Blaire POV
I smiled at the four-year old pretty girl in a cute pink dress standing beside me as I wash my hands at the lavatory. She seems to be waiting for me to finish and I could not help but talk to her.
"Hello pretty girl, what's your name?" She looked at me uncertainly, obviously not sure if she should talk to a stranger.
"My name is Cassandra. Your braid is so pretty. Can you braid my hair like that?" She was pointing at my hair, which I did in a Dutch braid while waiting for the airplane to touch down and stop moving earlier.
It was my turn to hesitate. Won't her mother get angry if she finds me meddling with her daughter's hair?
"Would it be okay with your mother?" Who wouldn't want to give her the braid she wants? My hands are itching to work magic on her pretty head, but I also did not want to anger a rich mother and end up in jail, where rich people usually throw ordinary people like me, even at the smallest excuse. And oh, does this little girl look like millions in a little package. You ever notice how really rich people have unusually translucent skin, very soft hair, and the general rich aura? Well, this little adorable girl has it.
"I don't have a mommy. She died when I was still a baby." Cassandra said matter-of-factly. And I stopped myself from gaping at her. She said it like, she had been saying those words for years, and she looks to me like she is only four years old.
"Oh... I'm so sorry baby." I tell her gently and she responded with a shrug.
"Don't be miss. I never knew her, so I don't really feel sad that she is not here with me. I have my dad and Summie..." She paused, then asked again. "So, can you do my hair like yours?"
I smile at her determination to have her hair braided. "Okay. Come and take a seat." I lead her to a double seater couch at the far end of the airport bathroom usually used by seniors and let her seat before doing magic with her hair, feeling like I have done this before. My hands pause over her head, why does it feel like I've touched this silky red hair a thousand times before?
Braiding her hair did not take long as Dutch braid is my expertise with regards to hair. But while doing her braid, I noticed a bald man in a suit, peak through the door in search of somebody and only retreated when he saw Cassandra. Maybe her dad?
When I was done, I let her see the result at the mirror, smiling at her obvious excitement.
"Thank you miss..?"
"Call me Blaire sweetie." I answer, bending down on one knee to level our eyes. Unexpectedly, she hugged me in her excitement. Though surprised, I hugged her tightly as well. Who could resist such a beautiful hug from a very lovable girl?
"Now go, before your dad sends a battalion of policemen looking for you." I joke and lead her to the door as three ladies come in to the bathroom. I stand aside for the incoming ladies as I watch Cassandra walk towards three uniformed men, one of whom was the guy who poked his head through the door earlier while I was braiding Cassandra's hair. Of course, they're her bodyguards. I wasn't wrong when I assumed the little girl came from a rich family. Well, at least she was sweet, friendly and amazing.
....
I walk out of the restroom after making sure Cassandra and her bodyguards have gone far from the restroom. I would like to avoid walking out and accidentally bumping into her father or "Summie" and having to talk to them about the braid I did to Cassandra's hair. Yes, I am rich-phobic that way - if there is such a word?
Anyways, I walk to where I left my friend and roommate who invited me to this one-month vacation. Her name is Summer and she has been on the phone ever since we landed, which is why I took my time at the restroom. She must be so excited with all her plans with her friends that she could not wait for us to at least reach her home before calling everyone and informing them of her presence in town. She is such a very social person, a very big contrary to my being an introvert which is why, a lot of the people who knew us would be shocked that we are bestfriends. Well, she is my bestfriend but I don't know if I am hers as she has a lot more friends, most of whom I only meet at one time as I don't really move in that social part of her life. Summer always referred to me as the quiet, reflective part of her living existence.
She convinced me to have this vacation with her and her family and I did a lot of overtime to be able to afford the tickets and have some cash for allowance. Summer would have wanted to have her parents pay for my plane ticket but I refused. Free room and food is big enough for me as Summer is still a student like me. She said her brother is the one paying for her school fees and other school expenses but her parents give her as well if she wanted extra. I always envied her having a loving, supportive family and I wanted to meet them which is why, I agreed to this vacation even though, I had to work overtime at every opportunity at the bar to have additional financing. I only had my mother while growing up, but she died while I was still in high school, then it was foster homes for me until I was seventeen, when I was allowed by the state to live alone with their supervision and support.
I walk back to the waiting area where I left Summer in a call and noticed that thankfully, she is done with her phone calls. I paused however as I see her touching the braid I did earlier, talking to the pretty girl I was talking to. Do they know each other? I continue walking towards them and it was Cassandra who noticed me first, smiling excitedly and pointing at me.
"Ms. Blair! That's her Summie! She's the one who did my hair!"
"You are Summie?" I ask Summer as I get near them and Summer smiled.
"I see you met my pumpkin already." Summer said with a smile, and I shrugged.
"I didn't know you are the Summie she was referring to." I said as I automatically reach to tuck a few strands of hair at Cassandra's ear which were too short to be a part of the braid.
Then I heard a throat clearing on my right side almost behind me but not quite and I face the source. "Oh, and this is my brother, Lucas, Cassandra's father." Summer was pointing at that someone in a suit who I intentionally ignored when I walked near Summer and Cassandra. Ever felt a magnetic pull with someone you haven't even started talking to? Someone you haven't even properly met yet, but you already feel some electric pull or something, that you know you just have to avoid that someone because your gut instinct or your subconscious is telling you that something you are not ready for, will be happening if you fully meet that person? Well, I don't know if you understand what I am saying, but I felt this as I came near Summer and Cassandra and saw this guy standing near them; hoping that he is not with them. Unfortunately, my hope is immediately extinguished, and I had to bravely face him.
"Nice to finally meet you Blair. How are you finding Kingston town so far?" Lucas has extended his hand for a handshake and I bravely took it as I look at Cassandra to avoid looking at this guy, oozing with so much sex appeal and sending out little electric currents where we touched.
"I love the friendliness so far." I tease Cassandra as I let go of the guy's hand and look at Summer with my "what the f--k!" look. The town we are in is named after them? Just to let you know, Summer's full name is Summer Benjamin Kingston. This town is a part of Paradiso country, which is what I only knew so far of our destination. I didn't ask her of the specific location we were going to, but not telling your freind that a town is named after you? Just wow! I let it go for now as I did not want to start my first day with her family in a negative vibe but I let it be known at Summer through a look that she has a lot of explaining to do.
I look at Cassandra, who was grinning happily at me, knowing I was referring to her about the "friendliness" word.