Free Locket full of Secrets by Dana Burkey Page B

flight.”
                  Turning my back on Steven and Olena, I could not help but smile as I changed into my new gear. Olena had provided me with a tie-dye shirt and a black zip up hoodie, cargo pants, and hiking boots. Pulling my hair into a ponytail I surely looked the part of someone about to backpack through Europe. While I sat lacing the new boots I took a minute to go over the details in my head. I knew I needed to be calm when we got to the airport, and talk believably about my plans to see Europe when we went through customs.
                  “Are you okay?” Olena asked, sitting beside me on the bed.
                  “Yeah, just trying to get myself ready,” I nodded. “You know, for our awesome trip across Europe.”
                  “There you go,” she smiled. “You are going to do fine.”
                  “I hope so,” I sighed, fiddling with my hoodie strings.
                  “How is your arm doing?” Olena asked as she laced up her boots as well.
                  “Much better. Steven helped me wrap it again after my shower.” As I explained, I could feel blush rising in my cheeks at the thought of our time after my arm had been treated.
                  “That is what you were up to while I was gone? Just first aid?” I could hear the doubt in her voice as Olena paused in her shoe tying to look at me.
                  “We may have kissed a little,” I shrugged. Despite my casual tone I could feel my cheeks burning with blush. I suddenly felt like we were in 8th grade all over again.
                  “Are you sure he-” she began before cutting herself off, as Steven exited the bathroom now dressed in his new clothes.
                  “Time to go?” Steven asked in the silence that suddenly filled the room.
                  “Yes,” Olena mumbled. “We should go.”
                  Shrugging at Steven, I pulled my pack onto my back before turning to follow Olena out of the motel room. Steven moved next to me and took my hand as we walked towards the main office to check out. It was just after noon, the sun lessening the sting of the cool fall air.
                  “Where’s the car?” Steven asked, looking around the parking lot for the car we had arrived in.
                  “It is in the middle of downtown in a parking deck,” Olena explained. “That way anyone tracking it will be put off our trail. We will take a taxi to the airport.”
                  I squeezed Steven’s hand, doing my best to stay calm. I had assumed we would have the car ride to get our Europe travel story straight, but instead we would have to just fly by the seat of our pants once again.
                  “You ready for all this?” Steven asked me as we waited outside the motel lobby. Olena was inside turning in our keys and calling for a cab.
                  “I think so,” I shrugged, biting my lip. “If we’ve made it this far in one piece, I think I should be able to get through just about anything.”
                  “You’ll do great,” he smiled, leaning in to give me a quick kiss on the lips.
                  Smiling, I leaned in to rest my head on his shoulder. At least our “disguise” as college kids meant we could still play the role of a happy couple. It was a small consolation, but exciting all the same.  
                  “The taxi should be here any minute,” Olena smiled, exiting the lobby. “Russia here we come!”
                  Although it was clear she was now in character I found her smile and enthusiasm infectious. I found myself grinning as well, suddenly not as worried about what was ahead of us. Olena was good at this, masking her real feelings to get a job done. If worse came to worse, I would let her