DIANA NOLAN

''Princess? Hello!'' my father answers his phone. The corners of my mouth curve into a smile as I see my father's face on my screen. He is sitting in bright daylight, while I am sitting in the darkness.
     "Hi, Papa," I greet and wave. "I've finished practice and I have the weekend for myself, shall I visit you on set?" I hear his typical excited gasp but then he frowns.
     "We are in New Jersey, though," he frowns, searching for a solution. "How about securing you, Flora, and Emma a flight to New Jersey?" My eyes widened with excitement.
"Momma!" I call. My mother hurried to the kitchen where I was seated, thinking something was wrong.
"Papa is securing us a flight to New Jersey!" I beam, but my excitement dies as her excitement isn't returned. My shoulders slump, tilting my head.
"Hello, darling." My attention draws to my phone, almost forgetting Dad was right there. "Hello, dearest. Secure the flight for Diana, she deserves the time off," Mom smiles, running her hand through my freshly washed hair.
"Flora has her final exam for her first swimming certification," Mom reminds me, also rubbing her stomach. I gasp as I remember, however, my mother eases my nerves. "Secure her the flight, as I said, she deserves the time off." I watch her press a kiss on my head. My father nods and tells me he will be texting the details.
     "Let's start packing your bag," my mother smiles. I jump from the barstool, entering the living room to enter the hall. The wood underneath my feet creaks while I make my way to the sweeping staircase. I head through the long hall to my room.
The bed is placed against the right wall, and my medals are displayed on the wall. Above these medals, I have a shelf with other prizes. A rack of leotards is placed at my foot end and further into that corner, I have my sink. On the other side of the room, I have my closet and desk. The walls are crème white, decorated with Sacramento green curtains and plants.

I reached for my suitcase, the perfect size for travelling. I check the weather in New Jersey. "Hoodies it is," I conclude, throwing my phone on the bed. My heart skips a beat as my phone keeps bouncing. I exhale in relief before turning to my closet.
     I chose my scarlet red university hoodie and a basic black hoodie. I roll the hoodies and place them into my suitcase. From the corner of my eyes, I see my phone lit up. I reach over to read Dad's messages.

✆ MESSAGES now
Dad🤍
I arranged a private jet, Atlas Maverick will be your pilot

✆ MESSAGES now
Dad🤍
So, ask for his name and he will be available from 11pm

✆ MESSAGES now
Dad🤍
London Airport

✆ MESSAGES now
Dad🤍
It's a 10h flight - 5h time difference

✆ MESSAGES now
Dad🤍
I'll make sure to pick you up

✆ MESSAGES now
Beckie🩵
Are you down for the weekend?

"Leaving at eleven pm. Landing at eight am, UK time. Minuet five hours, three am in the morning," I calculate. "Damn." A knock on my door causes me to turn around, revealing my mother in the doorway.
     "Papa has sent me the details," I inform. "He has a private jet for me, leaving at eleven pm and he will pick me up." She enters my room and takes place on my bed.
     "Do you wish me to take you to the airport?" she questions. I return to my closet to gather different undergarments.
     "I don't want you to leave Flora behind," I reason, placing my hands on my hips as I face my mother. "I can call grandma, that will be no problem." I point at my phone, signalling my mother to hand it over. As she does, I dial my grandmother's number.
"Hello Diana dear," her soft voice echoes through my ear as I hold the phone against my ear. "Hello, grandma. I wanted to ask you something."
"Ask me anything." "I am free for the weekend, so I'll be visiting Papa in New Jersey — I hear gasps of excitement — and I'm leaving tonight. So, I was wondering if you could watch Flora for perhaps two hours." I hear distant rustling and patiently wait for her answer.
"I am on my way, dear," she replies. "See you in a minute." She ends the call and I remove the phone from my ear. "She is on her way," I smile. I pick out different sorts of trousers: tracksuit, jeans and shorts. I snatch a few pairs of socks out of the basket.
     "Toothbrush and etcetera," I mutter, heading to my sink. I gather my necessities like my toothbrush, -paste, facial wash gel, facial creme, mascara, eyeliner, brush, scrunchies. Like that.
     "I'll take care of your suitcase, you go and wake your sister," Mom waves her hand, dismissing me. I turn around on my heels before walking toward Flora's bedroom. I slowly push down the handle, carefully peeking around the corner. I tiptoe into her room until I'm next to her bed before I crouch.

"Psst," I whisper, caressing her cheek with my finger. She slowly stirs awake, asking what is going on.
     "I am leaving for the weekend to see Dad," I explain. "But I can't go without saying goodbye to my beloved little sister." Once my words registered in her mind, she sat up straight. "You are going?"
     "Yes." She wraps her arms around my neck and hugs me. "Good luck with swimming tomorrow," I whisper. "I need you to do great, okay?" I hear little sniffs. "Yes." I pull away from the hug, needing her to look at me.
     "I am coming home, I promise," I whisper. "And someone needs to look out for our unborn brother or sister." A chuckle ripples from her throat, leaving my heart at ease. "I will do that."
     "Grandma will be here any moment, let's get you out of bed," I say. She wraps her arms around my neck as I lift her out of her bed, into my arms. "Give dad big kisses." I agree and place a kiss on her hair. I walk down the stairs, followed by Mom with the suitcase.
"Are you sure you will be okay?" I question, referring to the fetus. She sends me a warm smile, nodding. "I will be alright." Not a moment later, the doorbell rings. With Flora in my arms, I head to the door. I welcome Grandma before Flora reaches out for her. She takes Flora in her arms before walking to the living room.
     "Hello," she smiles. "Hello, mom." She kisses Grandma on the cheek before turning to me.
     "Shall we leave then?" she implies. I nod and turn to Grandma. "You have fun in New Jersey, okay?" Grandma questions. It sounded more like a demand than a question but I nodded nonetheless. I embrace her in a hug before turning to Flora. "I will video call," I promise. That leaves a smile on her face before checking the last things.
     "I am ready to go."

"Your father appreciates your visit." I draw my attention to my mother, who looks at me for a brief moment. Only the soft sound of the radio fills the car.
     "I am genuinely interested in what he is doing," I reply. "And I guess I miss his presence." To my last words, she sighs. She misses him too, I know it. "Which is why Dad wanted you and Flora with me on this flight. He wanted us reunited with him." My mother stays silent, however, with a smile playing on her lips.
We park the car and enter the airport. I walk up to the information desk where a man greets me with a small smile. "Good evening, what can I do for you?" I show him my passport as I explain: "My father, Christopher Nolan, has arranged a jet for me and I needed to ask for Atlas Maverick?" He nods before he reaches for the landline.
     "Mr. Maverick? I have Diana Nolan at the desk. Yes. Yes. Alright. Bye," he smiles. "He will pick you up here at the desk." I send him a smile and thank him.
     Approximate five minutes later, I notice a well-dressed man in uniform approaching us. I nudge my mother with my elbow, who then lifts her head. My eyes meet his as he heads in our direction.
     "Good evening," he bows his head with courtesy. I bow my head in return as he questions: "Are you, Miss Diana Nolan?" I nod at his question and show him my passport as identification.
     "Perfect," he smiles. He extends his hand in the direction he wants us to go. "Do I need to say goodbye now?" I question. He seems to hesitate but eventually shakes his head. "She can walk with us."

"Here we are," he informs and turns to me and my mother. "Now would be a pleasant time to say goodbye," he adds. We nod and turn to each other. Mom engulfs me with a hug, tightly wrapping her arms around my neck.
     "Be safe. Look after your stuff, look after yourself," she warns, pulling away from our embrace. Her hands cup my cheeks, her eyes boring into mine. I couldn't help but smile, she was merely concerned.
     "I'll be alright, momma," I say, laying my hands over hers. "And I know how to throw a punch." Instead of a laugh, she scowls.
     "Diana Eloise Nolan-" she scolds, but I interrupt her. "I was joking, momma," I laughed and once she understood the joke, she laughed as well.
     "I need to go now, Mr. Maverick is waiting," I say, a knot forming in my stomach. I wrap my arms around her neck. "I will be back soon enough," I whisper. "I know," she whispers. She pulls away and presses a kiss on my mouth.
     "Take care of your father," she adds, the corner of her mouth curling into a smirk. I laugh and nod. "Will do." I grip the handle of my suitcase, walking up to my pilot. He had his hands clasped behind his back, his eyes on me now.
     "Are you ready, Miss Nolan?" he questions gently. I glance over my shoulder, seeing my mother giving me an encouraging nod. "Yes," I say, turning to the pilot. "Yes, I am ready." He nods with a smile on his face.
     "Very well then, please follow me."

"Have you ever been on a flight before, Miss Nolan?" he questions. I glance aside at the brown-haired man.
"Please, call me Diana," I insist. "And yes, I have been on a plane before." He nods with sincerity. "Very well, Miss- Diana." The rest of the walk was quiet. Well, our conversation was quiet, because the airport is never silent.
"Are you the pilot of my dad?" I question, looking up at him. Our eyes meet, his warm, dark eyes meeting my blue eyes. He nods. "Yes, I am. You are flying over to visit your father if I heard your father correctly."
     "Yes, and I intend to visit him more often if my schedule allows me," I reason. "Perhaps, you need to fly me to him," I laugh. Luckily, he could laugh about it as well.
"Perhaps I should, Miss Diana," he smiles. I now notice the dimples on the cheek I could see. "Quit calling me Miss," I grunt. "Judging by your face you are merely a few years older."
     "Okay, if that is what you wish," he chuckles. "I will stop calling you Miss and call you Diana." I nod. "Thank you."
     "You may call me by my name as well," he intends, his hands clasped behind his back. I arch an eyebrow at him. "But what if I enjoy Mr. Maverick more?'' I tease slightly. I could see him chewing his cheek, hiding his smile. ''Miss Nolan,'' he smirks. I grunt and roll my eyes.
     ''Fine, Atlas,'' I sigh. His smirk melts into a smile as he says: ''Then we are squared, Diana.'' I once again rolled my eyes, but I couldn't keep the corners of my mouth in a straight line. I keep my face forward, avoiding his eyes.

''Welcome to my plane,'' he introduces, pointing his hand at the plane. My eyes follow his hand and land on a white plane. ''Is it yours, yours?'' I question impressed. He nods and guides me to the machine.
     ''Do you want to sit in the cock pit?'' Atlas questions, looking down at me. I look at him with widening eyes. ''You are joking?'' I gasp, not believing him. He shakes his head and smiles, showing both the dimples in his cheeks.
"For as long as you want," he adds. My heart accelerates with excitement and suddenly I forget how tired I actually am. The adrenaline shoves me awake and I reply with enthusiasm: "That would be splendid." Atlas chuckles as he reaches for my suitcase, which I allow. He gets a hold of my suitcase to stow it away. I wait at the stairs for him, however, he allows me to walk first.
''What a gentleman you are,'' I mutter amused. I glanced down at him under my arm and I could see a smile on his face. I shake my head as I avert my gaze to the front. ''I always am a gentleman, Diana,'' he adds. His words seem to fluster me as a heat creeps up my neck. He guides me to the cock pit where I was seated right next to him. He hands me a giant set of headphones.
''They are massive,'' I gasp, placing them on my head. I look at Atlas, who clearly fails to suppress a peal of laughter. ''My apologies, Diana. But they look indeed massive on your head,'' he laughs. His laugh feels contagious, causing me to laugh as well.
''Just get us in the air!'' I screech, still laughing. Atlas' laugh dies away as he starts concentrating. He starts pushing buttons and if I try to hoover my fingers above a button, he slaps my hand away. ''Ow! Mean.''
''You need to get in the air,'' he reasons, a sassy undertone in his voice. I pout my lips as I simply watch him work. He is handsome, I guess. Or cute, more cute than handsome. I scowl at my thoughts, not needing love to invade my mind and feelings. I have one goal in mind, The Olympics.

''The sky is clear,'' I gasp, looking out of the window. ''It is beautiful.''
     ''It is beautiful, magnificent,'' he whispers. I glance over my shoulder, but I notice he is looking at me and not at the sky. A new heat creeps up my cheeks, almost thinking he was saying that to me. As if I'm beautiful. Atlas clears his throat and averts his eyes from mine.
''We should be there in ten hours,'' he informs. ''If you wish to move to the passenger room, please inform me.'' I sneak a glance from him and nod. ''I will,'' I answer. The adrenaline fades away as I feel tired once again. I sink away in my seat, pulling my hoodie up to my mouth. I yawn and yawn until my eyes start to feel heavy. As I eventually drift asleep.