Take off, that’s the worst part. I can handle the plastic aeroplane food and the annoying passengers. But being hurdled towards 20,000ft reminds me that; I'm absolutely terrified of flying.
Stumbling and careful not to hit any other passengers with my rucksack, I slide and weave my way down the narrow isle of the plane.
Seat number 24, this is my seat. Green and spongy, right next to the porthole shaped window. I sit down, remove my bag and immediately buckle my seatbelt.
"You don't have to do that yet, ya know?"
I look up and see a boy towering over me wearing a smirk, a plaid shirt and two silver rings in his lip.
"I know that thanks, I just like to be careful that’s all" I shuffle awkwardly in my seat.
He frowned, staring at his ticket "Seat 23, looks like we're flying buddies!"
"Great" I murmur hoping he didn’t hear, I pull my fashion magazine from my bag. Anything to distract myself and make me forget where I am.
"That's a pretty dress" the boy sits down and nods at the cover girl on my magazine.
"Uh huh"
He gets the idea that I really don't want to chat and pulls out an ipod. I watch the tall blonde airhostess in her stiff blue uniform as she gestures to the emergency exits. Her eyes are dead as if she's made these gestures a million times so they no longer have any meaning, but my heart is racing. And although the cabin is cold with recycled air, my palms are sweating and stick to the flimsy pages of my magazine.
There's no going back now.
The plane is slowly starting to move down the runway, steadily gaining momentum with a roar of engines. I bite down hard on my lip and squeeze my eyes tight shut, letting the magazine slip to the floor. The plane rattles with power and I feel like I'm hurtling toward my death, there were so many thing I wanted to do. I let out a squeak as I feel the wheels lift off the ground.
"Are you okay?" the boy whispers in my ear.
I shake my head, too scared to open my mouth or my eyes. I realise my hands are starting to hurt as I'm gripping the armrest so tightly.
"You'll be fine, we're not going to crash or anything"
As soon as he finishes talking the plane begins to rattle and shake, dropping and rising and totally out of my control.
"We're all going to die" I choke, tears forcing me to open my eyes "I'm going to die alone,
without ever falling in love, I'm going to die a virgin!"
I frantically grab for his hand and clutch it so tightly I probably hurt him, my forehead collides with his shoulder as my tears stain his shirt.
"It's alright" he says and as I listen I hear the pilot apologise for the brief bout of turbulence. The planes still and horizontal again, we're not to crash, I'm alive!
I jump back and snatch back my hand, blinking rapidly. Half joyous and half devastated.
"I'm Seth by the way" the boys says with hidden laugher in his voice.
"Brooke" I look away to hide my scalding cheeks "Sorry, about you know…"
"I don't mind, the feelings returned to my fingers now"
"Good" I breathe letting my body relax.
"Alright now?" Seth asks "I think its clear sailing from here"
"I just hate taking off, but I think I should be okay now I hope"
"I really like your accent" he comments "I guess you're taking a vacation rather than going home like me"
"Kinda both" I nod with a smile "My dads living in New York for business for a few months and I'm visiting him. My mum stayed behind in London and I've never flown solo before"
"Good thing I was here to look after you huh?"
I laugh "Yep, good thing you were here so I could brake your hand and spill out my secrets"
Seth exhales softly, his eyes are the same colour as his shirt. A beautiful slate grey.
"My hand's fine now, see" he softly takes my hand in his and laces his fingers into mine.
I look at our intertwined hands on the armrest then back up to his face and it hits me how handsome he is. Suddenly, I begin to feel hot all over my skin and I prickle as my tiny hairs stand on end.
Seth runs a hand over his dark hair, his hair is longer at the front than at the back "Brooke, are you doing anything when you get to New York?"
"Nothing special, why?"
"Would you like it if maybe, you know? We got together sometime?"
"Yeah, I'd like that" I gave his hand a squeeze, his skin feels better against my skin than any other skin ever has.
His face breaks into a grin and those slate grey eyes light up "Awesome, I can show you round some of the greatest places and we…"
All of a sudden the plane starts to rattle and shake with turbulence again, a baby begins to howl and the airhostess reassures everyone calmly with a plastic smile.
"Are you alright?" Seth questions me warily, his eyes darting from side to side "Do you want to crush my hand again?"
"No, I'll be fine" I swallow my nerves "You could do something to distract me though"
"What?" he asks wide eyed "Do you want to borrow my ipod, I could get you a drink or…?"
"Just shut up and kiss me!"
Seth's face softens as he leans forward, I stop biting my sore lips and tilt my head to the side in anticipation for the collision. I see nothing but the blur of my eyelashes as his lips meet mine, they're soft and I feel his breath on my cheek. He applies more pressure to the kiss and manages to prise open my mouth. His tongue is warm and wet and he tastes like fruit bubblegum. My eyelids flutter as I push my tongue past his open lips, his hands are in my hair, pushing me forward like he can't get enough of me and I hug his warm body close.
We both pull away at the same time sharing a subtle smile, everyone around us is too wrapt up in their newspapers and in flight movies to notice our teenage displays of affection.
"The turbulence has stopped" he says.
"I didn’t even notice" I grin "I think you cured me of my phobia"
