𝐄𝐳𝐫𝐚 | 18+

27

We stand in line to the gate, where some guy is supposed to check out tickets because the fifty times they've gotten checked before wasn't enough. I let out a huff, tired of standing in line. It's a big plane, so there are a lot people. Luckily we got here before a giant group came so we're towards the middle of the line.
"I'm tired." I groan, leaning my head on Ezra's shoulder. He dangles his arm around my shoulder.

"You can go sit down, if you'd like. I'll stay here." He offers.

"No, no, I'm staying here." I object, standing up straight.
Suddenly a baby's cry can be heard and we both look in the direction of the sound.

I see a small child, maybe about one or two years old, balling out crying. Her face is all red and the corners of her mouth pointed downward as she screams desperately. She has soft light brown curls and a cute pink outfit. Her mothers stands above her a bit hunched over, holding the baby's fragile hand. The mother has hair like the baby except that it's pin straight. Suddenly a man walks up behind them and swoops the baby up, holding her above his head and slowly spinning in a circle. He coos sweet things to the baby and brings her back down to his chest, rocking her gently. But the baby doesn't stop crying. To the right, two little girls start running towards the parents. They're both blonde and could pass by the age of five and six. They chase each other, screaming and giggling as they circle around the adults' legs. The mother tries to calm down the children by grabbing their hands but they continue jumping around. Her shoulders slump and she lets them go so they go back to chasing each other around, disturbing other passengers.

"Should we help them?" I whisper. He doesn't answer and our gaze shifts to a man holding hand two small boys about the age of 4 and another woman rounds the corner with a carrier strapped to her chest and the small head of a newborn baby emerges from the edge.

Both couples reach each other and I count all the children out together. Six. Six children.

"Are they coming on the same plane as us?" He whispers. They get in line to go to our gate. Both me and Ezra groan, realizing that we'll be on a plane with six crazy children.

We turn towards the front of the line and move forward.

We eventually make it to the front of the line and the lady at the desk checks our passports and tickets, before letting us through. She was especially slow, so it was a relief finally being able to walk freely. We walk into this small tunnel thing that's angled downwards and on the side of it, is a glass (or plastic) wall where I can see several planes of all sized lined up next to each other.

"Do you think I can do a cartwheel?" I ask Ezra, already shrugging my bag off.
"I don't-" but I'm already doing it. I toss my bag to the side and place my hands on the ground, flinging off with my feet. When I land back on my feet, I feel as though I can't stop going forwards but I'm lucky enough that Ezra was there to put a hand in front of my and stop me. He hands me my bag chuckling. I cackle, thinking about doing it again. But it's too late, we're already at the door of the plane. I go under easily, while he has to duck. At the entrance, there are two flight attendants wearing a dark business jacket and pencil skirts, along with cute hats and impeccable makeup. They greet us and smile sweetly as we go towards our seat.

"Where am I going?" I whisper, passing by multiple people in previous rows. There are two corridors between three rows of seats, three seats in each row.

"16A and 16B." He responds. Some girls go my left giggle ad me and Ezra pass by them. Ezra mutters something in Italian under his breath as we reach our seats.

"It's to the middle and side." He says from behind me, so I scoot over to the middle and lift my bag into my lap.

Now I remember why I hate airplanes.

I had to beg him not to get first class tickets. I don't want him spending that kind of money on me. I told him I'd open the door of the airplane and jump out if I ended up in first class. After a lot of arguing and negotiating he eventually gave in, mumbling something about "whatever makes you happy".

It's so tight and there are so many people, the smell is musky and unpleasant that makes my nose hurt, making me want to barf and open the windows. I look around and see that each seat has a small TV engraved in the seat in front of it. Ezra sits down next to me and gives me a reassuring smile. We take a few things out of our carryons, such as our phones headphones etcetera, and he places both of our bags on the compartment above our heads.

"This is so cool." I whisper-shout as he sits back down next to me. He chuckles.

"I brought Uno." I say, raising my eyebrows.

"Later, after we take off." He says. We strap our seatbelts in and I find myself awaiting take off.

———————————————————

"Are we gonna die?" I whisper-shout to Ezra. The plane just started moving and I'm staring out of the window, watching as the ground moves underneath us. Or maybe we're moving above the ground. Either way, we're moving and I'm already feeling sick.

"Yes." He whisper-shouts back. I snap my head towards him in shock.

What if the plane gives out and we go plummeting through the air and die? What if the engine explodes? What if the roof rips off and we go flying out?

A smug smirk sits on his lips.

"Kidding, bellissima." He chuckles. Suddenly the plane stops moving and I still, waiting the next move. The engine gets a lot louder and suddenly I feel like I'm being pulled backwards. Outside, everything is moving beneath us at a frightening speed. I feel as if I can't move my legs. I grab onto Ezra's hand in hopes to calm my nerves. I squeeze my eyes shut and gulp harshly. I feel as though the tip of the plane is lifting off the ground and my back is tilted back more. Then the grumble of the engine eases a bit and my stomach drops as the plane ascends from the ground. I squeeze Ezra's hand, but he doesn't seem to mind. The feeling lasts for about ten more seconds until it evens out. The plane shakes from the turbulence a few times before easing off and smoothing out.

"Open your eyes, bellissima." Ezra says from beside me. I hesitantly open my eyes and glance around the plane. So far, everything is still intact. Then I glance outside. My mouth opens a bit as I let my eyes take across the scenery below us, as we soar across the sky. When I was little, I would see planes flying high above me and I'd wonder what they could see from all the way up there. Now I know.

I can see the busy streets, the tall buildings seeming endless, reaching until the eye can't see anymore.

The plane suddenly starts rising again and I watch outside, dazzled, as everything starts getting smaller and I could see the peaceful neighborhoods and thick woods in the sides of the window. And then we soared above the clouds, the clouds that acted as a blanket to the blue sky. They looked so fluffy and soft. I've never seen them from this close before. Sure, I've been on a plane before but I puked and passed out. So I didn't get much of the view until we were already landed.

"Are you seeing this, too?!" I ask Ezra, only ecstasy running through me. It's almost like the feeling of getting the gift you never knew you wanted on Christmas day and cherishing it for the rest of your life.

"I am." He smiles from beside me, leaning over me to get a glimpse of the view. I didn't realize I was still holding his hand until he gave me a soft squeeze, but he didn't make an effort to move it away from mine.

"This is so cool..." I mutter. I sit down normally and look at the small TV screen. I tap on it and suddenly a wide range of movies pops up.

"Hell yeah." I smile.

word count: 1420
☂︎︎☂︎︎☂︎︎☂︎︎☂︎︎☂︎︎☂︎︎☂︎︎☂︎︎☂︎︎

Lmaoo sry for the rly random word count, like two chapters ago it was at 1009 or something and now it's magically 411 words more. But yeeeeahhh don't mind that. Anywho,
Stay safe<3
-S