Chapter 1 cont...

(If there's any confusion in the story it might be because i edited without changing the blog, but feel free to ask just incase. Enjoy.)



........Directly in front of them, Big Talker was forcing his duffel bag into the overhead compartment. Just as Chris opened his mouth to introduce himself to Katrina she shoved ear buds back in. Even though the volume was at a normal amount, he put his jaw back in place and fiddled with his seatbelt.

Katrina noticed but didn’t want to respond and look eager because she wasn’t. She watched the plane being directed to the runway, imagining what the passengers would think if the guy with the orange sticks started waving his arms frantically and yelling to the pilot. She was interrupted when a tall blonde woman struggling for breath entered the plane and the stewardess shut the door behind her. Maryanne Dawes; Katrina was hoping her parents would have hired a plane to pick her up. Maryanne was very attractive with the body every man wanted to touch and even a supermodel would dream of. She knew it and used it in many ways. Every man puffed like a peacock when they saw her. She handed her bag to the steward without thanks and sat in her business class seat.

The steward came over the intercom: “Now that we’ve finally got everyone on board and seated, we are ready to taxi to the run-way and depart for Lexington Kentucky. Once we are settled into our maximum altitude we will come around with a small drink and snack service. For now, please turn off ANY electronic devices and sit back and enjoy your short flight.”
Katrina wrapped up her Ipod, dropped it in her lap and turned to Chris. “So, Lexington. Why are you going there? Katrina by the way.”
“Chris. I’m not actually staying in Lexington. I’m renting a car from there and driving a hour or so just outside of it to some small town called Forest Hills.”

Katrina’s eyes probed into the back of his head. “Why? Are you going there?”
Chris felt attacked and didn’t know why. “to do a story on some infection there three years ago.” He waited for Katrina to lighten her features and relax. The plane started increasing speed. Katrina closed her eyes and grabbed the armrests very securely, forcing her back into the seat.
“Are you OK?” Chris asked.
Not moving anything but her lips, Katrina replied: “I just don’t like taking off or landing. Give me a minute.” As the plane banked to the right, it jerked downward. Katrina took a long inhale through her nose and squeezed the armrests with any strength she had left over.
With the plane coming into altitude, so did Katrina’s nerves. She whipped her head back at Chris. Her long dark hair swung around her right shoulder. “The infection? Is that what they’re calling it?”
Chris suddenly felt like a nervous Chihuahua around a girl only half his size. “Um, I guess…”
“I mean, there’s just not a lot of people that go there and as far as I know there hasn’t been a journalist there to report on it at all. Why interest now?” She was less riddled with anxiety more interested.
“Well, my boss--the editor-- heard about people that were returning from Colorado where they were being treated for the infection. It killed over 300 people in six months-- Half of the population of Forest HIlls. Anyways he wanted to do a story on it and hope that it’s a bigger story than everyone thinks.
“But since we’re just a small town newspaper outside New York, He didn’t want to pay for one of the writers to go there, and since I’m just the coffee bitch trying to be a journalist, he definitely didn’t want to pay for me. I paid my own way and used vacation time.”
“That’s a bold move.” Katrina flicked a piece of lint off her white jeans.
“Yeah, hopefully it will pay of for me and my boss. Why are you going to Lexington? I didn’t even ask.”
Katrina studied his face there was something calming about it. His high cheekbones, full lips and dark wavey hair were things most normal women would probably find attractive in a man. She could tell he was unaware of this. “I’m not really going there either. I’m going back home to Forest Hills. I’ve been gone for a few years.” She looked at the zipper on her jacket and smiled. She could feel that Chris staring at her speechless. “You want my help don’t you". Her eyes were soft and focused on his.