We meet up with Jillian, Mom and Dad. Almost immediately after we go through all the security, we have to board the plane. This fact earned Chris a scolding. His Mom, good ole Mrs. O' Brian said, "See? We almost missed the plane because you couldn't get yourself out of bed!" I laughed at this. Chris kicked me in the shin. When I overreacted, he thought he had seriously hurt me and freaked. And then I laughed more because I was fine and his face was priceless... And then he kicked me again.

Ahhh, true friendship.

I pop a squat in the seat next to Chris. My parents sit in the two seats behind us, and Jillian sits with Mrs. O' Brian to our right.

I chuckle to myself when I look at Chris, his hands behind his head and his eyes closed. We haven't even taken off and the guy's already drifted to dreamland.

"Rock-a-by baaabby," I whisper-sing to him. Without opening his eyes, he waves his hand around to shoo me away... And accidentally whacks me right in the face.

"Pfft!" I spit and start laugh again. "You are violent today!" I accuse.

Chris keeps his eyes closed and shrugs. "Sorry not sorry."

Jillian giggles from across the way. She's a pretty quiet person... Until you get to know her. Then she's the most hyper child on planet earth.

"Why won't you guys just a give up and date already???" she laughs.

Chris opens his eyes, glares at her and scoffs in a mixture of annoyance and amusement. I roll my eyes and reach across the aisle to playfully pinch her in the shoulder. "Can you please imagine us as a couple and take back what you said?" I joke to her.

She shrugs. "I imagined it, and it seemed pretty adorable to me but whatever floats your boat."

I scoff and turn around to give Chris the she's crazy look but he's already resumed his nap. Rolling my eyes and smiling, I lean in till my mouth is inches from his ear. "Hey!" I say as loudly as I deemed acceptable in a plane full of random people.

Chris nearly falls off his chair in shock. Jillian almost does the same because she's guffawing so much. She's making that snorting sound that she makes when her laughter gets out of control.

"What the heck was that for?" Chris demands.

Ahhh, but he can't hide the smile on his face.

"You're not allowed to sleep," I inform him. "Besides I thought you quote 'couldn't sleep on moving vehicles' unquote," I mock him with a devious smile on my lips.

"We're not moving yet," he says matter-of-factly.

I roll my eyes. "Ok smart guy," I tease.

He gives me a funny look and runs his hand through his hair. "Are you tired at all?"

"Extremely," I admit.

"Yeahbit..." Jillian starts before I cut her off.

"Yeahbit the rabbit," I tease moving my eyebrows up and down.

She rolls her eyes and I hear Dad laugh behind me. He always says 'Yeahbit the rabbit' whenever we slur the phrase together like that.

"Yeah, buuuuttt," she drones, waving her nose in my direction. "When Odette's tired it makes her ten times more hyper."

"Oh joy," Chris chuckles, as if he didn't already know that about me.

"Yep!" I confirm. "And today it's more like twenty times as hyper as normal because we are going to AFRICA!!! This has been on my bucket list all my life! Jk, only since I found out that there's a possibility I could go," I laugh.

Chris nods and nonchalantly answers, "Yeah I'm gonna miss hiking with the trio of trouble though."

I cock my head slightly. Is something off with Chris? He's not exactly an open book so he may be holding things in that he doesn't feel like telling anyone.

I shake my head. I overthink everything. It's completely normal to be nervous. I mean we're going half-way around the world!

"Yeah but you'll have all of July to do that. And most of August," I point out. "This is going to be a really awesome experience. You won't regret coming."

     ______________________

Three plane rides and God knows how many hours later land us in the heart of a little village in Uganda.

Mrs. O' Brian got us a little rental car to drive is where we need to be. The rest of our church crew is spilt up in several other cars and following us there.

The red dirt roads and fields around are actually really gorgeous to me. Yes, it's a lot different from the mountain ranges I'm used to at home but there's something truly breathtaking about the view. Up and down the streets, the villagers are going about their daily business. Some are cooking outside, some cleaning. The children run around with smiles on their faces. Who needs expensive equipment when all you need for tag is people?

Their smiles make my face light up too. I roll down my windows so their joyous screeches reach my ears more clearly.

"Chris, aren't they precious??"

He nods. "They're adorable.

No, Chris isn't much of a people person but I think dealing with me can prepare him for whatever lies ahead. This is what runs through my mind as I watch Chris' face go from excited to scared and back again.

I smile to myself. He's actually really good with people that are kids. We'll be working with young children for most of our trip here. Yes, we'll also be helping with the well that's being built. But most of that heavy labor stuff has been assigned to others in our group.

I turn my head away from Chris and back towards the window. Children stop and stare at us as we slowly and carefully make our way down the road, so as not to run anyone over. I wave to them. Some wave back with hesitant smiles, and others just continue to stare.

This is going to be amazing!