Jaddi
Jaddi shrugged off her backpack and dropped it to the floor. There didn’t seem much point carrying it when they weren’t moving.
‘I never realised how nice orderly queues could be,’ Samantha said, oblivious to the tedium circling Jaddi as they joined the back of the line that would take them through Australian customs.
If it was up to Jaddi, she’d barge to the front and play the can-we-cut-in-front-of-you-because-my-best-friend-only-has-sixty-days-left-on-earth card. Instead Jaddi sighed and scooped her hair up into a messy bun. It wasn’t up to her, it was up to Lizzie, and drawing attention to themselves didn’t exactly fit with Lizzie’s desire to be like every other traveller, something they’d done well with so far, considering the growing media attention back in the UK and online.
Despite the dozens of tabloid stories, the trending Twitter hashtags, and the millions of followers on their Facebook page, they’d existed within in their own bubble in Southeast Asia. But would it last? From the number of comments posted by Australians on Facebook, it was clear that the documentary’s reach had expanded outside of the UK.
Jaddi glanced over her shoulder, half expecting to see a group of well-meaning fans rushing towards them. She smirked to herself and discarded the thought. Fans? Who was she kidding? Australia was a huge country with just as many remote places as Southeast Asia. Nothing would pop the bubble. She wouldn’t let it.
As the passengers in front of them began to move, Jaddi hoisted her bag from the floor and stepped forward two paces. ‘I kind of liked the mosh pit of travellers trying to get into Vietnam,’ she said. ‘All those men zipping around offering to bribe border control and get us through in minutes for a small fee. It was fun.’
‘I’ve always thought there was something strange about you, Jaddi.’ Samantha shook her head. ‘Well, your idea of fun anyway. We were at that border for two hours. I must have sweated my entire body weight whilst watching coach loads of people walk straight past our so-called line and to the front. What is the point of organising visas in advance if that’s how they’re going to manage it? Call that fun?’
‘Maybe fun is not the right word. It was definitely an—’
‘Authentic experience,’ Lizzie and Samantha chorused before falling into a fit of giggles.
‘Well, it was.’ Jaddi laughed, pulling out her mobile and turning it on.
‘Will you put your phone away for five minutes?’ Samantha flicked Jaddi’s phone with her finger. ‘It’s been glued to your hand for the past week.’
Jaddi grinned. ‘Sorry. I’m just confirming the Segway booking for tomorrow.’
‘Oh God, I know that smile.’ Samantha shook her head. ‘What are you getting us into now?’
Jaddi laughed. ‘It’s just an off-road Segway ride through Newington Park.’
Samantha shook her head. ‘So why are you smiling your mischief-making smile? The one you had last summer when you talked me into doing that mud-wrestling event in Regent’s Park.’
‘Hey, that was hilarious,’ Jaddi said, grinning, ‘and you know it. And it was for charity. Don’t worry, the Segways will be fun, I promise.’
‘Plus –’ Lizzie winked at Jaddi ‘– don’t you want to see Ben trying to drive a Segway and film at the same time.’
‘I’m standing right here, you know?’ he said from behind the camera.
Lizzie laughed. ‘Sorry.’
‘No, you’re not,’ he said with a smirk.
‘You’re right, I’m not.’ She grinned at him.
Ben poked his head out from the camera and shot them a look. It didn’t last. His face relaxed and the bemused smile Jaddi had seen more and more of appeared.
A movement caught Jaddi’s eye. ‘Er, Ben?’ She raised her eyebrows as a man in a pale-blue uniform strode purposefully towards them.
The officer tapped Ben twice on the shoulder before positioning himself in front of them. The officer’s legs stretched into an upside-down V, one hand on the black baton on his hip, the other on the radio receiver attached to his breast pocket. ‘I’m going to need you to pack your equipment away, sir.’ The officer’s head barely reached Ben’s shoulder, but the man had a presence about him. The tanned muscles bulging out his shirt sleeves added to the effect.
‘I’m a cameraman,’ Ben said, pulling a plastic identification card from the side pocket of his khaki trousers. ‘I’m filming a UK documentary.’
‘Sir, turn it off.’
‘No problem.’ Ben smiled a cooperative smile and zipped his camera into its bag whilst the officer continued to stare. The line ahead moved three paces without them.
‘Ben got told off,’ Jaddi sing-songed once the officer was out of earshot.
Ben shook his head before hoisting his bags onto his back.
‘Don’t be mean, Jaddi,’ Samantha sniggered. ‘Poor Benny is upset enough as it is.’
‘All right, all right.’ Ben glared between them. ‘I know it was very funny, but the line is moving.’ He nodded towards the white screen and three more uniformed officers.
Jaddi patted Ben on the shoulder and stepped forward. ‘Sydney, here we come.’
‘You coming, Liz?’ Samantha smiled.
‘Er …’ Lizzie dropped her eyes to her clothes and ran a finger over a stain on her top. ‘Go on without me. I think I’ll freshen up quickly.’
‘Oh, yeah.’ Jaddi grinned. ‘Lover boy is waiting.’
Lizzie swiped Jaddi on the arm. ‘I’ll be five minutes,’ she called as she turned towards the toilet sign.
Samantha stared after her. ‘Shall we wait for her?’
‘You guys go,’ Ben said. ‘I’ll wait for Lizzie and hold our place in the queue,’ he added, pointing towards a new wave of passengers trundling out of baggage claim towards them. ‘Get us some coffees, OK?’
‘Done.’ Jaddi nudged Samantha’s arm. ‘Let’s go.’