In My True Element

Chapter 28

I return to my seat. As in the past, Ilana is sitting in a chair across the aisle from mine but she looks so different from before. Her hat is off and her hair is down. How I longed to see her like that. The hair that frames her face softens its features and makes her look like an angel. I can't tear my eyes off her.

"Welcome back. Is there anything we can help you with?" Amelia and Josh are standing in the aisle ready to tend to all our needs.

"Bring us a lot of really hot tea," says Ilana.

"And coffee," add some of the soldiers.

"Air, what will you have?" Amelia turns to me. I feel Ilana's eyes on the two of us and can't help smiling.

"Tea, I'll have a lot of hot tea."

"Coming right up." She smiles again and, followed by Josh, goes to the bar.

Ilana gets out of her seat and sits next to me.

"I don't like that she's flirting with you," she whispers and runs her hand down her long hair.

"You know she's not flirting with me. It's all in your head, right?" My hand is itching from the desire to touch hers, but I restrain myself.

"Oh, I've seen how she's been looking at you since the first time you stepped on this plane."

"When I was all beaten up and bruised? I assume she was looking at me with a lot of pity."

Ilana's eyes fall to the index finger on my left hand - the one that was broken by Brat. The finger's healed and it looks totally fine now.

"I didn't feel sorry when Brat did that to you," she whispers with her lips barely moving. "I was too furious that you were back in my life."

"I know, and it's okay."

"Is it though?" She looks at me, unshed tears in her eyes.

"Of course it is." I look at the men; most of them are sitting in their chairs with their eyes closed. None of them is paying us any attention. Trying to be discreet, I give Ilana's hand a light squeeze.

"I have so much to make up for."

"And we have a whole lifetime to make up for all the silly things we've done. And we have just as much time to do many new silly things. So don't worry about it."

She licks her lips and looks up at me. "Do you really mean it?"

"What?"

"A lifetime?" She repeats in an echo-like manner.

"I've always wanted to grow old with you. And I promise that if it's up to me, you'll spend your old days wrapped tightly in my arms." From the corner of my eye I notice the nervous dance her slim fingers have started performing but choose to ignore it. She's probably just as excited about it as I am. There's no need to read more into it than there is.

"I need to go back to my seat."

"I want you to stay here," I lean forward and whisper in her ear.

"Me too."

With that she gets up just in time, because Amelia and Josh are already bringing us our hot beverages and some men are suspiciously eyeing the two of us.

"Hey, sleeping beauty, time to open your eyes."

"Maybe you should kiss him. I bet it'll work much better."

"Screw you."

I wake up to Brackwick's men guffawing in the aisle. They brusquely push each other as they walk to the exit.