Song of the chapter: Good Old Days - Pink

"Zoe? Wake up, babe. The car's here."

Tyler roused me a few hours after going to bed, showered and ready to board the 8.30 flight to Barcelona. She was already all dressed in comfortable, chic and still travel friendly clothing completed by simple Converse sneakers and a neat ponytail.

"Looking good as always, Ty," I mused, running into the shower.

I took a quick one, brushed my teeth and blow dried my hair in a space of ten minutes, all the while fighting the urge to fall asleep. Clad in a maxi skirt and plain white tee, I made my way downstairs with my luggage.

"Hey!" sang Rae, wide awake and looking very excited. Min, on the other hand, was asleep on her lap, looking fatigued.

Is she okay, I mouthed so as to not wake her up. Rae nodded her head. She's just tired, talked to Lily last night, she mouthed back. I'd have to get her mind off of her parents during the trip, I resolved.

She was still receiving the silent treatment from them, and Lily was no exception. Granted she was strictly forbidden too, of course. Although, she did reach out to her sister, using any of us as a vessel to deliver her messages.

Our flight took off as scheduled two hours after check-in; I dozed off immediately, Min rested on my shoulder beside me.

"...and this is my lovely, and single, friend, Zoe." Rae nudged my elbow, waking me up. I blinked twice, taking in my surroundings before glancing as her, a puzzled look on my face.

She averted her eyes towards a male figure seated across the aisle from us, next to Tyler - a handsome looking man. "Zoe, meet Stephen."

I smiled awkwardly at him. "Hi, I'm Zoe."

"I know. I'm Stephen, but you already know that." He greeted back in a low, husky British accented voice, running his fingers through his dark, curly locks.

Rae winked at me, urging me to flirt with him. I was going to murder this girl - I really wasn't as desperate as she made me out to be.

I made small talk with him, Rae carrying the whole conversation. Stephen frequently looked over my shoulder to Min, his eyes betraying his apparent crush. She would look up occasionally, smiling at us and get back to her music.

"Who's the stranger?" she asked when he got up out of his seat.

"His name is Stephen and it seems like he's friends with Ty. I think they went to school together," I said. " And I think he likes you."

"I see that." She shook her head and shrugged, returning to Foo Fighters playing from her iPod.

Her music preferences had always been very different from that of her parents - they forbade any and all music that wasn't classical. However, she grew up listening to rock and metal music despite being a classically trained violin maestro.

Min was always rebellious but never confrontational, unable to stand up to her parents. I just hoped one day she would be brave enough to do so. Someday soon.