The Iceberg.

The Switch

"It looks like... you'll have to sit in 9D" Joshua said looking at me, while receiving silent nods from my other companions.

"Why is it that I'm always the one stuck in these situations." I complained.

"Cuz..." Paul's voice trailed off as we sat, and suddenly he tore his gaze away from me.

"Wha... now you're gonna ignore me?!" I protested.

"Excuse me, that's my seat." A familiar honied voice rang in my ears.

As I looked up, I swear my heart was going to pop out, from my throat. While I mustered whatever strength I could-urging my voice box to just say something, anything.

"Aliz... ye... yes... um... sorry." I squeezed my legs in, 'say something better' my mind mocked me. 'You can do this- she's just a girl, man- up! And for Heaven's sake stop mimicking josh.' 

I struck an attacking gaze towards my comrades, my so called 'comrades', from the corner of my eye leaking some of the killing intent piled up in the years, making them flinch. I was not asking for much just a heads up would've sufficed.

I couldn't believe my bad luck, was this some kind of a joke? I thought, looking around trying to find a hidden camera. But no that wasn't it, it seemed as though I was a target of lady bad luck- and she was having a hell of a time laughing at this situation. For me this was an 'at that moment he knew he had...' moment, when Sasha, yes, the same one who was vigorously waving her hand towards us on the airport- the same one who was pestering me for about a year now, walked towards me with a grin, which scared the living hell out of me.

"Hi Rumi, it seems we'll be close to each other for the next..." she glanced at her watch then continued, "14 hours, until New York!" She beamed in her annoyingly squeaky voice, while her pink Ombre hair covered her dark eyes. 

"Aliza, please can you switch seats with me?" She asked.

Aliza looked at me, I was too shy but, in this matter. I pleaded her with my eyes, almost letting a tear escape from them.

To my astonishment, thanking my luck that it had shined at the right time. Aliza said, "No, I would much rather prefer to sit in the seat which has been assigned to me, thank you." in an almost robotic voice, which I thought was her, mocking Sasha. 

I glanced at my side to where the others were seated. Suddenly, I was encountered by three pairs of eyes-urging their sockets to let them loose, I couldn't help but let out a faint hushed squeak.

"What was that?" Sasha asked in a stern voice.

"Nott... (cough, cough) nothing." I covered my mouth, smiling at my sheer luck, and surprisingly- Aliza's assistance.

Finally, when the captain had announced that the plane will take off soon, and implored everyone to get seated, she took her window seat- although unwillingly. At last, I loosened my stiff shoulders and wiped the beads of sweat trickling down my forehead. Suddenly, I felt a light nudge from my right, I saw the person it had originated from, and my heart stopped when she winked and whispered, "Nice outfit by the way." To that I smiled and returned her compliment, "although this is a men's outfit, you look great in them." I winked back.

"Who said... women can't wear it." she protested with a smile.

The rest of the flight was unexpectedly mediocre with no clinging of Sasha or sadly nudging of Aliza. However, on the other side, Josh was sleeping like he had no care in the world, and Seb was playing a multiplayer game with Paul on who could toss the minute paper ball successfully in josh's mouth first. I felt, after a long time, an emotion I thought was lost- joy.