A Trip to Remember

1 ~ Up Up and Away

As feet drummed on the carpet covered metal, I slung my backpack over one shoulder. There was a steady movement of people down the corridor and no chance to turn back.

"Aren't you excited? You look like you could turn around and sprint home," said the small, blonde-haired girl beside me.

Looking down at her I said, "I would be acting a whole load more excited if it wasn't 4am, Alia."

"Lucky for you, we have a long flight," she giggled.

"Where are you sitting? I'm at 24A."

"Damn, I'm at 17D. Be happy you're on window! I know that Brooklyn is at 24B. Good luck with her!" Laughed a large girl, coming up behind Alia and me.

I jumped, terrified out of my skin.

"Liana," I grumbled. "Not going to work."

"But it already did," she revelled in her victory.

"You're so jumpy today, Cierra. What's wrong?" Asked Alia.

"Nothing, I just hate planes." I admitted with a wave of my hand.

"Sure?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Anyway, lay over in Dubai, then first stop, Paris! Perfect for you and Tyler, right?"

"Ooohhhh! Is there something going on that I don't know about?" Liana squealed.

Alia's cheeks flushed tomato red. "What? No way," she laughed and punched me lightly. Just ahead of us I saw Tyler's shoulders slump slightly.

"Where are you sitting, Alia?" I asked.

She briefly held up her boarding pass, "17E."

"Oh! We can talk," Liana squealed excitedly.

If only I had shared her excitement.

**

Smoke rose from another plane's tyres as it hit Earth, bouncing and continuing down the runway. Slowing, it passed our plane and went over wait for a free terminal to unload its passengers or cargo.

I pulled out my phone and headphones from my backpack. Music was the best thing I had to comfort me and relieve my anxiety. Brooklyn, beside me was no help. She was already asleep. I looked back out at the window and watched another plane land. It took me a moment to realised that 'Amnesia' by Guy Sebastian, had started to play.

I remember how it burns, how it burns,

Slowly like a cigarette,

It like water in my lungs, In my lungs,

Coz I'm drowning in my regret,

Everyday it's gettin' worse, Like a curse,

I'm becoming insomniac,

I just can't get over it...

I sang in my head. My musical session abruptly stopped, and I looked at phone. It was a call from Sara.

"Hey, aren't you supposed to be asleep? It's 4am, you should be dreaming about Jake or Colin or something." I whispered into the phone.

"Yeah, but I stayed up." She whispered back.

"Rebel. Must be important then. What happened?" I asked, beginning to worry if she was in some deep trouble with some... unfavourable people.

"Nothing that bad. Jake and I got into another fight again about 5 hours ago. Other than that, I just wanted to say goodbye and good luck." She whispered excitedly. "Oh and remember to send me all of the good pics you take!"

"I will." Suddenly the plane lurched and started to move. "The planes moving, gotta go. Bye! I'll see you over Skype at some point."

"Bye! Good luck!"

"Thank you!"

"Bye!" She whisper-yelled into the phone, followed by the steady beeping of an ending call.

"We request that all phones and electronic devices be turned off for take-off and landing." A strongly French accented lady said over the intercom, scaring me half out of my wits.

"This is going to be the best trip ever!" Brooklyn squealed from beside me, suddenly awake. "What do you think, Cierra?"

"Yeah. It'll be good." I said distractedly. The giant demon of metal started to rise from the ground and the turbulence began. I clenched my fists, rested my head against the seat and closed my eyes tight.

I hope Paris is worth the plane ride.

**

When the turbulence finally ended I opened my eyes, but my fist stayed clenched.

"Oh my god Cierra. Look at your knuckles!" Brooklyn exclaimed. I looked at my knuckles and gasped. I had clenched my fists so tight that they were a mottled array of white and purple. Releasing my grip sent pins and needles through my hand but blood begam to flow back to my hand.

A ding sounded from the intercom as the seatbelt sign was turned off. I stood and stretched. Alia appeared, smiling brightly, in the aisle.

"How you going, guys?"

"I'm good, but you should have seen Cierra knuckles!" Brooklyn said cheerfully. "They were white and going purple-"

"It wasn't that bad." I said cutting her off. "How are you doing?"

"Oh, I'm happy. I'm sitting across the aisle from Tyler and he's next to Nathan." She said calmly and flicking her beautiful, curly, blonde hair back over her shoulder.

"Oohh. Perfect for a flight to Paris." I teased.

"Hey!" She exclaimed.

"It's got to be true though."

"Absolutely not! Plus, we have a layover in Dubai first!"

We laughed and laughed, enjoying the moment. After a little bit more talk, Alia went back to her seat and Brooklyn claimed that she was tired. I, being entirely unable to sleep on planes, scrolled through the movies. Paris was going to be strange, but I couldn't place why.