Sydney Airport - Food Court

[Hollywood Heidi]

The food court in Syndey Airport, including many fast food restaurants and seating area.

[sugarplumfairy100]

***MOLLY ENTERS***
"Excuse me? What can I get for $5?" Molly asked at the counter.

"A cafe late, a hot chocolate, a few muffins or a sandwich,"

" 'Kay, thanks. Can I have a hot chocolate and two chocolate muffins please," she asked, trying to ignore the fact that these would neither satisfy her hunger for long, or that it was waste of money.

"Size?"

"Large. For all of them. Please," she added.

The woman handed her the food and drink. Molly slid her a the money, and asked, "D'you know when Flight 815 will start boarding? Only, I um..."

"Got a boyfriend waiting for you the other side?" she asked kindly. Molly thought it was best to lie, so she nodded. "I think it's at erm half two,"

"Thanks,"

"Don't mention it,"

Molly sat down in one of the red leather booths, and slowly drank her hot chocolate. She was attracting alot of attention, partly because she looked so young, partly because of what she was wearing. She shoved the muffins in her shoulder bag, and decided to walk around the airport for a while.

***MOLLY LEAVES***

[Brittany]

BRITTANY

I looked around the moderately populated area trying to decide with fast food joint I wanted to buy food from. There were the regular chain food restaurants seen everywhere in the states and some others that I wasn't familiar with. I decided on Subway and bought myself a six-inch sub sandwich and a coke, and sat down at a vacant table to eat my lunch.

[Hollywood Heidi]

***Heidi enters from the Sydney Airport - Gate 23 area***

I was alone now and feeling a little uncomfortable about the fact that I didn't know anybody here, so I did the usual and zoned out everyone around me as I glanced around at the different places. Thank goodness they had places I recognized. I was, after all, probably the world's pickiest eater. Heaven help me if I was ever stranded anywhere with limited food options.

I decided on one of my favorites, Taco Bell. "G'day, can I take your order?"

I smiled. "Can I get a cheesy gordita crunch with no baja sauce and a small Pepsi no ice?"

She rung up my order and handed me my change, glancing at my t-shirt, which had one word written in a old western font. "Browncoat," she read. "What's that mean?"

"Uh, well," I began, feeling a little funny at the extra attention. "It's what we fans of this TV show called Firefly call ourselves. One of the best shows ever. Kinda a sci-fi futuristic western." She gave me a look that said she thought that sounded like a strange mix. "Rent it some time. I'm sure you'll like it."

I was glad they called my order before she could ask me about the Malcolm Reynolds dogtags I'd worn with the shirt. I did so love to dress in theme, but right now, I didn't feel comfortable with the attention of a stranger on me.

I took my tray and looked around. The place was really crowded. As I made my way down between tables, a man had suddenly shoved his seat back and jumped up, yelling at the woman he'd been sitting with in another language which I guessed was Korean. His chair knocked me off balance and I took a step back to stop myself from falling, accidentally knocking a girl sitting at a table with my carry-on. I leveled my tray, just barely saving my drink and turned toward the person I hit.

"I'm so sorry," I said sincerely. "You okay?" I noticed that she had been in the middle of eating and I was glad I didn't cause her to choke.

[Brittany]

BRITTANY

I was staring dazedly at my half-eaten food, thinking of home and the souvenirs I bought for my family. I'd found a book about Aboriginee's and the use of didjerydoo's for my twin brother, a magnet for my mom (for some reason she liked to collect them), and numerous other items for my dad and grandparents. I hoped they liked them. I was just about to take a bite of my sandwich when someone hit me with their bag. "Ow, fuck!" I said loudly and shot an irritated glance at the person, while rubbing the back of my shoulder.

She asked me if I was okay, clearly remorseful, and I answered, "Yeah, I'm fine. Nothing broken, just lightly bruised."

[Hollywood Heidi]

HEIDI

"Sorry," I said again with a sheepish grin. "It was kinda a domino effect." I glanced over my shoulder at the Korean couple. The man was still yelling at the woman and using a napkin to soak up the coffee that I guessed the wife accidentally knocked over. Still, the yelling was drawing a lot of attention and was really unnecessary as I was sure the woman didn't do it on purpose.

"Men," I mumbled, rolling my eyes. "Such drama queens."

[Brittany]

BRITTANY

"Yeah," I agreed, watching the Korean couple as well. I looked back at the girl who'd bumped into me and noticed her shirt. "You're a Browncoat?" I asked.

[Hollywood Heidi]

HEIDI

I beamed a smile at her. Someone knowing what a Browncoat was only meant they were one themselves. At least that had always been the case. "Heck ya," I said, still smiling widely.

True, I was shy and uncomfortable around people I didn't know, but if someone started talking about two of my biggest passions, movies or Firefly, I felt comfortable and right at home and could talk up a storm as if I'd known the person for years.

I held my tray against my hip with one hand as I pulled the strap of my carry-on higher up on my shoulder. "I'm guessing you're one as well?"

[Brittany]

BRITTANY

"I most definitely am," I said with a smile. Of all places to meet a fellow Firefly fan, it was in an airport food court. "You want to sit down? My name's Brittany, by the way."

[Hollywood Heidi]

HEIDI

I'd gotten all excited about meeting another Firefly fan that I'd forgotten I was standing in a food court, balancing a tray with my food getting cold.

"Sure," I said as I dropped my carry-on on the ground and put my purse in the empty chair next to me. "I'm Heidi. Thanks for letting me sit with you," I said, feeling a little awkward at not knowing anybody around me but grateful that I didn't have to sit alone and feel even more awkward. "I hate not knowing anybody. I'm not so good around so many strangers," I admitted.

[Brittany]

BRITTANY

"Oh, no problem," I said with a smile. "It's better than me sitting here by myself. I hate that. I only do it when absolutely necessary." I took a bite of my sub and chewed, looking around the food court. "So, what flight are you on, if you don't mind me asking?"

[Hollywood Heidi]

HEIDI

I unwrapped my cheesy gordita crunch and started putting hot sauce on it. "I'm taking Oceanic Flight 815 back to L.A. What about you? Where are you headed?" I asked as I emptied the 4th hot sauce packet and then took a bite.

[Brittany]

BRITTANY

"Same. Then I have about a two hour wait after that until my flight to Dallas. That's where I live, Dallas, TX. You live in L.A.?" I took a sip of my coke.

[Hollywood Heidi]

HEIDI

"Wow, that's a long time you'll be spending in planes and airports. I don't envy you. Actually, I'm more in the Orange County area. Close to Disneyland. L.A. isn't that far, but it's the traffic when driving to and from L.A. that really sucks." I took a quick sip of my Pepsi. "So, why'd you come to Australia?" I asked, trying to keep a conversation going to avoid any awkward silences.

[Brittany]

BRITTANY

I listened to what Heidi told me in polite silence. She seemed like a nice person, kinda reminded me of my best friend a little. She lived near Disneyland, huh? That's cool. I'd been to Disney World once when I was thirteen and I wondered how similar they are. "So why'd you come to Australia?" she asked me.

"I came for school. Part of the International Studies program. I had the choice to study Art History here or in London, and I chose here. Not exactly the art historical capitol of the world, but the environment just seemed friendlier." I thought about briefings given all international studies students, all the information about the courses and the places. I kinda wished I could stay in Australia a little longer. "So, what about you? Why're you here?"

[Hollywood Heidi]

HEIDI

"Wow, that's a great opportunity." I've always thought it was neat to study abroad, but I was never one to have the guts to do that since it would mean being in a place where I didn't know anybody. Plus I was just too attached to Southern California to leave it for so long.

"I came down for a couple of weeks to visit a good friend. She moved down almost two years ago from the states and she finally talked me into making the trip. I'm not big on the whole travelling alone to another country thing. But I'm glad I came. It's nice here and the people are really friendly. And it doesn't hurt to hear guys talking in an Australian accent," I said with a grin. I always did have a facination with accents. Brittany had a slight one and I mentally pouted as I'd always wished I had one. "But it's not enough to make me wanna pack up and leave California. I've only been away for two weeks but I'm already home sick."

I finished off the last of my food and bunched up the wraper. "So, were you planning on heading over to the gate or did you have other things you needed to do?" I didn't want to give off the vibe that I was being clingy since I would have been able to handle being by my lonesome again, but the idea of waiting for boarding with someone I'd been lucky enough to get in a same-interest conversation with would have helped to ease my discomfort of so many strangers.

[Brittany]

BRITTANY

I listened with interest. I wish I had friends in other countries. It would be nice to have an excuse to travel more often. I ate the rest of my food while she talked, then answered her question. "No, I just came here to eat." I looked at my watch saw that it was getting close to boarding time. "Wanna head over to the gate now and hang out till we board?"

[Hollywood Heidi]

HEIDI

"Sure," I said with my big friendly grin. I was glad she wasn't afraid to just ask. Why couldn't I do that? I mentally sighed at what a wimp I was.

I stood up and put my carry-on and purse back on my shoulders, then picked up my tray. I waited until she was set to go, then dumped my trash and placed the tray on top of the other dirty trays. That done, we headed in the direction of Gate 23.


***Heidi leaves for Gate 23***

[Brittany]

BRITTANY

I shouldered my purse and threw away my trash, then Heidi and I left for Gate 23.

***leaves for Gate 23***

[Hollywood Heidi]

***FEMALE VOICE WITH AUSTRALIAN ACCENT ANNOUNCEMENT MADE OVER SPEAKER SYSTEM***

Oceanic Flight 815 to Los Angeles, departing at 2:55 p.m. will now begin boarding at Gate 23.