┏━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━┓

┗━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━┛

Our flight was for six in the morning, we'd get there by nine-fifteen, roughly, and New Orleans being one hour behind, we'd still have the whole day to unwind and lounge in the hotel.

When Poppy skipped the day, Lydia gave me all the papers and emailed everything related to the bookings to me, so really, Poppy skipping work gave me the reins to this whole trip because without me, she couldn't go anywhere. She doesn't have any bookings or details for any place or activity with her, she's dependent on me now.

Anyhow, we agreed that I'd get a cab and pick her up to go to the airport. She also told me that she may or may not be awake on time so I should get there early and wake her up. 'Just in case' which most definitely means she won't be up and ready. And those were my exact thoughts as the taxi drove me to her apartment building.

"Do I drop you off here?" the driver asked, turning in his seat to look at me.

"Could you just wait a couple of minutes? I need to pick someone and I'll be back. Keep the meter running," I told him before climbing out, straightening out the fitted, full-sleeve navy blue v-neck that I wore with a pair of gray joggers. I entered the building and unlike last night, the doorman didn't stop me to ask where I was going or who I was looking for. I made it to the elevator and headed to the ninth floor where her apartment, apartment N-340 was. I let out a sigh and couldn't help but roll my eyes.

She wasn't even close to the best, let alone a good, travel partner so far. She just felt like an inconvenience, but no matter how much of a dick I am, I wouldn't tell her that. Unlike how she has no problem calling me a dick to my face.

I am, though.

I rang the doorbell once before glancing at the time on my watch. I waited for a moment and when she didn't answer, I rang the doorbell again. The door swung open and I blinked, staring at her, dumbfounded.

She stood there wearing her pajamas in nothing but darkness. The living room was completely dark and so was the kitchen. Her hair was down and a little frizzy at the top while she rubbed one eye, a pout on her lips.

I lifted my brows, tucking my hands into my pockets. "You're not dressed yet?"

She let out a 'hmph' and spun back around, walking blindly around the dark apartment before entering her room, closing the door behind her.

I let myself in, flicking all the lights on before shutting the door and walking to her room. Standing at the door, I watched as she adjusted the covers, lying back down. "Poppy," I said through gritted teeth.

She groaned, "I don't wanna wake up."

I paused, folding my arms across my chest. "Say that one more time just so I can give Lydia a genuine explanation when I tell her why I went to New Orleans alone."

She leaned over, turned her lamp on, and stared at me. "You talk too much."

"Get up and get dressed. Quickly. Where's your suitcase?"

She pointed blindly, waving her hand around.

I took a quick look around and extended the handle. "Five minutes, Poppy."

She sighed, getting out of bed. "Yes, sir." She padded into the bathroom only to come out a minute later to grab her clothes before disappearing again.

I left her room with the suitcase and waited outside. Within five minutes, she was dressed and had a purse on her, never mind the fact that she still looked half asleep.

She pulled the sunglasses off her head and wore them while walking over to me, taking her keys and placing them in her purse, checking for everything. She had it all. She stopped in front of me and I reached forward, pushing her sunglasses up to her head, making her sigh.

"It's barely five in the morning, the sun isn't out yet."

"Yeah well, that's why my eyes aren't ready to open."

I waited for a second before rolling my eyes and taking them off, hanging them onto my own shirt. "You'll get them when we get to the airport."

"Sure, Mr. Nilsen, whatever you say goes," she snickered, flicking the lights off and then locking her apartment, double-checking the handle.

Once we got back downstairs, I put her suitcase in the trunk before climbing in. "Logan International Airport, please," I told the driver while Poppy put her head against the headrest, and within ten minutes, she was back asleep.

We slowed to a stop at a red light and I glanced at her as her head landed on the window with the faintest thud. I contemplated lifting her head or pulling her a bit to this side just so she wouldn't hit her head on the window too hard but then decided against it. If that happened, she'd know not to fall asleep like that again.

We made it to the airport in time and just as the cab pulled over, my phone dinged with a message from Jamieson, letting me know that he was already inside and past the security checkpoint. I paid for the taxi since Poppy was still fast asleep, before nudging her elbow with mine. "Poppy." When she didn't wake up, I grabbed a strand of her hair, giving it a quick tug.

Her eyes opened and she took a look out the window before facing me. "Oh, we're here."

I nodded and stayed silent. When she didn't move, I resisted a groan. "Yes, we are. Will you get out of the car or do I have to carry you now?"

She frowned at me. "You're mean in the mornings," she said before climbing out.

I paid the driver and got out myself, finding Poppy already opening the trunk.

She grabbed her suitcase and squeaked as she picked it up and set it on the ground with a huff. She extended the handle and then waved me over. "Come on, come on, let's go."

After taking my suitcase out, I watched her in amusement as she took out her passport and started wheeling the suitcase that was almost half her size. I cleared my throat, dragging my own suitcase with me as I caught up to her.

We entered the airport and found the counter belonging to our airline where we got in line to check in our bags. She turned to me while we waited and cleared her throat, "Mr. Nilsen?"

"Yes, Ms. Valentine?" I asked, checking my watch.

"Since we'll get there at eight-fifteen in the morning—"

"New Orleans time," I reminded her.

"Yes," she nodded. "Wouldn't it be a waste of the whole day if we only stay at the hotel?"

"Well, Ms. Valentine, I'm afraid that's true. However, it's also true that no matter how often and how far you travel, you should not exert yourself on the day you're traveling. Therefore, Ms. Valentine..."

"Yes, Mr. Nilsen?"

"Therefore, we shall only stay at the hotel and explore the restaurants nearby for our meals. Do you understand Ms. Valentine?"

"Yes, Mr. Nilsen," she nodded, facing forward and moving up to the counter once we got to our turn. We quickly checked in our bags and then moved along, heading towards security. We parted ways, standing in different queues. "See you on the other side, Mr. Nilsen," she said.

I shook my head, leaving my laptop in a tray.

Poppy was a very... strange person. There just wasn't any other way to describe her. It was almost as if she lived like it was her world and we were just existing in it. Some things about Poppy just made no sense at all and other things I didn't find so weird but for the most part, Poppy was someone I needed to keep at a distance and I decided that the minute I saw her.

I had no doubt in my mind that Poppy was the type of person that once you get close to, it would be difficult to live without. And those people were the kind everyone should be careful of because before you know it, you get too attached to tell right from wrong. Growing up while seeing what I did, I know that very well and I've engraved it into my mind. Letting people in, letting them get too close is never a good idea and it only leaves you troubled with the short end of the stick.

I tucked my laptop back into the bag before putting my watch back on as Poppy walked out, zipping up her purse.

She spotted me and made her way over. "Where's Jamieson?"

"Josh, Poppy!"

"There he is," I mumbled, both of us turning to find the source of the voice.

"Hey," Poppy sang as we walked towards him.

"Hey," he nodded at both of us before turning around and waving someone over.

I blinked in confusion before Poppy and I exchanged lost glances.

Who is that?

"Guys, this is Valerie. She's a new photographer for Travel Addict Weekly and she's going to join us starting from this trip."

Valerie stuck her hand out on cue. "Hi, it's nice to meet you guys."

Poppy and I took turns shaking her hand.

"Actually, I just moved to New York and I haven't settled in properly yet, that's why I haven't been coming to work," she explained.

"Oh, all right," Poppy nodded. "Well, welcome to the magazine. I'm glad there's another girl on the trip." She pointed at me. "He bothers me enough as it is."

Valerie chuckled before nodding.

"All right," I cleared my throat, "we've got about thirty minutes until boarding. We should get to our gate."

Everybody agreed so that's exactly what we did. While waiting for our announcement, Poppy and Valerie sat together and started chatting while Jamieson and I discussed the trip a bit more.

Generally, the photographers that come with us aren't with us for the whole trip, only some places. Photographers have their own job here so they explore the city on their own and also go to the places that we do, that way they can take more pictures of the city for the magazine.

With five minutes left to board, I decided to buy a sandwich or two from the airport café since flight food doesn't sit well with me. I bought myself two club sandwiches and tucked them into my bag before catching up with the others.

Jamieson caught up to Valerie and walked with her while Poppy had her boarding pass scanned. "Thank you," she smiled, taking it back and taking a few steps forward before pausing and turning around, waiting for me.

"Thanks," I said, taking my boarding pass before walking to her. "Waiting for me, are you?" I lifted a brow.

She rolled her eyes and didn't reply as we walked in.

I snatched her boarding pass, reading her seat number. "I think our seats are together," I mumbled. "Switch with Jamieson," I demanded.

"You switch with Valerie, why do I have to move?"

"Because I said so first."

"I don't care," she scoffed. "I'll sit with you if I have to. And you know what, once we arrive in New Orleans, you have to promise to do something about your attitude. It's really hard to work with you," she mumbled.

"We'll see about that once we've arrived," I replied as we followed the line, stopping at our seats. "Take the window seat," I ordered.

She shrugged, "All right, I wanted it anyway."

.

.

.

.

.