Airport Chance Meeting

     You had just published your first novel. It was a dream you've had for as long as you can remember. The moment was surreal as you read your email: The publisher booked a series of PR events for you in which you had to travel. They were readings, book signings, and interviews. One of the places you had to fly to was New York. They arranged for you to stay at a beautiful luxury hotel overlooking The Park. You were going to stay there for 3 nights since there were several bookstores and other venues in town that you are to attend for your book publicity. You were so excited and went to pack right away. Your flight was in 2 days. Fast-forward to travel day. There was a car waiting for you outside. The driver helped you with your bag and drove you to the airport. When you arrived, you checked your bag and headed to your gate. You had some time to spare, so you decided to get a drink at the bar in the private lounge. As you got your drink, you were looking at your phone when a handsome stranger said something. You looked up, and you nearly fell off your seat. He was beautiful. When you finally composed yourself, you had a little smile and said, "Sorry, I didn't catch what you said." He then said that you dropped your boarding pass. You looked down, sure enough, it was there on the floor. You said "thank you," and before you could pick it up, he offered to pick it up for you. He handed it to you with the most beautiful smile you've ever seen. After you thanked him, he asked if the seat next to yours was taken. You said it's free. After he sat down and ordered his drink, you two started talking. He introduced himself as Timothée Chalamet. Turns out you're both on the same flight. It then clicked for you that he is THE Timothée Chalamet! You held your composure and tried to maintain the conversation without showing your excitement. He was able to sense what was happening and tried to reassure you with a smile. After a while, you felt more at ease, probably due to the drinks you were having. You then heard the call to board. You both head out to the gate together and eventually board the plane.

     Timmy had to go in ahead of you so that he wouldn't get rushed at the terminal. Eventually you went a little later. You were in 1st class, thanks to the publisher. As you made your way to your seat, you saw Timothée again. He had the window seat, wearing his hoodie and was scrolling through his playlist on his phone. You noticed it had a huge crack on the corner. You let out a little chuckle, that's when he looked up and noticed you. He then made himself less incognito and gave you a big smile. You joked, I guess you're stuck with me on the plane! He smiled and said that he's glad that you're here and was amazed at the odds of that happening. The plane took off, and you were both having a great time chatting throughout the flight. When the plane was making its descent, he asked for your number. He wanted to be able to contact you for a date. You couldn't believe it. You felt goosebumps all over. You did not expect him to be interested in you. You exchanged numbers and when the plane got to the gate, you both eventually exited the plane. At baggage claim he said he had to leave right away, so he'll call you as soon as he's able. You then hugged and he left with his chauffeur and security guard. You grabbed your bag and found your driver. He had a big sign with your name on it, and the publisher logo in the corner. You then drove to your hotel. After you got to your room, you let out a big sigh and plopped on the bed. You were so excited about your trip so far! It was late so you decided to order room service and watch TV in your pajamas. You had an early and busy day tomorrow.

     The next morning, you had a book signing at 10am, and another at 2pm. At 5pm you had a reading with another signing afterwards. So that was 3 different locations in one day. The reading would be at a huge bookstore that is attached to a hip coffee lounge in the heart of the bustling city. It was an old stone building with a lot of character. It was probably a bank 150 years ago or something. You were in awe of the high ceilings, the marble floors, and all the dark woodwork and shelves. The scent of books and coffee was enveloping you and gave you a sense of elation. You were guided to the podium at one end of the space. There were people already seated on the benches in front of it. This was an interesting setup. It appears they often had readings there. When it was time, the lights dimmed slightly and a spotlight was shining where you are. You began to read the designated chapter. After it was read, there was applause and then the q&a began and lasted for approximately 30 minutes, and the signing took about an hour or so. There were also some pre-signed books your publisher sent them, that you signed weeks before. Finally the last person in line put his book in front of you. Without looking up, you asked for his name. (You were a little exhausted by now, otherwise you would've looked up right away.) You heard him say "Timothée". Just then, you looked up and gasped in surprise! He had a huge grin. You proceeded to sign his book as you asked him how he got here undetected. Then you handed back the book and stood up to hug him. He said he got there early and was observing from the upper floor. There was a walkway there, like a balcony. After the crowd got scarce, he made his way down and eventually got in line for the book signing. He was wearing a navy blue hoodie, sunglasses, snug black pants and white sneakers. He said he was going to call, but then he thought he'd surprise you instead. He did a search and found out where you were reading. He wanted to hear it. You felt flattered. Your publisher rep tapped your shoulder to tell you "that's a wrap" and she gave you a big hug. Timmy's eyes were on you, impressed at your accomplishments. She then asked if you needed a ride back to the hotel, knowing well that you probably wouldn't, as she looked at Timothée with a look of admiration. You were about to answer when Timothée asked you if you wanted to hang out, maybe get dinner together. You turned to the rep and said, thanks, but I'm going to stay for a while, I'll text you later if I need a lift. Then Timmy chimed in saying, "no need", I can drive you back. You turned to him and asked, "are you sure?". He grinned and said, "Of course! I want to spend time with you tonight." So you said bye to the rep, and you and Timothée walked towards the café. He asked if you wanted to have a cappuccino together before heading out. It was a good idea because despite having a burst of energy seeing Timmy, you had a long day and needed a boost. You sat at a cozy booth in the corner in front of the window. Jazz music was playing loud, and every so often, you hear the grind of the coffee interjecting it's burr noise into the melody. There was an intense smell of coffee every time that happened. There was also the sound of people talking, laughing, orders being called by the barista...your typical coffee house vibe. There was a funky pendant lamp above your table made from upcycled metal scraps, and the exposed brick walls had old covers of worn out books that were salvaged and made into an interesting collage on a huge canvas or board. The server arrived with your cappuccinos and set them in front of you both. There was a design on each of your foams. On yours it had a lotus flower and on his it had a musical note. You both looked down at them and smiled. You said that you loved lotus blossoms. It was your favorite flower. In your mind, you felt some kind of serendipity about that fact. He said that his was cool too, since he loves music. He never goes a day without it. He is always trying to discover new music. You were both deep in conversation talking about your book and each other's interests. When you were finished, you both then head out to walk on that block for a little while. He texted his driver to meet them a block away. As you strolled leisurely, you were admiring the windows of the boutiques and dept. stores until you arrived at an intersection of a residential street. Just then, you saw the car pull up. Timothée said, "There's our ride." The car parked, and the chauffeur greeted you both and then opened the door to let you both in. He then he shut it and got back in the driver's seat. Timothée then asked if he could take them to "the place on 42nd!". The chauffeur responded by saying, "Sure thing, T." You looked at Timothée and asked him what "place" was that. He leaned back in his seat and responded, "You'll see," with a cute smile. He then proceeded to play a song by Kid Cudi and gradually started bobbing his head and making it louder. You were excited to see him so happy and were moving to the beat also. You hadn't heard that song before. When you mentioned that, he said it's not out yet. "You just got a sneak peak at his newest single that's about to drop." Your eyes got big, and you uttered a "Wow! That's so cool! How did you get that?" you asked. He said that they are basically "bros." He went into the story of how they first met and how much of an inspiration he was to him and his career pursuit. They emotionally supported each other over the course of their friendship until now, and he sometimes let's him hear stuff before it drops. You were impressed and saw both of them in a new light after that story. The car then slowed to a stop. They have arrived. The chauffeur then opened the door, and you both exited the vehicle. Timothée thanked him. He nodded and mentioned that he'll wait for his call. Then he left. You then noticed that you were in front of a world famous diner that you heard of and always wanted to go to. Your eyes lit up. He noticed and said, "I knew you'd like it!" as he grinned and felt proud of himself for his little suggestion. It was a very crowded and happening place. The servers in white shirts and black aprons were walking around with urgency. There was the noise of plates, people talking and the sound of some upbeat music playing, like dance music. Despite it being an old establishment, it was updated with a mixture of modern and original elements. The light was dim but not dark. As you walked in, the hostess instantly recognized Timothée. She smiled and greeted him. He smiled back as she looked at you both. Then she said, "Right this way," as she led you both through the maze of tables towards a row of raised booths along the wall. The one in the middle was available, and apparently, it was his usual table. You stepped up and scooted in towards the center. Timothée did the same thing on the other end as the hostess set the menus on the table and mentioned that their server would be with them shortly. He then asked if you eat meat, and you nodded and said that you do. "Great!" he said. He then went on to say, "If I may, I recommend you get the pastrami on rye. They make the best ones here! They pile it high on bread they bake on premises!" That sounded so good to you. You thanked him and asked him if he wanted to share because it sounded huge. He asked if you're sure, and you said, "Yes." He said, "ok, I don't mind. I was actually going to order that myself. No pressure. If you're still in the mood for something else, we can always order more stuff later." You then said in agreement, "sounds like a good plan!". The server arrived and took their orders. They also ordered a couple of cocktails from the full bar on premises. The server came back with an Old Fashioned for him and a Dirty Martini for you. You clinked your glasses and said cheers, making sure you have eye contact in that moment. Then you both took a sip of your drinks. You finally got a moment to get a good look at him since the moment you met at the airport. You noticed his beautiful green/blue eyes sparkling under that light of the diner. His soft curls framed his face and were playfully messy in a way that worked for him. He looked so beautiful beyond words. He just had that effortlessly cool look about him. You can feel your attraction to him starting to grow. It gave you a sensation of joy as you watched him speak. It was like you were watching a movie in slow motion. Just then, the food arrived. The sandwich was huge, just as you expected. You were glad you decided to share. He grabbed his half on a spare plate, and you both started eating. Time flew as you both got more cocktails and you both started moving a little closer to each other. You were feeling warmer as you spent more time together. He reached over and caressed your hand as he looked into your eyes. He said that he felt a connection with you and couldn't find a way to explain it. He added that he's happy that you met. You blushed. Everything felt surreal. You also understood what he meant because you felt the same way. You decided to tell him that. After hearing you, he had a look of pure joy. By this time, you both were done with your meal and drinks. The check came, and you started to pull out your card so you could split the bill, but he insisted that he pay. He called the server to prevent you from trying to put your card in the little folder. She came right away and processed it right there at the table. You both then got up to head out. It was pretty late, around 1:30 am. That diner was 24 hours, so it was still bustling as you two left. Outside, it was getting misty and cool. The street lights seemed to have halos around them. The ground was wet from a light rain that happened when you were inside the diner. It made the ground reflect the various lights that were around. You started to shiver. He put his arm around you and started to rub your outer arm gently so you could feel warm. He said that the car should be here any moment. Sure enough, it arrived, and the chauffeur opened the door for you both. You said that you should probably head back to the hotel. He made a little sad pout when you said that. You couldn't resist, so you asked him if he wanted to come with you back to your room so you could talk without limitations. You both had a really good buzz from the drinks earlier, and you weren't sleepy yet. His pout turned into a smile, and he said, sure. And he continued to hold you close to him and squeeze your hand as the car headed to your hotel. When you arrived, the chauffeur opened the door to let you out. Timothée told him that he'll text him. By this time, the rain was starting to get heavier. The doorman held the door open for you. You thanked him as you headed into the warm lobby. There was a beautiful grouping of flowers you passed on the way to the elevator. The doors opened just as you got there, and it happened to be going up. You both got in, and you pressed the floor button. When it arrived, you exited and headed down the hallway to your room. Once inside, you turned on some lights, but not all of them. He was impressed at the beauty of the room. He noticed that you had a terrace attached to your room. You said, "Yes, I love it." Unfortunately, we can't sit out there tonight. There was a seating area with a sofa near the window. You both sat there and continued your conversation. You played some ambient music from your playlist and paired it with the speakers in the room. It created an instant cozy vibe. You really enjoyed talking with him. There were moments when you laughed so hard that you started crying. He noticed, and that's when he wiped a tear from your cheek. You stopped laughing, and before you know it, you were both gazing into each other's eyes. He kept his hand on your cheek as he moved in closer to you. Your heart was beating really fast because you can anticipate what will happen next. He leaned in closer. His lips gently touched yours, and before you knew it, you were kissing passionately. It was the best kiss youever felt. You didn't want it to end. Eventually, you were lying down on the sofa playing with his hair as he was on top of you kissing you. You loved the feeling of his weight on you. He then started kissing your neck, and it gave you the good kind of chills. You knew what was going to happen next, it was inevitable... The next morning, you woke up in bed. The sheets are soft on your bare skin. You felt euphoria as you remembered the details of last night. It seemed like a fever dream. You turned to the other side of the bed to reach for him, but he wasn't there. Then your heart sank until you heard the sound of a door opening and closing. You got out of bed, put on a robe, noticed your messy hair in the mirror, so you quickly managed it before heading into the other part of your suite. The terrace door was open, and the sheer curtain was billowing in the breeze. You walked out onto the terrace and noticed Timothée, sitting there waiting for you. He turned towards you when he heard you come out. He looked so seductive sitting there like that. He then said, "Good morning, beautiful. I thought I'd surprise you with brunch." You were not expecting this at all. It was a wonderful surprise. You felt relieved that he stayed. Then you noticed he had different clothes on. You asked him when he found time to do all of this? He said that he woke up early and went to his room, changed, then ordered roomservice. He saw you sleeping so peacefully that he didn't want to wake you. Then you realized that he was also staying at this hotel. You couldn't help but laugh at the odds of that happening. It's like the universe wanted to bring you together. He laughed, too, noticing the same thing. You then went over to him, sat on his lap, and started kissing him. It was the most amazing feeling. He didn't want to let go of you, but you wanted to get dressed before starting breakfast. He said, "Don't bother. It's just going to end up on the floor again. " Then you both laughed. It was the start of a perfect day and eventually a perfect relationship because you two were inseparable after this chance meeting. Whenever his work ended, he'd spend his days with you until he had to work again. Your book had great reviews and became a bestseller! He was so excited for you. You felt so fortunate to have such a supportive boyfriend. On your 1 year anniversary, he booked the same hotel to celebrate, but this time, it would be spent in the penthouse suite with its own private elevator. He looked do beautiful on the terrace during the sunset golden hour. You watched the sunset together on the terrace and then went inside, holding hands. It was a romantic anniversary, and you couldn't dream of having your life any other way. You had it all.

Airport Chance Meeting