Part Five - So now what?

Part Five - So now what?

It was about ten o'clock and we were hushing into the airport so I could pick my daddy up. It was a Thursday night and I thought the airport would be half empty but it was packed. Lots of flights coming from Europe were late. Something about the strange weather in the Barcelona area that made more than thirty flying machines wait for the right moment to take off. We both got there out of breath and sweaty! Didn't expect that delay.

-That's what happens when you don't have a sound system in you car that tunes radio stations... You never know what's going on!

The worry about my father had become a ticking bomb, didn't feel like having any moral lessons from Ethan.

-You know what... I have to know what's going on because I had no idea it'd happen, could you please stay quiet?

He opened his eyes in shock moving away from me as I passed with some difficulty amongst the hundreds of people waiting everywhere for their late flights. I turned back and yelled at him to stay there that I'd be back in a moment. He just heard me and leaned over the cafe counter. I reached the airlines desk and asked if the flight my father was supposed to catch was late or if it was still in Spain, the mindless receptionist was taking to long to check the flight and I was getting more worried about Ethan waiting me that about my father really. It wasn't the first time he was giving me a bad time and surely wouldn't be the last time. At least the guy found out that the flight my father was getting on hadn't left Barcelona yet. I took a deep breath and asked how long would it be, sincerely, for the flight to make it.

-I'm sorry miss, probably around tomorrow morning!
-Tomorrow morning!?

I was so mad! I had to work tomorrow morning! How was I supposed to tell my dad I wasn't picking him up? He'd have a heart attack! Noticing my exhilaration Ethan walked to me and tried to catch on our little argument.

-Sir, do you know how my father is? Do you have ANY idea on what he's capable of doing if he doesn't find me here tomorrow morning? I work tomorrow morning! This stinks!
-Wait up, Iris, I can get your dad tomorrow morning...
-I didn't finish, Ethan! Sir, would you PLEASE get me a way to contact my father, a telephone number, anything. He's such a pig head he never wanted a cell phone... You WHAT Ethan?

In the middle of my crude words I could barely understand what Ethan had just proposed. He was being such a gentile and delicate person, as a good old Brazilian gal I was getting suspicious.

- I said I can pick you father tomorrow morning. If you plan on keeping your job anyway.

I was shocked by his words and I needed some time to think. The receptionist was overwhelmed by all the demands everyone around him and having a big glass of water he asked me if he still needed the telephone number so I could reach my dad. Quickly and deadly I answered:

-Of course I want it! Fast!

Ethan started laughing and making me feel uncomfortably warm. I wanted to laugh with him, my hands were shaking and I had never seen so many people in the airport like that before...

-What are you laughing at... Stop it!

I was saying over and over again, - Stop! Stop it Ethan! STOP! - but it didn't matter he would just laugh harder holding himself to the counter so he wouldn't fall off from such an urge to laugh at me. By then I started to laugh just as hard as him and we both kept laughing. The receptionist came back with the number written down in a small piece of paper with the name of the person I was supposed to talk with but he just couldn't talk to us, we were still laughing... Angry he inserted the small paper inside Ethan's pocket in his black jacket and left. Just to make things worse Ethan started to mimic the poor guy catching everybody else's attention. His name was being whispered throughout the corridors, "isn't that the Hollywood actor?", "Ethan... Hawke, right?" bla bla bla.... It sopped being funny. We looked to each other and without a word went back to the parking lot, afraid someone would follow us asking for his autograph.

Inside the car I started the engine wiping the tears off of my eyes since I had put my loins out from so much laughter. Ethan didn't fasten the passenger's seat belt and I couldn't miss the joke.

-Don't you dare risk yourself like that! Who said I'm that good at driving this piece of metal?
-Ay, let me be fast or you'll kill me just like you almost did with that poor receptionist!
-Yeah, I'll give you a heart attack!
-Yeah yeah... weren't you supposed to call your dad now?
-Yes I'm but I can't afford this call... Must get home to reach him.
-No, no, call him with my cell phone, go ahead.
-What? No, Ethan. You've done too much for me already.
-I have not. Just do it okay?
-I won't.
-Iris!
-No.
-I'm fucking telling you to do it! It will be too late, how will he know I'm picking him up tomorrow?
-You're not picking him up tomorrow.
-I thought you had agreed on that!
-What? No I haven't.
-So how will you do it? huh? Tell me.
-I don't know...
-Iris.
-What?
-Stop the car.
-What?
-Would you please stop the car?

We were getting in the highway and pulled over. He was obviously a little angry but I couldn't just accept everything he wanted me to, I couldn't let him do things for me like that, it wasn't like we were old time buddies and all.

-What do you want, Ethan?
-I want you to please accept these things.
-What can I do? I can't abuse you!
-You're not doing that.
-Wait, Ethan. Look, you're a famous guy and all, right?
-So?
-If I just go ahead and accept all these nice things you're doing to me people will say I'm a... a... how can I call it?
-A what for crissakes?
-A beggar!
-WHAT?
-Yeah, I don't want anyone thinking I'm using you. You don't know me! How come you want to pick my daddy at the airport? Only, friends or lovers do that!
-So, what do you need? A friends proposal? A signed contract?
-No!
-Why would you care with what everybody thinks? You left that party because you hated the snobby shit people that were hanging there, why would my so called-fame bother you? I don't get it, Iris!
-It's not bothering me...
-It is! And you know, you're right! Just leave me where you found me, we don't even need to exchange phone numbers anymore.
-What?
-You heard me, I'm the one that's not willing to help you any longer. I didn't know it was hard for one to believe I'm a decent guy.
-I believe in you, Ethan!
-It seems like every goddamn woman I bump into is a suspicious minded little girl. All you women are little girls.... Can't stand that. Bad night to go out anyways.

We both kept in silence for a while. Wasn't expecting that reaction coming from him just like he probably wasn't expecting the reaction I had prior. He was mad and i was sorry but there was nothing I could do.

-Won't you fucking turn the engine on? Do you want me to drive?

I just drove off and thought to myself, "so now what?"....