Page 17 of Finding My Forever

She stopped. “Did you check a bag?”

I nodded and looked at her backpack. Hopefully, she had too or I really overpacked.

The carousel started up and an alarm rang out soon after we got there. Luckily, we only waited a few minutes before we each had our bags. Sophia rolled hers to the side and began looking around.

“Do you know what anyone else in the group looks like? I know we’re all arriving at different times but we were all supposed to be within about an hour of each other, and I doubt we’re the first.”

“Dang. I wish I had paid more attention, but I only looked you up.”

“Same.”

We both looked around the room. It wasn’t as big as I expected, so I figured it would be hard to miss our group.

“You’d think they would have signs or something.”

Sophia laughed. “That would be too easy.”

My eyes kept sweeping the area until I noticed three guys about my age sitting on a bench looking at us. I almost blew past them until I realized one guy was still looking around, looking a lot like we were.

“Come with me.” I tapped Sophia’s arm and started in the direction of the guys. Once I was within talking distance I spoke up. “Are you guys here with the Montgomery Foundation?”

They started nodding in sync. The one in the middle, a shorter guy with russet brown hair, was the first to speak. “Yeah, but we don’t know where the rest of the group is.”

“At least we have like half of the group here.” I stood with Sophia and continued searching while she talked with the guys. There were four guys and four girls in our group, plus two guides from the foundation. Our email said to meet by the baggage claim, but nothing more.

Two girls and one guy. That would be harder to spot, especially if they didn’t meet up already like Sophia and I had.

I kept looking for teens that were looking around too. People that looked uncertain. After another moment, I felt like some sort of predator.

“Montgomery Scholars!” I turned to the sound of a guy yelling and waving a small sign.

“I guess we found them.” I waited until the guys had their bags before walking over with our group.

Our guide was much younger than I was expecting. He looked to be in his late twenties wearing a grey hoodie and jeans. Our group of five met him then waited for the last three students.

“Hi guys, I’m Greg. Looks like we’re still waiting on a few.” He held the sign above his head and the three guys immediately started a conversation with him. After another few minutes passed, two girls walked up looking as unsure as I felt before we found Greg.

The petite brunette with a cute bob waved first. “Montgomery Foundation?”

Greg stepped forward and held out his hand. “You’re in the right place. I’m Greg.”

“I’m Val and this is Trish.” She nodded toward the girl behind her. She had mousey brown hair and stood awkwardly behind Val as if the short girl would block her from view.

I smiled at both of them then turned to the guys. “Sorry I never introduced myself. I’m April.”

I held out my hand to the boy that had spoken earlier. He wasn’t as short as I first thought now that they were all standing. “I’m Kyle.”

I shook his hand then looked to the guy next to him. He held out his hand and smiled a little too broadly. He had the typical look of the school smarty pants complete with khaki pants and a button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled to his elbows.

“I’m Gabe.” I had to tug my hand back from his before I could turn to the last guy. He looked rather unassuming. He had short brown hair and was wearing jeans and a plain grey shirt. He was the type of person you’d miss in a crowd…of five.

“Hi, I’m Adam.”

“Nice to meet you all.”

The guys resumed their conversation with Greg and ignored me and Sophia. I caught her eye, and she smirked.

Finally, a lone boy walked toward us looking frazzled. “Are you guys with Montgomery?”