Rose

Four

Rose

A yawn escapes my lips as my eyes open. I sit up slowly, rubbing the drool from the side of my face. I really need to get a hold of this drooling problem.

As my vision starts to become clearer, I notice something.

I'm not on solid ground.

It's as if I'm flying. I glance around and see I am, in fact, in the air. My heart rate speeds up and panic rises inside of me immediately at that realization.

Christian saunters out of what I assume is the restroom as I try to break out of the seatbelt's hold.

"The queen has arisen!" He says sarcastically.

I glance at the window and nearly puke when I see just how high we are. I grip the handles of the seat and face him. "Are we on a plane?"

He places his hands in the pockets of his black sweatpants and smiles. I have to look away, worried that I'll start to drool just at him smiling.

"A jet actually."

Vomit rises inside of me. "Oh, God." I mumble.

His eyebrows narrow into a frown. "What?''

My breathing grows heavy as frenzied, disjointed, unrelated thoughts zip from one to another fill my mind. "I'm going to die." I say and shut my eyes. "I'm going to die on this plane."

''It's a jet, actually— ''

I open my eyes in irritation. "Does it look like that matters to me?''

He nods and takes a seat next to me. "Right, right. Sorry." When his arm brushes against mine as he moves closer, it only increases the speed of my racing heart. "I've got you."

His pale hand, filled with silver rings on three of his fingers and veins on the top, grabs one of my clammy hands. My breath hitches. I eye him in confusion. "What are you doing?''

He smiles and squeezes my hand a little. "I'm helping you.''

After glancing at the window, my eyes widen in terror and flick from side to side in search of an escape route. My feet begin to feel as though they are welded to the floor. I face him again. "How exactly are you going to help me? You barely know me.''

He closes his eyes. "Just follow my lead.''

I hesitate for a beat before following his action. I hear him exhale a deep breath. "In and out.'' He whispers.

My eyes immediately open at what sounds like a sexual innuendo that leaves his mouth. "Christian-"

''I'm talking about the rhythm of your breathing, Rose." He mutters without opening his eyes.

''Oh.'' I reply and shut my eyes again.

With each deep exhale and inhale he takes, he rubs my knuckles with his thumb as I follow his lead in trying to calm my breathing. By the time we are done, I am able to open my eyes without panicking. He opens them shortly after and releases my hand. Thinking of how well he has helped me, I lean closer. "I'm sure you help all of your band members like this, right?"

He leans closer as well. "Nah." he replies, his voice suddenly lowering. "Just you.''

I hadn't expected that.

I was sure the shock was written all over my face.

I try to play it cool. I blow the curl that hangs in my face out of my way and shrug. "Big deal." I mumble.

He chuckles, causing heat to rise from my stomach to my chest. "Alright.'' is all he says.

I laugh nervously at our closeness and just how quickly tension has formed between us. I barely knew the guy personally, yet here I was already warming up to him.