Chapter 12: Ticket To Ride

"San Francisco Airport, please," Julia asked the driver of the taxi politely. She got in, putting on her sunglasses to hide her red, puffy eyes.

"Sure thing." He studied her from the rearview mirror. "Something wrong miss?"

"No." She answered. "Yes," She answered a moment later. She didn't know why she was talking so personally to the cab driver.

"Care to talk about it? We've got a while, and I’m a good listener." He offered.

* * * * *

"Do you have rental cars?" JC asked an employee in the hotel lobby.

"Yes, sir. Go down that hall and take a turn to your left."

"Thanks." JC said, rushing towards the directions that the boy had told him. He leapt over a pile of luggage that a bellboy was pushing and almost tripped over an old woman and her dog.

"I need to rent a car," He said, gasping for air, "I need to reach the girl I love before she leaves on a plane."

* * * * *

"You can't keep running from your troubles," The cab driver said as he pulled up in front of the airport.

"I know," Julia answered truthfully, "but it's just too hard to be around him. How much do I owe you?"

"Nothing. Forget about it." He said. She looked surprised, but just thanked him and got out. "Oh, miss!" He called out.

"Yes?"

"I just hope everything works out for you."

* * * * *

JC drove the small Toyota as fast as the speed limit allowed. He couldn't afford to be stopped and given a ticket. Julia might have gotten on the plane by then. He felt something poke him in the side, and pulled it out. It was the cd he had picked up in Julia's room. He popped it into the car's cd player. The first song that came on, and JC got an idea as he drove.

* * * * *

"One ticket to Los Angeles," Julia said. She thanked the attendant and went to go sit in one of the plastic chairs to wait for her flight. Yet again she was thankful for her sunglasses.

"I can't believe I fell for him," She said aloud. Just remembering the image of him and Michelle in each other's arms, it was almost too much to bear. They had looked so perfect together that Julia felt even sicker. She put on her black windbreaker, hoping to end the chill the she felt.

"Flight 403, departing for Los Angeles is now boarding at gate 14." A voice on the intercom called out. Julia calmly picked up her bag and headed towards the gate.

* * * * *

"When are your departing flights leaving for Los Angeles?" JC asked the attendant.

"Do you have a ticket, Sir?" She asked.

"Look, I don’t have time for this, the girl I love is about to get on one of those flights," He said frantically almost yelling at the poor girl.

"Flight 403, at gate 14." As soon as she finished, JC took off.

* * * * *

Julia walked closer to gate 14, feeling depressed. She waited in line for the people in front of her to get inside, then she could hear a familiar voice singing a couple of feet behind her.

I think I'm gonna be sad
I think it's today, yeah
The girl that's driving me mad
Is going away

She's got a ticket to ride
She's got a ticket to ride
She's got a ticket to ride
But she don't care

She said that living with me is bringing
Her down, yeah
For she would never be free
When I was around

She's got a ticket to ride
She's got a ticket to ride
She's got a ticket to ride
But she don't care

I don't know why she's riding so high
She ought to think twice
She ought to do right by me

Before she gets to saying goodbye
She ought to think twice
she ought to do right by me

I think I'm gonna be sad
I think it's today, yeah
The girl that's driving me mad
Is going away, yeah

She's got a ticket to ride
She's got a ticket to ride
She's got a ticket to ride
But she don't care

I don't know why she's riding so high
She ought to think twice
She ought to do right by me

Before she gets to saying goodbye
she ought to think twice
she out to do right by me

she said that living with me was bringing her down, yeah
for she would never be free when I was around

She's got a ticket to ride
She's got a ticket to ride
She's got a ticket to ride
But she don't care

"my baby don't care," He said, repeating the last lines softly and with so much emotion, "my baby don't care." Julia was crying now, she hadn't turned around ever since he started singing because she had known immediately that it was JC. 'Ticket To Ride' was one of her favorite Beatles songs, she wondered how he had known that.

"Jules, please don't go," JC pleaded. "I broke up with Michelle, I ran back to the hotel but you were gone so I rushed here as fast as I could. Please, yell at me, hit me, but just don't leave me."

Julia turned around slowly. Her bags dropped on the floor as she ran into JC's arms, showering kisses over his face. "I love you so much," He said. "I couldn't let you leave." A loud applause could be heard, and that was when they both realized they had drawn a crowd. Julia blushed and hid her face in JC's coat, while JC grinned at everyone and waved.

"I love you too," She murmured, kissing him deeply, sealing their love forever.

THE END

Ticket To Ride Contents | Chapter 11