OTP Overboard

Chapter 3- Plane Ride

The class arrived at the airport at around 6:45.

I was dragging. I was already exhausted from waking up so early, and on top of that, I was squished on the car ride to the airport.

I can't wait to just get on the plane, plug in my headphones, tune out the world, and have some leg room. Oh, and airplane peanuts. Can't forget those, I thought.

The groggy class trudged through the airport and made their way through security.

Rowan was complaining because her Warm Vanilla Sugar perfume was too big to be accepted on the plane.

"But it makes me smell like baking cookies!" She complained. She tried to grab back the brown bottle of scent but Mr. Matthews already had her by her floral suspenders. He dragged her to the other side of the security gates.

We boarded the plane. I pulled my ticket out of my camouflage jacket and found my seat.

Right next to Lucas, hooray for me, I thought. Good thing I have my headphones and my music.

I gripped the handle of my suitcase and tugged on it with all my strength. Somehow, I had to get it up into the luggage compartment above my seat.

Unfortunately, that proved to be a bit of a challenge. I'm only 5' 1".

I struggled for a few minutes before Lucas finally looked over and offered his help.

Thank goodness for southern hospitality, I told myself. Then I froze. What was that all about? Being grateful for Cowboy's help? Whoa. I must be really tired.

He reached down to grab the handle but I hadn't quite moved my hand out of the way.

Our fingers brushed, but once they made contact he lingered there a while, like he wasn't sure what had just happened, but he liked it.

I liked it too.

SNAP OUT OF IT! I yelled at my stupid heart. You don't like Lucas. You can't like Lucas.

Our hands were still touching. We both pulled away quickly and chuckled. I was blushing and he was flushed.

He was flushed?

He was flushed!

I cleared my throat. "Um, thanks for putting that up there. For me. My luggage. Yeah. Thanks." I said lamely.

Goodness, I'm such an idiot.

"It was no problem at all," he replied smoothly and kindly.

Wow. I was really in a trance. I don't know what my issue was, but I knew it wasn't good. I was stuck on a plane with Lucas for 6 hours.

I couldn't just be an idiot for six hours, right?

I'm so chill at school, how is this happening to me now?

"Music!" I said aloud. The solution to my problems.

"What?" Asked Lucas.

"Nothing," I replied cooly.

Yes, Maya. Got it back.

I reached in my little carry-on bag, the one that wasn't in the luggage compartment, to get my headphones. I dug around for a while, but I couldn't find them. I started to panic.

"No," I muttered. "No, no, no no nononono."

"What's wrong, cowgirl?" Asked Lucas with a smirk on his face.

"My headphones." I stated blandly. "They're not in my bag. I just have left them at home."

"Well, cowgirl! I guess we'll just have to..."

"...talk!"

I slunk lower in my seat.

This was going to be a long plane ride.