xp_logs | Log: [Forge and Jennie]

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Forge drops Jennie off at the airport, and receives a promise to return home soon and a little surprise.

As much as it was killing Forge not to drop the clutch, slam the car into high gear, and powerslide around the corner into the airport parking garage, he restrained himself, obeying the "10mph" signs and even slowing down to signal his turn.

Pulling into a parking spot, he cut the engine and popped the trunk. The car didn't exactly have a lot of storage space with all the extra equipment and gear, but thankfully Jennie didn't exactly pack like she was going on an expedition.

"Italy, wow," he said after a moment of awkward silence. "My parents rent a timeshare on the Gulf Coast for, like two weeks every other summer. Talk about different worlds, huh?"

Jennie shook her head. "Tell me about it, this is incredibly surreal. Not only is my Dad cool, but he's rich. Stuff like this doesn't happen in real life." She opened the door and got out, stretching. Mentally she went over her checklist again, hoping to calm the anxiety in her stomach. She slung her shoulder bag on and made to grab for her other suitcase. Jennie believed in traveling light, she looked down on others who carried their entire lives on vacation. That and she was one of those people who could fit 3 suitcases worth of stuff into a carry-on.

Forge playfully swatted at her hand, lifting the suitcase out of the trunk. "Allow me," he said with a smile, nodding toward the terminal. "Sure, it's all of a hundred yard walk, but it's the principle of the thing, you know?" The loud roar of an airliner passing overhead drowned out the background noise of traffic and terminal announcements, and Forge was reminded once more of how happy he was that any extended flights he'd have to go on in the future, he knew that bribing Clarice with new and unique textiles could enable him to avoid commercial air altogether.

He didn't get along very well with metal detectors these days, to put it lightly.

"So," he asked as the two of them headed for the crosswalk, "rich, European, and completely not the jerk you thought. How many times have you pinched yourself this past week?"

"A whole bunch." Jennie said, as the automatic doors opened to allow them entrance. "I mean, I think it's the universe making up for my craptacular upbringing. I loved my Mom, but she wasn't exactly parent of the year." And now there was the added resentment of keeping Jennie from her Dad. But you couldn't speak ill of the dead. "It's the rest of the family I'm worried about. Did you know I have four brothers and a sister? That's going to be weird."

Forge arched an eyebrow at that revelation. "Wow. And all this time, they didn't know? That's going to be... interesting. You'll have to invite them over sometime. I mean, if they're cool and all. So..." he paused awkwardly in line with Jennie at the ticket counter, craning his neck to look past the other people in line. "When can I... um, when can we expect you back?"

"Well, two weeks. That's when my Dad has to come back to New York for some business stuff. I'm not sure how I'll handle being in a foreign country with my stepmother and younger sister and brothers for company." Jennie pulled her passport out of her bag, and stuck her sunglasses in the front pocket. To expedite security measures, she wasn't wearing any metal. At least she hoped she wasn't. "If I'm feeling comfortable, I may stay longer. Either way, definitely back the week before school starts."

Forge did some quick math in his head, trying not to frown. She's going to see her family, moron. Now is not the time to be a selfish goober.. "Just long enough to pick up some of the language, nice beachfront tan, a gaggle of European businessmen asking you to be their third wife..."

"I'll be in the lake country, wherever that is. So nice lakefront tan. And I fear those Italian guys. They think American girls are all easy." And since she was now technically attached, there would be no make-outs either. "Is it bad that I'm having Eurotrip flashbacks?"

"Wouldn't know, my only trips to Europe so far have been the frigid wastes of Muir," Forge replied, utterly missing the reference. "But if there's any problems with Paolo or Umberto getting too fresh, well, you've got my cell. I can ask Scott to scramble the Blackbird, y'know. He owes me a favor for the eye, still."

"Well, the only time I've been to Europe was for a funeral," Jennie retorted. "And I can just see him in the seat next to you, fingers leaving permanent indentations in the armrests, foot jamming on non-existent breaks."

"'No soda in the Blackbird, Forge', 'Respect the laws of gravity, Forge', 'Mach 3.5 is not a toy, Forge'," Forge joked in a rather uncanny impression of Scott's slightly harried tones. "One day I'll get to fly it. One day. But speaking of flights..." He nodded to the ticket counter before Jennie.

"Ah!" Jennie turned and handed the woman her passport and her ticket. The assistant didn't even look up as she scanned it into the computer. "They'll let you, what with becoming the new security guru. Me and my underwear drawer feel safer already."

"I... uh... yes," Forge said as he felt his face slightly reddening. "Your underwear are safe under my watch. Not that I am watching your underwear. Or that I wouldn't, but... you know what I mean. I hope?"

Covering his face with his hands briefly, Forge peeked out through his fingers to see both Jennie and the ticket lady giving him The Look. "Oh god, again with the speaking..." he moaned.

Jennie and the ticket lady exchanged looks. "Boys," Jennie said, and rolled her eyes. The woman nodded and handed Jennie her boarding pass. Jennie reached out and escorted Forge away from the ticket counter. "One day, you will live that down. Not today, but you can always hope."

"Oh, believe me," Forge agreed, "I have weeks to do stupid things that I'm sure you'll hear about once you're back. And now that it's down to me and Kyle having to come up with all the self-humiliating plans, well, I'm sure we'll have appropriately epic stories."

Walking over to the security checkpoint, Forge slid his hands into his pockets, rocking back on his heels. "So. Um... yeah. Long flight, huh?"

Jennie crossed her arms. "Yup. Very long." They both looked away, and the silence that followed was rather awkward. Jennie sighed and rolled her eyes. Reaching out, she cupped Forge's face in her hands and kissed him quickly on the mouth.

"I'll be back soon," she promised, and gave him a mischievous smile. Grabbing her bag out of his hand, she got into line, giving him one quick wave before she disappeared into the crowd.

For a full minute, Forge just stood with a completely dumbfounded look on his face, staring after Jennie into the crowd. Slowly, he blinked and shook his head as he grinned. "Hurry the hell up already, two weeks..." he said quietly, before turning around and walking for the garage.

And if anyone would have claimed they saw him jumping up and down like a loon and cheering on his way... he wouldn't have denied it in the slightest.