Page 49 of Nathan
Sweden
Nathan
“There’s something I have to ask you.” It was my first question when Serena and I buckled up in our seats in the small private airplane.
She looked beautiful in a white flowery dress that exposed her toned shoulders, and her long hair braided with a few strands falling down in front of her ears.
Unlike last night when we’d spoken on video chat, Serena was now wearing a bit of make-up and some beautiful silver earrings that were shaped like leaves.
It felt like my entire body was buzzing with excitement from being this close to her again. From the way she was clutching the blue cardigan in her lap, I figured she was as nervous as me.
“Ask away.”
“What’s your real name?”
She opened her mouth but didn’t speak at first.
“You said Serena Star wasn’t your birth name.”
“I’m just surprised that you didn’t look it up. You can find out by doing a simple Google search, you know.”
“I would rather hear it from you.”
Leaning away from me, she broke into an amused smile. “Okay, but first, tell me: what do you think it is? Do I look like a Lisa to you, or maybe a Maddie?”
“Hmm.” I looked her over as if her brown leather ankle boots, or the jewelry she was wearing, would give me a hint. “Maybe Piper or Jennifer.”
Serena laughed. “Both cool names, but that’s not it. My real name is Sydney Brown.”
“Sydney Brown,” I said slowly so as to connect it with the woman in front of me whom I’d always known as Serena Star. “Sydney Brown is a nice name, so how come you changed it?”
“I didn’t. My first agent did. At first, I would cringe whenever someone said ‘Star,’ and my friends teased me about it. It felt so presumptuous, but I believe in the law of attraction, so…” She shrugged.
“It worked.”
“Yeah, it did. Now I wonder if I should change my name to Happy and see if that sticks too.”
“So, what do I call you?”
“I’ve been Serena for so many years that I’ve come to prefer that name. Only my family calls me Sydney still, and sometimes I don’t react to it because I’m not used to hearing that name anymore.”
“Alright, Serena it is.” I looked out the window as the plane began rolling.
“Sweden, here we come,” Serena declared.
“Are you excited? “I asked.
“Nervous, excited, and a little terrified. All at the same time.”
“It’s the Monopoly game, isn’t it?” I smiled at her. “You’re worried that I’m going to win.”
“My pride couldn’t take it if you did,” she said, using a thick layer of irony.
I crossed my arms and nodded slowly. “I understand. The humiliation of Monopoly bankruptcy is real, but I’m sure we can find something that you do better than me. I mean, obviously, it’s not going to be running, swimming, playing Monopoly, or baking pancakes, but you have other talents, right?” I was obnoxious on purpose to help her relax, and it worked because she smiled at me.
“I have many talents. Can you do this?”
My nose wrinkled up when she rotated her hand in an unnatural way. “That’s scary. What are you, hyper-flexible?
