“Last flight of the day.” Elise whispered to herself. She took a quick look at the clock. Midnight. Her stomach growled. “You’re almost there.” She thought. “Soon you can go home and order some Takeout.” She pulled at the white ascot tied around her neck. These stupid ascots, she thought. Whose idea was it to put her in an outfit this uncomfortable?

She looked at the screen to see that the plane was coming from Paris. At least she might encounter a cute French guy on her way out. “Door’s about to open.” The captain said over the intercom. Elise smoothed her hair down and looked down the hallway.

The first to emerge was a mother holding a screaming child in her left arm and a small toddler in her right. She looked quite distressed, as her attempts to ease the baby were woefully unsuccessful. Elise stepped out from behind the desk “Excuse me, ma’am, would you need-“ “I’ve got it!” Catrina, the other arrival staff on duty cut Elise off, running over to the mother.

Elise sighed. Catrina had a knack for getting out of things. Now she had to man the rest of the arrival alone. “You’ve got this, right Lis?” She plastered a smile on her face. “Yep!” She said in that peppy arrival staff voice. Catrina gave her an equally peppy smile. “Great!” She said before hurrying off with the mother.

Elise looked back at the hallway. The next group to pass through was an old couple. They were arguing about something. “Have a good evening!” Elise called after them. She was ignored, of course.

Her eyes followed the crowds of people. It was a lot of the same. Old men being wheeled out by airport staff, families with cranky children, couples arguing, and groups of young women laughing together.

The crowd thinned out as the last passengers got off of the plane, rolling carry-ons behind them. What a highly uninteresting flight, Elise thought. Not one cute French guy, no interesting quips of gossip, no weirdos. “That’s everyone” the Captain said over the intercom. “Arrival staff is free to close up and leave.”

Elise wasted no time. She struggled with the heavy door, eventually kicking it out of its locked-in place.

“Wait!” Someone called from down the corridor. Elise heard footsteps pounding against the ground. She used all her weight to stop the door from closing. A young man turned the corner, probably only a couple years older than Elise. He was wearing a black and grey flannel coat, blue jeans, and a grey T-shirt.

He ran to the door and held it for Elise, placing his muscular arm right next to her head. Elise’s breath hitched as she looked at him. The man was tall and lean like a soccer player. His eyes were a deep chocolate brown and his hair was black as night.

She awkwardly ducked under his hand to allow him to move through the door. “Thank you, miss.” The man said. Elise smiled and tucked a stray hair behind her ear. “No problem” she said. “I fell asleep on the ride and I just… I’m sorry to keep everyone waiting.”

He was still panting a bit. “It’s really not a problem. This was the last flight anyway. Not like I’ve got anywhere else to be.” Elise said, packing her things up. The man smiled at her. “Let me help you. It’s the least I could do.” After some argument, Elise reluctantly gave in and let him carry one of her bags out to her car.

“Thank you, uh…” “Pierre.” The man said, holding a hand out. “And you are?” “Elise” she said, taking his hand. “bonsoir, Elise.” He said, kissing her hand. She blushed as he gave her the bag he’d been holding. He even ran to the other side of the car and opened the door for her. “Have a good night, Elise.” She smiled at the way he said her name, with a little accent. “Good night Pierre.” She said. He closed the door and waived before turning to walk back to the bus stop.

Elise couldn’t wipe the smile off her face as she fished in her bag for her ID, but instead her hand enclosed around a small piece of paper. She unfolded it and turned the overhead light on.

+33-655-571-540

- Pierre

Elise’s stomach filled with butterflies. She did meet a cute French guy after all.