Snippet #1486441

”…Please remember to take all your belongings with you as you deplane. If you have a connection flight, an agent at the podium can assist you in locating your next gate…”

Rachel’s head shot up quickly, her ponytail now loose on the back of her head from the hours of sleep she had received on the long flight to Rio. Her face had been plastered against the window, and unknowingly, she had a red line across her cheek. She had already ranted earlier to whoever the hell’s idea it was to take a 6am flight, and even now after a bit of a nap, she didn’t feel any less groggy. But hey, they could legally drink here, right? Nothing a couple shots couldn’t fix. Or a freaking Starbucks, if they even had one here.

Fixing her hair and tying her dark hair back up tightly into another ponytail, Rach grabbed her suitcase that she was surprised even fit on the aircraft, and she dragged it behind her down the aisle and into the terminal. Amy was excited and chipper, as usual, and Rachel just grumbled under her breath a little as she followed. This party girl needed a little more caffeine before she could be on the same level of excitement as Amy. Which was odd, considering she was in a beautiful place, without her boyfriend. But meh, Rachel was actually thankful that Blake decided not to come. Seeing Amy and Blake together only made her feel more guilty, and now she could actually enjoy her vacation here in Rio without having to feel so awkward around her close friend.

Hearing everyone talking around her, it was clear there was some confusion. Was someone expected to be the leader, here? Certainly, it wasn’t Rach. If anything, she was probably the one person whose everyone’s parents were skeptical about sending their kids with on an international trip. But they had all planned this out together with their parents, so it wasn’t as if they didn’t know what they were getting themselves into. Rachel Freeman did not know Portuguese, nor was she here to learn the language. If anyone had any question as to why exactly she was here, they didn’t know her at all. But still, considering, she could at least read English, and the airport was well signed in smaller print under the larger Portuguese text.

“Ground transportation is this way, guys.” She finally smiled, almost devilishly as she pointed with her thumb to the left while her other hand still lugged around that large bag, along with her purse around her shoulder. Through the airport terminal, after clearing customs, they followed the passengers passed baggage claim, picking up bags if they needed to before they were brought outside where there were rental cars, taxis, and shuttles.

Almost immediately, Rachel felt the warm, humid air on her skin, and she stopped momentarily to take off her zip-up sweatshirt and tie it around her waist. “Someone look for the Copacabana hotel shuttle, it’s supposed to come by every half hour.” She spoke up to everyone, trying to provide them with at least some direction so they didn’t look like a bunch of lost teenagers; prey to anyone their parents warned them about.