+Note: Please keep in mind my crappy writing skills. Also, i'm too lazy to proofread...so yeah. Written for a friend.
1:
*Flight 193 from San Francisco International to Heathrow now boarding at Gate A2*
“You ready Kiera?” Your friend Maika asks nervously as she comes up beside you, a plastic bag filled with candy in hand. You two have been friends since middle school, and you’ve always wanted to move out of the US once you finished college. In fact, you guys have been saying “After college, we totally need to move to London” for most of the time that you’ve known each other. You just can’t believe it’s actually happening.
“Yeah, I’m ready. I’m so excited Maika… We are actually doing it!” You say, reaching into the bag to find which candy you wanted. You settle with a giant bag of Sour Patch Kids, your long-time favorite.
“I guess we should go get on the plane.” Maika suggested as she dragged her suitcase behind her, heading over to the gate. You followed quickly behind her, taking a deep breath to actually realize what is happening. This is it. It’s happening. We are actually going to be living in London. As you arrive at the gate, you stand next to Maika in line and open your backpack to swap your bag of sour patch kids for your boarding pass. Just then, you feel your phone buzz in your pocket. You decide you’ll wait until you’re sitting down in the plane before you check it. It’s probably your friend Roland checking up on you. You’ve also known him since middle school and he’s been best friends with you and Maika forever.
The last time you got to see all of your friends together was in Las Vegas for a legendary meetup you’ve had planned since Freshman year of high school. It was thankfully not as wild as you had discussed, and no drunken marriages ensued. You made sure to say bye to everyone as you left, knowing it might be one of the last times you guys will see each other for who knows how long. It comforted you to know that Maika was going to stick with you though.
“Miss? Could I please scan your boarding pass?” The woman at the desk asked. She was almost uncomfortably dressed in a fire-truck red stewardess’ outfit with a red ascot and red lipstick. The amount of red almost gave you a headache.
You snapped out of your nostalgic trance and handed the lady your pass.
“Have a wonderful flight.” She said in a slight British accent as she returned the paper.
You smiled and walked onto the catwalk, where Maika was waiting for you. You made your way through the almost floating grey hall, the nauseating smell of recycled air filling every space. At the entrance of the jet, another two stewardesses were wearing their bright red outfits with a Virgin Airlines pin on their lapel. They took a look at your boarding passes and directed you towards the back of the plane to the economy class. You made your way down the cramped rows, around all of the people hogging the aisles as they struggle to stuff their too-big luggage into the too-small overhead compartments. Finally you found your seats on the left side, by the window.
“I call window seat!” Maika shouted, almost too loud for the situation.
“You suck. I wanted the window seat.” You said, smiling in defeat.
“Okay fine. You’re lucky I’m so nice. But I better not get hit in the elbow with the cart when it comes down the aisle like on The Wedding Singer.” Maika retorted, standing out of the way so you could squeeze into the row to sit down. “Hand me your suitcase so I can put it in the thingy.” She said, pointing to the overhead compartment. You struggled to hand her the case because of the weird angle, but eventually she got it. After a few minutes of smashing and rearranging the bags, she fit them in. She took her seat beside you and stuffed her backpack under her seat.
Most of the seats are bright red, while others are purple or gray, and each seat has a small TV screen on the back and a remote in the armrest of your seat. The airline insisted that you use the over the ear headphones that they provided until after takeoff, so you ripped open the bag they were in and plugged them into your seat. After everyone’s electronics were off, window shades were open, and safety precautions were taken, you turned to Maika and you smiled anxiously at each other.
The plane began to rumble as the engines started and you saw Maika close her eyes and tightly grip her armrests. You hear her mumble under her breath. “Crap. Crap. Crap. Crap. Just take off already. Crap.” You laugh and she looks at you.
“ I hate this and love it at the same time. It’s one of the most dangerous, but also one of the most fun parts.” She said. You lean your head back against the headrest and relax as the plane lifts off into the air.
