Chapter 1

"Is this seat taken?"

Oh no! All I wanted is just to sit alone, damn it!

I remove my bag from the chair. My notebook, with sequins and butterflies on its cover, falls out of my open bag. The girl apologizes for the inconvenience and picks it up from the floor. I blush: only children can have such silly notebooks... But I like pink and... butterflies.

"Sorry to have caused you trouble," the girl says modestly.

"It's okay," I mumble, turning my head to my phone.

I hope she’ll drink her coffee and leave me alone. I'm not in the mood to chat today. The whole morning my dad kept on asking why I was not energetic, why I was not cheerful as usual. How can anyone be cheerful and full of life at 6 am?! Oh, my head! My sleepy head...

"I thought I would be late for the flight check-in. Are you flying to Dubrovnik too?" the girl continues the conversation.

But why can't she mind her coffee in silence?

"May I excuse myself... I really have to go."

"Ouch!"

"Oh my God! I didn’t mean to!"

I watch the brown coffee stain soaking in her expensive silky green pants.

"I must have burned you!" I grab all the napkins from the table and press them against her laps.

I look up, she is looking at me not with anger, but rather with embarrassment.

"It's okay, I have some extras in my carry-on luggage," the girl tries to calm me down, as if it wasn't me, but she who spilt her coffee on me. I pull my hands back, realizing how awkward the whole situation looks: me and my hands on her resilient thighs.

"I- Forgive me!" I think I'm going to cry now. I've never placed myself in such an embarrassing situation like this.

"Just buy me a coffee, and we are even," the girl smiles timidly.

"Yes, yes, of course!" I almost knock the sugar bowl with my elbow.

The girl laughs; I smile too. She has a beautiful smile, a kind one.

"Do you like Pokemon?" the stranger asks unexpectedly. I swallow. It feels like I'm ten years old again, and my older brothers are laughing at me. "I like Meowth," she says.

I cover the keychain with my hand (a small figure of Pikachu, gnawed by my cat, is hanging on the chain. By the way, cat’s name is also Pikachu... Pikachu ate Pikachu: sounds kinda retarded). It's strange to look at a young woman in her mid-twenties who, in all seriousness, is talking about Pokemon.

"Sorry, I just wanted to keep the conversation going!" She looks so embarrassed.

"Yes, I’m also flying to Dubrovnik!" I am trying to change the topic.

"We should definitely go somewhere together upon arrival. My ex – hmm – my ex-friend said that in the old town you can taste delicious ice cream!"

I nod. I don't even know why I agree! She’s just some stranger with a beautiful smile and resilient thighs, and a big coffee stain on them.

"I would love to!" I said cheerfully.

Why not! Her company won't hurt. This is my first time traveling alone (without a noisy crowd of brothers and a laughing dad), and I'm a little scared, to be honest. Who knows, maybe we could become best travel buddies ever!