Altitude ~Liam Payne AU~

Chapter 17

~Day 20~
Groaning, I leant over the nightstand and smacked the button on my clock to turn off my alarm. It read 6:30 AM making me huff in annoyance. I squinted my eyes to see Payne sitting there in his usual spot: the chair in the corner, stirring awake at the alarm.

"You know, I thought you would've given this up by now. I can't imagine the back ache you've been enduring." I grumbled as I rolled over, my back now facing towards him. I could hear him shuffle about in the chair before replying.

"I guess I'll just have to bring an air mattress in then ey?" He suggested making me curse under my breath. I hadn't meant to give him any more ideas.

I had had enough of him for the past two weeks. He wouldn't leave me alone. From walking with me to the bathroom, to making me a checklist of all the things I had to accomplish in one day. He was becoming a pest. Even on the weekends we'd have off he'd follow me around.

"Did you hear what I just said Woods?" He asked as I mumbled a "hmm?" and turned over to look at him. He was already glaring at me, tapping his foot in impatience.

"I said, today we finally get to go up in the jet." He repeated making my eyes go wide.

"Really?! Like as of in flying?!" I asked excitedly as I sat up in my bed, locking my gaze onto his. He nodded his head making me squeal. We had already been inside the jets for test runs but hadn't been allowed to take them into the air.

"Yep, and guess who's your flying partner." He said with a smug look making me frown immediately. "Hold up, that face doesn't scream trust. Maybe I'll just have to delay-"

"No! I trust you! Let me in the jets already! I don't care who I fly with, I just-" I rambled quickly from pure excitement.

"Well you should care. That other person has your life in their hands." He scolded making me roll my eyes.

"I know. I care. It's just, I've been waiting for this ever since I was in year 2. It's a big day today." I said as the morning bell began ringing throughout the base, signaling we had 15 minutes until breakfast.

"I'll see you after breakfast." Payne said as he picked his pillow up and walked out of my room without another word.

•

"I can't wait!" I screamed in excitement as I walked next to Malik's student, Mitchell. He and I had become pretty good friends lately since we were always next to each other in line.

"I know, we've been waiting for this since we were young. I can't believe it's finally happening." He replied as Payne and Malik walked up behind us, guiding us outside to the air fields.

We walked along the runway until we reached the sheds. A man dressed in flight gear greeted our entire group of 48 and led us inside towards the jets. I could feel my chest about to burst. Inside there were two rows of fast jets all the same dark blue color, lined up perfectly. He gave us a tour of one of them before taking us towards the back so we could get our gear on.

Payne grabbed my arm and yanked me towards the side making me stumble. I looked up at him with a glare but he continued walking away from the group. He stopped me in front of the rest of the gear, handing me my air suit and telling me to get ready. Apparently he hadn't wanted to wait in line. Soon enough, Malik and Horan made their way over with their students and joined us in getting ready.

"Turn around." Payne commanded as he grabbed my shoulders and spun me himself. I looked back at him, ready to argue, but shut my mouth when he zipped up my suit.

"Two person job." He said as he turned himself around so I could zip his up.

Once we were both dressed, we broke away from the group and walked toward our assigned jet. Being District 24, ours was the last one so we didn't have to walk far.