Unsteady (Phan)

Chapter Eight: America

Monday, August 8th 2016

"Gonna be late, gonna be late, gonnabelATEGONNABELATE!" Phil panted, holding his bag tight as he ran through the gates to the plane. His alarm didn't wake him up on time, and he missed the time to board by ten minutes at this point. He hoped they didn't leave, he prayed he didn't miss his one chance to get to Dan. 

Phil ran out through the gate, apologizing to a lady as she tried to stop him, flying by her. His vision was getting black, his lungs stung with every breath he took in and his legs felt like they were about to stop working altogether and collapse underneath him. He was determined not to stop, though. He pushed himself harder and let out a little half laugh at the irony in which his physical health was in. Should've used those gym memberships, huh Dan?

His phone started ringing in his pocket and he cursed, reaching to grab it without stopping. He tripped, flailed his arms and regained his balance all the while not stopping his pace. Without looking at the caller ID, Phil answered it. 

"H-Hello?" He panted.

"Phil?! Where the hell are you we are departing in five minutes." Lucy.

"On my...way...alarm didn't... go off." His ribs stung and his breath hitched, his vision darkening more. He could see where he was supposed to go to get into the plane now, and he braced himself to hit the door when he saw Lucy open it and he came tumbling in.

"Christ Phil!"

Phil barely stopped himself from landing on his face as Lucy closed the door Phil just came in. He stayed on the floor, gasping and sweating profusely as he held the stitch in his side. I made it. Oh dear God I made it.

"Phil, you alright?" Lucy bent down beside him and placed a hand on his back. "There's waters if you need one, but wait until it's okay to get out of your seat. I don't want to rush you anymore or anything but we really, really need to get going and I have to go to the front of the plane."

Phil nodded in response and hauled himself up, still clutching his side as he went where the other passengers were sitting, most of them all sat together, buckled in already. Phil looked around, squirming under the sudden shift of attention as they all looked at him. Keeping his eyes down and trying to control his breathing, Phil made his way to an empty row of seats farther back and plopped himself down. Lucy's voice came on over the intercom, reminding everyone to buckle their seat belts and warning them of turbulence. Phil pushed his glasses back on his face- he didn't bother packing his lens, it would only be more of a hassle and he really didn't care what he looked like at this point- and he fastened his seat belt around his waist, setting his bag in his lap and leaning his head back, trying to steady his breathing. 

The other people aboard the plane didn't say a word- to each other nor to Phil. As the plane took off and reached a higher altitude, the entire cabin was dead silent. Phil took his time looking around at the people that were here, reminding himself that they all were going to California for the same reason. Everyone here had one thing in common, and that one thing was loved ones that they couldn't get a hold of that were in another country.

Eventually, Lucy's voice came back and told them it was safe to unbuckle and move around, letting them know that there were fresh drinks and snacks where the stewardess usually were- but there were none aboard this plane for obvious reasons. Phil unbuckled, set his bag next to him, and watched as others got up and moved around. Finally, a low murmur settled around him as people began to talk to each other. It made Phil more comfortable to hear everyone talking. He would probably go insane if the entire ten hour flight was silent.

A younger boy who seemed about Dan's age sat on the row next to Phil, handing him a water bottle. "You seemed like you could use this."

"Thanks." Phil took the water gratefully, opened the bottle and guzzled half of it in one go.