hard.

"Ow!" he growled. "Jesus, woman. What did I do?"

"You were checking out her ass," I snorted. "That's what you did."

"Oh, I am sorry. Have we met before?" he sarcastically asked.

"Hello, my name is Austin Hale. I love comic books, video games, and oh, wait, I am a guy."

I eyed him cautiously.

"Look, I want us to not draw any attention to ourselves."

Austin sighs, "and I want to date a European swimsuit model, but I don't see one."

When the flight attendant moves on to the next passenger, Austin craned his neck to look at her butt again, only to get slapped in the back of his head again by yours truly.

"Ow, " he whined, rubbing his sore head. "I am sorry, but I can't help it."

"Well, I can." I chortled.

Despite our easy travel to Australia, Austin and I feared for the worst if someone saw our profile in the news. Even if our identity isn't plastered on the news, I am worried someone might recognize us.

But luckily, we were smart: Austin has white powder smeared on his face, dark sunglasses sat in front of his eyes, and a pale blond wig covering every trace of Austin's brown hair.

Meanwhile, I had on black sunglasses, a dark gray beanie, a gray top, skinny jeans, and sneakers. Tightened braids formed my hair and dark purple color smeared along my lips.

After draining his soda, Austin nibbled on his peanuts, gets up from his seat, and excused himself to use the restroom.

Like worms on fishhooks, Austin's silver-blonde curls dangled in front of his forehead. His notebook is currently tucked inside his backpack, and his feet ushered across the gray carpeted floor.

In the meantime, I noticed a kid staring at me. He was a twelve-year-old looking boy who has messy muddy brown hair, sand-colored skin, and dark eyes, a long-sleeved black sweater, jeans, and white sneakers covered in a thick layer of dirt.

Surrounding him are empty blue seats taking space. And despite his age, it looks as if he is flying to Australia all by himself.

After taking one good look at me, the boy gives me a small flirtatious wink.

"What?" I ask, feeling a little creeped out.

The boy looked at me quite strangely.

"Huh?" he asks.

"Why are you staring at me?" I questioned.

The boy shrugged his shoulders.

"I don't know," he responded. "maybe because you were staring at me."

I scrunch my nose. "No, I wasn't."

"Yeah, you were." teased the boy.

I tilt my head to the side. "Oh really? Since when?"

"Since your vampire boyfriend went to use the restroom."

I roll my eyes. "Five seconds ago, he was staring at some woman's ass."

"Whoa," the boy blinked his eyes at me. "So you don't have a boyfriend?"

"I don't know, do you?" I snort. 

"Ha, you wish," the boy chuckled.

I rolled my eyes again, then stare hard at my window when the boy asked me something personal. 

"What brings you to Australia?" he inquired.

Meeting his eyes again, I responded: "I am going to the beach. You?"

"Visiting my parents," answered the boy. "Say, you look pretty young."

I widen my eyes in amazement.

"Wow, " I laughed, "so you're suggesting that I look like an old hag?"

The boy laughed a little.

"Nope, " he responded. "I just find you extremely beautiful."

I laughed a little. "Really?"

"What?"

"You seriously want to flirt with me?" I scoffed. "I am sorry, but your height is the size of a tree stump."

"I am sixteen, " he remarked.

"Prove it," I insist.

"Wow, " the boy snickered. "you are a stubborn girl."

I flash him a wan smile. "And you have the personality of a jackass." 

Surprised, the boy stared at me.

"Listen, I get it, " I said. "Boys can't keep their dicks inside their pants, but just because I understand, doesn't mean I like you."

"Then why are you talking to me?" he asks smugly.

"Because you were giving me stalker eyes?"  I replied.

He released a loud sigh.

"Look, I am sorry, " said the boy. "Truth is, you are the only thing that makes my journey worthwhile."

I snort a groan, then lift my middle finger to the boy. 

"Do you see this middle finger?" I ask. "I am mentally telling you to go fuck yourself."

"If you were mentally telling me to go fuck myself, then why are you talking to me?"

"I don't know, " I argued, "why are you talking to me?"

The boy opened his mouth to speak when Austin ushered from the bathroom with a relieved look on his face.

His white-blond wig bristled across his face, as Austin calmly strolled along the grey carpet and plopped himself beside me.

"How was your trip to the bathroom?" I ask.

"Tiring," Austin groaned.

"Why?" I smirk. "Were you too busy bitching to the flight attendants about the lack of bacteria-killing soap in the dispensers?"

Austin frowned at me.

Ever since we were in fourth grade, Austin preferred washing his hands with hand soap because he didn't trust liquid gel sanitizers.

I didn't know if it was his fear of germs, but I do acknowledge the fact that he sometimes carries small bottles of bacteria-killing soap in his pockets.

Sighing loudly, Austin stated: "Hand sanitizers fights back 99.9% germs, Jack."

I scrunch my eyebrows. "So?"

"So, " he began. "where the fuck is the remaining one percent? Hand sanitizers are supposed to protect you from germs."

"They are," I argued.

Austin rolled his eyes. "Jack, there is a highly likely chance that the remaining one percent will infect my entire body."

Wow, and I thought I was the whiny bitch.

"So anyway, " said Austin, resting his back against his chair. "What did I miss?"

"Nothing, " I reply. "Just terrible company."

Quickly, I glance at the boy's direction, whose blue eyes gazed at the plain sky.

Austin gives me a questionable look but didn't say anything after that.

Glancing at his hands, I ask apathetically. "Did you at least wash your hands after you went?"

He rolled his eyes again.

"Yes, mother, " Austin replied. "I have washed my hands."

I frown at him in disdain.

"Whatever," I said. "anyway, I think we just left the United States."

Austin gives me a curious look. "How do you know that?"

Pointing my finger at the window, I showed him the dark blue water raging underneath the humming white plane.

Waves bobbed up and down as the wind pushed against the ocean, causing ripples of water to expand.

"Whoa," Austin murmured. "That is so cool."

I nodded in agreement. "I know, right?"

He rubbed his eyes a little then yawned.

"Yeah, " responded Austin. "maybe now we could talk about our movie."

I gave him an unsure look.

"I think you need to get some sleep first, " I suggested.

Grimacing, Austin asked me why that is.

"Because you drove all the way to Queens," I reminded. "Without taking a nap."

"I bought us coffee, " he responded.

"But you didn't get any sleep, " I pointed. "In fact, you don't even look like yourself: you look like a constipated old woman."

Austin snorted, "Trust me, if I was constipated, I would have stayed in the bathroom."

"Come on," I pouted. "You deserve to get some sleep."

He furiously shakes his head. "No can do, Jack. I am going to be as sharp and alert as an owl."

"Why?" I ask, jokingly. "So you can get inside my pants?"

"No, " said Austin, scrunching his face. "So I can protect you."

After he said those words, I was surprised.

The deepest shade of strawberries stained my cheeks, as my eyes swiftly gazed in Austin's face, hoping that he was joking.

But when I notice his mouth transitioned in a thin line, I realized Austin is being serious.

Taking ahold of my left hand, he then tried to reassure me, but I was uncomfortable to squeeze his hand back.

"Listen, Jack, if there is anything you need," began Austin. "Feel free to ask me."

"Okay, " I nodded, not looking in his way.

"Jack."

"What?" I ask.

Austin studies me for a second. "Are you okay?"

"Yep, " I lie.  "I am totally fine."
 
He gives me an unsure look. "Really? Then why are you staring—"

I sigh in annoyance.  "Can you sleep now?"

"Geez, woman." Austin scowled. "Are you sure you are not on your period?"

"Dear God, " I moan. "Do you know how sexist that question is? Now, go to sleep."

He threw his hands up in frustration.

"Alright, fine." grunted Austin. "I will stop playing trivia questions with you."

"Good, " I said, closing my eyes. "rest up, because we might be walking again very soon."

"Oh, joy." he replied without any enthusiasm.

"A nice long walk to Australia. What can go wrong?"