Against the clock

36.

We were settled in our seats, with me in the middle as the smallest, George at the window, and Derek on the other side. As the plane was about to take off, I began to feel a bit nervous. Startled, I turned towards Derek when he asked, 'Are you nervous?'

I looked at him, 'A bit yeah.' As the engines roared to life, I could feel the anticipation building. My eyes were flicking between the window and Derek. 'Takeoff is the worst,' I admitted, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. Derek, sensing my unease, put a comforting hand on my knee. 'You're in good hands. Close your eyes if it helps,' he suggested, giving a reassuring smile. Taking his advice, I closed my eyes and put my hand over his.

With my eyes closed and Derek's comforting hand on my knee, the noise of the engines and the sensation of takeoff seemed less intimidating. I noticed some sounds coming from the side, and when I looked, I saw Izzie and Alex kissing. I couldn't help but nudge Derek to draw his attention. He chuckled, 'Mark my words, they will disappear into that toilet when the seatbelt sign goes off.' I looked at him, trying to suppress a smile, 'Shut up.' Derek couldn't help but laugh, replying, 'What? They're literally already feeling each other up in their seats.'

As our banter continued, the atmosphere in the plane shifted suddenly as heavy turbulence hit. The unexpected jolts and bumps made me grip the armrests tightly, a surge of anxiety coursing through me. Derek, quick to respond, tightened his hold on my knee, offering a grounding presence amid the unsettling movements. 'Hey, it's alright,' Derek reassured, his voice steady despite the turbulence. 'Just a bit of turbulence. It happens, but we're safe.'

I nodded, trying to steady my breathing. The once-exciting sounds of the engines and the anticipation of the journey were now overshadowed by the turbulence, making the interior of the plane feel smaller and more confined. 'What if an engine blew up?' I blurted out, voicing the sudden fear that had crossed my mind. Derek, recognizing the need for distraction, softly said, 'Focus on something... nice. Not about engines blowing up.'

Intrigued, I closed my eyes and followed his advice, trying to escape the turbulent reality. 'Nice, like what?' I asked, seeking a mental escape from the worries of the moment. Derek, with a gentle smile, responded, 'Like me.' I couldn't help but chuckle, 'You're not very nice, though.' Derek, feigning shock, exclaimed, 'What? How am I not nice? I make food for you every day.' His mock-offense carried a playful tone, attempting to defend his case as a source of positivity in my life. He continued, adding with a grin, 'And don't forget, I graciously let you borrow my hoodies.'

I chuckled, not entirely convinced, 'True, but you also woke me up at 5 AM today.' I raised an eyebrow. Derek grinned, attempting to justify his early wake-up call, 'We had a flight to catch.' I arched an eyebrow, giving him a skeptical look, 'It's not about the time; it's about the way you kept nudging my side. It was like an earthquake every 5 seconds.'

Derek, with a mischievous glint in his eye, responded, 'My hands are known for giving earthquakes.' I looked at him, frowning, and he added, 'Apparently Alex's hands too,' nodding toward Izzie and Alex, who were standing up, probably making their way towards the toilet. I playfully hit him, 'You're disgusting.'

As I playfully hit Derek for his cheeky remark, George, who had been attempting to catch some sleep, chimed in with a deadpan expression, 'Can you two get it over with and just... go to the second bathroom? Some of us are trying to sleep here.' The unexpected comment caught everyone off guard. Derek and I shared a moment of awkward eye contact, realizing the comment had taken an unexpected turn. I replied, 'I think we'll pass on that offer, George. Thanks for the suggestion.'

'Thanks for the suggestion?' Derek laughed at my words. 'What else am I supposed to say?' I joined in the laughter. 'Celibate Meredith is no fun,' he teased, and then quickly hushed me with a playful 'shh' as we noticed George's eyes on us. He whispered in my ear, 'Sleep.'