Chelsea avoided Trevor while she waited to collect her luggage. She made her way to the arrivals area where fellow passengers were greeted by family and friends or drivers holding sheets of paper with names written in bold letters. Her eyes scanned the overhead signs in search of directions towards a taxi stand. As she aimed herself in the right direction, Trevor approached from behind and tapped her on the shoulder.

"Hey! The Metro is this way," he said as he tipped his head to the left.

Chelsea looked at him, then to the signs overhead. She paused for a moment, uncertain if she should continue towards the taxis or follow Trevor into the Metro.

"We're going to the same place; you may as well follow me a bit further. The Metro is fast and easy, plus it's cheaper than taking a taxi," he said.

"You don't mind?" she asked.

"Come on," he replied with a smile. "Are you hungry? Do we need to stop of lunch before heading to the hotel?"

"No, I'm fine," she replied.

"Okay, this way."

She followed him through the airport. Cold and dark Trevor was gone. Replaced. Care-free and happy Trevor led her to the Metro ticket kiosks. She watched as he tapped at the screen, slipped in a credit card, and purchased a ticket. She pulled her credit card out of her wallet and slowly poked at the screen of the neighboring machine.

"You'll probably want to go to the beach, maybe do some sightseeing, when you figure out what you're doing, you can buy single tickets or get a pass for ten trips and save some money. But, you need to buy a single ticket for the rides to and from the airport," Trevor said. "Click here..."

Chelsea followed the directions and waited a few seconds for the ticket to be dispensed.

"That's it. You have to keep that until we get out of the station at the other end," Trevor explained.

Chelsea had never felt so lost and was embarrassed by her lack of what seemed to be basic life skills for Trevor. He noticed and smiled.

"Relax, if you watch some of these people, they'll spend a bunch of time trying to figure it out before they finally ask one of the attendants for help," he said nodding his head towards a man that had been standing at a machine before they arrived and was still no closer to finalizing his ticket purchase.

Along the way to the train platform Trevor explained the system and how to determine which platform was needed for travel in a specific direction. He pointed out the stop they needed to reach for a short walk to the hotel. She had never taken transit before, not even a city bus, so she had no experience to draw from.

"How do you know which line and station we need to get to the hotel?" Chelsea asked as she looked at a map of the Metro system.

"Well, you can locate the hotel on a city map quite easily, then scan the surrounding area for the Metro indicator, then analyze the metro coverage map and determine from there... or you can look on the hotel website where it tells you which stations are nearby," Trevor said with a smile.

"Well, if you want to do it the easy way..." Chelsea said sarcastically.

"Easier gets me to a beer sooner! I also looked at the Metro map on-line a few days ago and figured it out," he said as he pulled a printed map from his backpack.

Chelsea was pleasantly surprised by her own witty remark. It was the type of thing she expected from someone else, anyone else, but not from herself. She would normally formulate such things in her mind but never let them slip out into the real world. Judging from the smile on Trevor's face and his reply, it went over well.

"Aren't you going to look at it? The map you printed..."

"No, I sort of remember it. I print all my stuff 'cause the battery in my phone sucks. Then I sit and look at it 'til I pretty much memorize it all."

As she followed him out of the metro station to the street, she wondered how long the walk to the hotel would be. How much longer could she follow him? How much longer could she be with him before being left to find her way around, alone? She hoped the walk was at least an hour, or maybe two weeks. She was disappointed when they rounded a corner a block from the station and arrived at the hotel entrance.

"Wow, that is close," she said.

"You see, the Metro is quick and easy."

Trevor paused to allow her to check in first, motioning with his left hand towards the counter he said, "After you."

"Oh, I have to dig out my stuff. I haven't memorized anything," she replied. "You go ahead."

Trevor stepped up to the counter with his passport already in hand and was greeted by the hotel clerk, "Hello, welcome. How may I help you?"

"Trevor Leland, I have a reservation," Trevor said as he handed his passport to the man.

After inspecting the document, the clerk moved to the hotel computer and started the check in process. He scanned the passport then handed Trevor a pen.

"Please verify the information here," he said as he pointed to the hotel registry form, "then sign here and initial here to indicate you understand this is a non-smoking room."

Trevor scanned the document and started to sign and initial as required. Chelsea watched to see how the process worked and pulled her passport from her backpack. It all looked quite painless and easy.

"I see a note on the file, indicating you wish to have a double bed," the clerk said. "Unfortunately, this room has twin beds. It is supposed to have a double bed, but we are currently completing some renovations and it was given two twin beds. It is a mistake."

"Oh, I need a double bed." Trevor replied.

"Yes, we have some new beds that just arriving today to fix this problem. The maintenance staff won't be able to change it until tomorrow. Shall I put in the request to have the bed exchanged for you tomorrow? I hope this is acceptable, and I apologize for the error."

"No problem. But, yeah please have it changed," Trevor replied.

"I am sorry for this. There was a mistake and..." the man rambled as he typed up an email.

Trevor collected his room key and stepped away from the counter. Chelsea stepped up and smiled as she handed her passport to the clerk.

"Hello, I'm Chelsea Bales. I have a reservation too," she said.

The clerk studied her passport then paused in contemplation for a moment. He found her reservation in the hotel computer then turned back towards Chelsea with a concerned look on his face and double checked her passport.

"I have a reservation," she repeated as she pulled a wad of papers from her pack. "I have the confirmation number, if that helps."

"Oh, that won't be necessary, I see the reservation but there is one problem," the man replied. "What is your age?"

"I'm sixteen, but..."

"Unfortunately, I cannot check you in. You are under the age of eighteen, I cannot..."

"What's the problem?" Trevor asked as he stepped towards the counter.

"But I am emancipated," Chelsea said to the clerk as she pointed towards a document paperclipped to her passport. "I'm an independent minor."

"Yes, that is fine for many things but unfortunately the hotel policy prohibits me from allowing you a room," the man replied. "You will find the same policy in every hotel here."

Chelsea's heart sank, and she choked as she tried to speak, "But... What..."

Trevor asked, "We are travelling together, can't you give her a room since she is with me? I can even check in for her, just put it under my name?"

"I am sorry, but if she is staying in the room on her own, I am not able to help you," the man said.

"There has to be some place. Is there some place near here that will let her have a room? Somewhere nearby?" Trevor pleaded.

"I am sorry, I cannot help you. There are... some places, far away from here, perhaps, but I do not believe they are safe for a girl to stay on her own," the man said. "I do not recommend—"

"What am I supposed to do?" Chelsea asked with tears streaming from her eyes.

"Can she stay with me?" Trevor asked.

The man nodded, "In your room? Well, of course. Your room charge is for two people. I will cancel her reservation, there will be no charge."

Chelsea looked at Trevor unsure of how to respond. She could not determine if the look of frustration she saw on his face was directed at the hotel clerk or her. Should she thank him and happily accept the offer of a place to stay or decline and start searching for some other accommodations?

"I'll just look for—" she started.

"You can stay with me tonight then check some other hotels in the morning," Trevor said. "We can go looking tomorrow."

Chelsea nodded and thanked him. After the discussion on the plane, she had every intention of parting ways and going it alone, leaving him to his solo vacation but he was stuck with her for the night. She collected her passport from the desk clerk and quietly followed Trevor as he guided her towards the elevator, just as he had he guided her from the airport to the hotel.

"I will get up early and find some other place, first thing in the morning. I promise," she said.