Sending up Shoots - Part VI

"I've got to pick someone up at the airport," he said. "You want to come with?" Elizabeth nodded enthusiastically. "Sure," she said. "I can even get us a better parking spot." "Really?" he said. "You can do that?" "Hey, baby," she replied, smiling broadly. "I'm a Customs Agent. I can park just about wherever I want." He shook his head and laughed. "I didn't know you were such a big shot." Elizabeth blew on her fingernails and rubbed them on her shoulder in mock pride. "Oh, yea! I'm Miss Important!" "Well, you are to me," he said, putting his arm around her, pulling her close and kissing her on the cheek. "You are to me." Arriving at the Honolulu airport Elizabeth parked in one of the reserved Customs parking slots next to the main terminal. It was her usual spot, though she was a little surprised that it was empty on her day off. She had always thought that Scott parked there when she wasn't around. "Is this close enough?" she asked. She looked over at him in the passenger seat and lost her breath once again. It happened whenever she looked at him and caught him directly in the eye. He was so gorgeous. She let out an almost unnoticeable sigh as he exclaimed "Are you kidding? Makes me wish I was an agent or something so I could park this close. I always have to park so far away and lug my bags all over creation. This is great!" Elizabeth turned the car off and removed the key. Opening her door she said, "You never did tell me. Who are we picking up here, anyway?" He took a step out of the car and looked at her over the roof. "Oh, just my old college buddy," he replied, shutting his door. He walked toward the back of the Altima and straightened his sunglasses. "His name is Jax and we were frat brothers back in college. He's going to attend some conference over to the University. He'll be pretty busy while he's here, so this is really the only chance I'll get to see him." "Awfully nice of you to come pick him up," said Elizabeth as she walked through the door he held open for her. "You've only been back on the island two days yourself." "I know," he replied, "but Jax was my best friend and I haven't seen him for about five, six years. When I heard he was coming I knew I had to see him." Walking into the second floor lobby, Elizabeth said hello to Sam, the HPD cop who always seemed to be standing near the overseas terminal. "Waiting for Polly again, Sam?" she asked, amusingly. Sam smiled and pointed down toward where Polly worked. Sure enough, she was walking down the concourse, dressed in her traditional Hawaiian muu muu and lei. "Hi, Bethy," she said, smiling broadly. "Busman's holiday?" Elizabeth smiled. "Yea, just call me Ralph Kramden today," she said, laughing heartily. "I should learn to stay away from here on my days off." Polly giggled as Sam grabbed her and gave her a hug. "And so, that must make you Ed Norton, right?" she asked, sticking her hand out toward him, her eyes twinkling. Elizabeth looked at him shyly and realized that these were the first friends who'd met him. Red-faced and feeling like a 9-year old school girl admitting for the first time that she liked boys, she introduced him to the engaging couple. Polly grabbed his hand with both of hers and shook it enthusiastically. "Nice to meet you," she said, enraptured. Sam just waved weakly and exclaimed "Hey, any friend of Elizabeth's!" "Nice to meet you all, too," he replied, smiling broadly. Polly giggled and looked at Elizabeth with those same school-girl eyes. No words were spoken, but Elizabeth could tell that Polly was smitten as well. "We should probably go, sweetheart," he said, pointing to his watch. "Don't want to miss Jax." Elizabeth looked at him and shook her head. "Oh, right. Yea, we've got to go," she replied. Waving her hand and walking toward the gates she turned her head and said, "See you guys tomorrow!" Walking down the concourse he grabbed her hand. He squeezed it gently and looked at her with one eye. "Bethy?" he said, raising his eyebrows and pursing his lips. Elizabeth squeezed his hand and chuckled. "Watch it, bub," she said, pointing at him with the index finger of her other hand. "That's for Polly only." Coming soon - Part VII -------------