"Please be sure to fasten your seat belts low and tight across your laps" the flight attendant dutifully intoned through the PA system.
It had been a long few days of meetings and I was happy to be headed home. Though, as a single guy, that didn't mean much. An empty apartment and a love starved cat. But I missed my bed, my shower, and all the things that make your house your "home."
But there was still the four hour flight from Chicago to LA to look forward to. The only hopeful thing was that the plane seemed especially empty for a change. I had an exit row on the left half of the plane to myself.
On the other side was an attractive young couple, probably in the mid twenties, I thought, across the way. I noticed them when they first got on the plane. She was Phillipino with long straight hair. She was wearing sunglasses and a tight long-sleeved t-shirt with a neck line that scooped down just above the top of her bra. She was wearing dark, formfitting jeans and converse tennis shoes. He was an attractive guy with chiseled features. His tight t shirt highlighted the fact that he worked out, and a tattoo peaked out under his left sleeve.
"Hi" she said. He just sort of turned and looked at me, barely acknowledging my existence.
"Hi" I returned the greeting. I don't really like talking to people, much less people on plane, so I tried not to encourage her with anything more.
"Are you going to LA?"she asked.
"Yes. I'm going home."
"We're going to LA too." She paused. "It's our honeymoon. I'm Jasmine and this is Lance."
"Oh, congratulations; nice to meet you."
"We've never been to LA before."
"Oh. Where are you from?"
"A town in Southern Illinois, not too far from St. Louis."
"Well you'll have a great time. It's a great city and there's a lot to do. Have a good time."
