Endless || Jonah Marais ✓

♪ THIRTY-ONE ♪

Aurora gasps, latching onto Jonah's hand as the plane takes off. Jonah glances down, worry creasing his features. Zach and Mrs. Elliot sit in the row in front of them, perfectly at ease.

"What's wrong?"

Aurora doesn't answer immediately, instead focusing on fixing her irregular breathing. Realization dawns on Jonah, and he has to fight to hide his amusement.

After Carmen's mother got off the phone yesterday, it was agreed upon that she would take Jonah, Aurora, and Zach with her to Oregon to find her daughter and the others would join them once they did. In their hurry, Aurora forgot to take one small detail into consideration.

"Don't tell me you're scared of flying," Jonah chuckles, wrapping an arm around her shoulders reassuringly. "You'll ride skechy rollercoasters without a second thought, but you don't like planes?"

"Flying isn't what scares me," she defends herself through gritted teeth. "It's crashing into the Earth while going one thousand miles an hour that does!"

"There's nothing to worry about," he promises, pressing a kiss against her temple. "This flight will go smoothly and we'll be in Oregon before you know it."

"That's kind of hard to believe when I've seen not one, but two episodes of Grey's Anatomy that involved fucked up flights!" Aurora snaps. "And it's dark and cloudy outside! How can you call that a smooth flight?"

"You've got a good point. What if we make a de-"

Jonah's reassurances are cut off by a loud and sudden crash of thunder. Aurora flinches, immediately scooting away from the tiny window and closer into his side.

"Oh, silly me!" She exclaims, on the verge of a panic attack. "I forgot massive thunderstorms occur during smooth fucking flights!"

"It's not a massive storm," Jonah attempts to reason, struggling to think of a way to distract her from her fear. "Besides, we're just passing through. It's not like we'll get stuck in the center of it."

"Maybe you're right," Aurora concedes, refusing to look out her window but relaxing ever so slightly. "I might have over-"

Lightning flashes outside the windows, followed by another tremendous roar of thunder that shakes the airplane. Aurora shrieks as the other passengers begin to grow worried as well.

The mild hysteria only increases amongst them as the 'fasten your seatbelts' sign begins to flash overhead. Stewardesses rush up and down the aisle, attempting to help everyone remain calm.

"It's not like we'll be stuck in the center of it," Aurora mocks Jonah's comment from earlier, glaring daggers at her boyfriend. "You're a jinx."

"Are you two okay?" Mrs. Elliot questions, turning around in her seat to check on them.

"Yeah," Jonah reassures her. "Aurora is just a little spooked."

"Can you blame her?" Zach asks, turning around as well but keeping his hands clenched against the armrests. "This isn't exactly an ideal flight."

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking," a crackling voice erupts from overhead speakers, preventing Mrs. Elliot from saying something. "We are currently experiencing some mild turbulence. So, as a safety precaution, we ask that you please fasten your seatbelts and remain calm."

Lightning strikes again, this time on the other side of the plane. The plane shudders more violently than before, causing a stewardess to lose her balance and stumble into the cockpit door. Aurora gasps, her nails digging into Jonah's arm as she watches the other stewardesses start to show signs of panic.

"Breathe, Aurora," Jonah instructs as the stewardess picks herself up "See? She's fine. It's going to be okay."

"You also said it's going to be a smooth flight," she argues. "You've lost your calming privileges, you jinx."

"I'm not going to let anything hurt you," he presses on, hoping to calm her shaking figure. "I promise."

"This is, once again, your captain speaking," the crackling voice returns. "Due to the unexpected severity of the storm, we are going to make an emergency landing at a nearby airport and remain there until the storm passes. Please remain calm and prepare for landing."

××××

Eight hours later, after a severe storm and six hour delay, the group of four reach Oregon City. Aurora relishes in the sensation of being back on the ground, thanking whatever gods above for finally getting off of that horrid contraption.

Jonah beats her to the baggage carousel, throwing all five of her bags over his shoulder along with his own two.

"I'm more than capable of grabbing my own stuff," Aurora argues through a yawn, stomping her foot childishly when he doesn't hand them over. "I'm just as strong as - if not stronger than - you are."

"I'm certain you are," he agrees, sidestepping her attempt to grab them. "But I've already got it."

"At least let me help," she insists. "I know those bags aren't light."

Jonah gasps dramatically, placing a hand over his heart. "Don't hurt my pride like that."

"Okay," Mrs. Elliot begins, clapping her hands together to get their attention. "It's an hour long car ride to Silverton from here. I, personally, don't like driving in the dark and don't want any of you driving at night either."

The three teenagers share a look, confused as to what she's suggesting.

"So, let's book a couple of hotel rooms for tonight. We'll visit Jessica first thing tomorrow morning." Zach opens his mouth to argue but she stops him with a glare only parents can master. "Zachary, don't you dare argue. I want my daughter back just as badly as you do. But it won't do her a bit of good if you can hardly hold yourself up because you're so exhausted. Don't you agree?"

"I guess," he huffs, crossing his arms and pouting after grabbing his bags.

"Good." Mrs. Elliot smiles briefly. "There's a hotel five minutes from here with a sauna that's perfect after a stressful plane ride."