How do you think the characters look like? This poster by @_tv.158 is a fun take, so thank you!

Chapter 51: Which way's up?

FYI the above character poster is made by a reader!! 

The above poster is made by another reader, so please be kind. I have specifically not mentioned how Millie looks like to encourage creativity and focus away from looks (since it's the inside that counts anyways) 

7AM

I felt a numbness when I stepped outside this morning. I had been so excited for our trip. I'd even packed the night before.

But now, I was carrying more baggage than I ever expected: Emotional baggage that weighed down on me with every step. 

But seriously, how could I kiss my boyfriend knowing his parents tried to destroy my family's life?

I try to tell myself that Luke is different. He is different. We are different. We are not our parents...

And yet, we're still their kids. We can't change our history. 

I placed my hand in my cardigan pocket and wrapped my fingers around the little bottle I'd plucked out of my mom's cabinet. I've never done this before, but I was feeling weak, alone, scared and I wanted to forget. 

A little alcohol won't do me any bad, would it? We were about to go on holiday with loads of alcohol – what's the difference if I started early?

I saw Luke walk across the street from his home to mine. He was wearing a dark blue coat and it was open, showing his gray sweater underneath. His hands were stuffed in his jacket pockets and he was looking down at his white shoes. 

Am I being deceived? Is the whole world deceived by pretty looks?

It doesn't help that my dad never came home, that I'm leaving my mom alone for new years and that she's gone through a rough decade.

You know what else I find hard? I find it hard to say no to anyone. I'd like to say no to this trip now, but I made Cearra go and Chad had organized for me to be there. I didn't want to disappoint Luke. Why do we grow up being taught to say yes to everyone? 

I know my mom's hypocritical for lusting over my boyfriend in the most inappropriate way and then criticizing his entire existence the next. I know she's out of line when she calls me ugly and says my future is bleak. But she's my mom.

And she's sacrificed part of her life for mine and Flora's.

"Minnie," Luke said, reaching me, "You're staring at the garden gnome again."

I didn't even realize. I'd been staring at gnomey while my thoughts spun in circles around my head.

"Here," he said, taking my duffel bag out of my hands. 

It was so cold outside that when he wrapped his arms around me, all my hyper active thoughts cooled down.  I calmed down.  I pressed my ear against his chest, to feel the warmth of him. 

He let go of the strap to my duffel bag and it slowly dropped to the ground beside us. He held onto me tighter, sensing that something was wrong. I felt the strength of his grip and felt comforted by his care.  

His chin pressed down on my head and he murmured, "Whatever it is, it's going to be ok."

**

~Airport~

The destination board lit up with cities and flights heading all around the world. Some boarding now, some taking off and others delayed. The whole world was out there.

"Millie!" Cearra cried out from across the airport. She ran towards me, rolling her blue suitcase behind her.

Her parents walked into the terminal, far behind her. They'd brought their other kids with them, who were all squirming at waking up so early.

Cearra threw her arms around me and rocked me back and forth, "We're going to Dubai!"

"Yes!" I exclaimed, wrapping my arms around her too.

"So excited! And I brought the thing you asked me to bring," she said, patting her bag, "Though I have no idea why you want something like that. I get the sense it's not really Luke's thing."

"It's a private joke between us," I answered, "But thank you for bringing it. I want to show him at New Year's."

"No worries!" she grinned excitedly, "I can think of something to give Austin for New Years."

"He promised you a protective bubble of safety," I laughed, teasing the weird things Austin had said on the phone while pretending to be Chad's dad.

Cearra raised her eyebrows suggestively, "He can wrap me in his protected bubble-"

"Hey Austin!" I exclaimed, stopping Cearra from finishing that sentence in front of her future boyfriend.

Austin was walking towards us and pressed his finger against his lips with a mischievous grin, so we wouldn't say anything. 

Luke had just walked out of the bathroom and didn't notice Austin behind him. A second later, Austin jumped on Luke, tackling him from behind. They laughed it off, just as Cearra's parents reached us.

"So is this the group?" Cearra's dad said, eyeing the boys suspiciously, "You'll behave in front of my girl, won't you?"

"Yes sir," Austin said, straightening up.

Cearra's mom handed her daughter a laminated binder, "Here are all the contact details you'll need to reach us, and emergency numbers to use in Dubai in case you get separated or anything else happens. Now we agreed daily phone calls and check-ins. Where is Roland? I thought he'd be here."

"We're meeting him by the gates," Luke said, "Chad said his dad arrived from Mexico City this morning so he's transferring onto our flight from inside the terminal."

Their other kids started running circles around them. Luke looked amused by it and stopped two of them from butting heads.

"I'm nervous about this," Cearra's dad mumbled to his wife, "We haven't met the parents yet."

Cearra's mom nodded and picked up one of her kids, "Well we're going to have to trust them now. Our little girl is old enough."

"I'll be fine, mom. Promise," Cearra said, looking embarrassed by her parents in front of Austin.

Cearra had a family bursting with love. I watched her hug her worried parents and siblings. Luke came over and rested a hand over my shoulder. He could see how I felt about this. Neither one of our parents saw us out this morning.

Austin pointed at a lady, pushing a baggage cart, "Chad's here."

"I thought Chad was a boy," Cearra's dad muttered, finding even more 'surprises' about this trip.

"He is," Austin nodded, "Those are his bags."

Five matching suitcases were piled high onto a cart. The initials "RC3" were marked on all of them. Of course Chad travelled with personalized luggage.

**

Luke, Austin, Cearra and I stood in line at security. Chad was somewhere behind, checking in his 1000 bags and we weren't in contact with Oma and Bianca yet.

I stood beside Luke as he put on his belt. He caught me looking at him and winked.

"Where's your head at?" I teased him, standing out of the way of other travelers as they picked up their baggage from the security belt.

"Somewhere quiet, near a bed," he whispered, "alone with you."

I blushed a bit and nudged him, but he laughed, clipping his belt buckle.

And then, her annoying voice pierced through the air. "Luke!"

"Oh look, drama's here," Cearra announced, cheerfully waving back at Bianca, whose face turned into a glare.

Why did she have to call only Luke's name when we're all standing here?

Bianca and Oma walked towards us, carrying a bag each of duty-free shopping. Oma looked fashionable yet comfortable in a black crop top and high waisted, wide-leg pants. Bianca, on the other hand, wasn't looking so comfortable.

"What's wrong with her?" Cearra asked Oma, "She's looking extra prickly today."

"Please be nice," Oma tried to make peace, "She's a bit annoyed because her hair extensions set off the security machine, so she had to get frisked."

Cearra laughed.

"Let's go to the gate," Austin said, slinging his backpack over his shoulder, "Chad's dad is waiting for us there."

"Chad's dad is actually coming?" I asked Luke, "So you weren't lying to Cearra's parents?"

"Lying?" Luke asked back, feigning shock, "What kind of person do you take me for?"

I rolled my eyes at him and felt Cearra give me a nudge in the stomach.

"I wonder what the real Roland Chadwick the Second is like," she muttered, "The creator of Chad."

What an unlikely crew. Something told me that Dubai was going to be a whole lot of Drama.

A/N: I am literally Austin in airports. The number of times I have to go back and forth through security, has my mom shaking her head wondering "how did i create this" haha

UPDATES!

1) DM me any picture requests of activities you want them to do in Dubai. I'll post on my instagram (@NatalieInACorner) 

2) Surprise news of a spin off series will be posted on my Instagram as well. First chapter will be out very soon and I'm so excited for you to see what characters it'll focus on

It's easiest for me to stay connected on Instagram so I'm sorry for the readers who want me to do that on Wattpad instead.  Also harder to interact with polls / videos etc. Hope you understand!

<3 Natalie