CJA + ALC

Chapter 2

"Flight fifty-six to California, now boarding!" The chirpy voice of the flight attendant says over the loudspeaker, I stand from my seat and haul my ass to the loading dock, rubbing my back as I walk. I show my ticket to the stewardess "Section B is in the middle, seat 12 is in the fourth row from the front, have a nice flight." She smiles at me and I walk onto the plane.

"B-12," I mumble, I march over to my seat and plunk myself down. I sit for a moment with my eyes closed before I organize my stuff, tucking my backpack under my seat and placing my laptop case at my feet.

"B-13," a large man aggressively shoves his carry on in the shelf over the seats before settling himself in the seat next to me. He immediately settles himself by spreading his legs out, severely invading my personal space. I shift around a little in an attempt to space myself from him, but he takes that as me trying to give him more space to spread his legs.

"Um, excuse me?" I say in a polite attempt to get Large Guy's attention.

"Oh God, please don't be one of those chatty neighbors," the guy mumbles.

I sit there in shock for a few moments before clearing my throat. "I-I was just wondering if you could move your leg?"

"I work seventeen hours of overtime, and agree to take a company trip, just to have this annoying kid as a seat neighbor!" He exclaims, waving his hands around. "Seriously, this is the thanks I get?" He huffs and reluctantly moves his legs away from me. "Do me a favor, don't talk to me," he points at me before laying his head back.

"It would be my pleasure," I mumble. leaning down to grab a book from my backpack.

"Don't be too loud with that!" He scolds me. What the fuck? How can I be too loud with a fucking book? I wonder silently, I ignore him and silently continue my book. "Excuse me, stewardess, could you get me a soda?" The Large Man literally fucking yells down the aisle.

The announcement for takeoff comes over the intercom, reminding us to "keep your seats in the upright position, lock your trays, fasten your seat belts, and have a nice flight!" the man grumbles some more about the stewardess being slow with his soda, even though he asked for it a few moments ago and it would probably be a safety hazard if she were to be walking down the aisle while the plane is taking off. I'm not normally so quick to judge, but this dude is a bonafide asshole.

I finish the chapter I was on, only pausing when the plane shakes a little as we take off.

"Where the hell is she?"

I just ignore him and turn the page. Once the plane evens out the stewardess brings his soda, there are a few moments of peace as he sips his soda. The plane shakes a little just as he was taking a drink and he manages to spill the soda on to himself and my book.

"Shit," I mumble as I start to rub the soda off of the page and shoot a glare at the man who is cursing loudly. The stewardess comes running back with a towel.

"Can I get you another soda?"

"Just bring me a coffee," he demands, waving her off as if she had no value, which to him I guess she doesn't. She just nods and walks away, leaving the towel for him. I sigh, settling down in my seat again, attempting to block Large Man out.

Luckily, before she even returns with the coffee, Large Man falls asleep somehow. I sigh and put my book away, taking a few moments to mentally prepare myself for the next seven hours of my life.

X-X-X-X-X

I stand by the luggage cargo, pulling my coffee-stained shirt away from my body. I watch my suitcase roll toward me and heave it off the cargo with my free hand, turning to try to find CJ and Ash, CJ said that they'd be here when I landed.