Love In The Air | ✓

Love In The Air (7)

I walk back to our seats and get myself settled. It is at the exact moment I tighten my seatbelt that the turbulence starts. And I'm not talking little ones like in the toilet. I'm talking hitting speed bumps and potholes. It's like someone put the plane in a can and is now shaking it. Hard. Even the cabin crew put away their cart and strap themselves in with an announcement from the pilot.

As if on queue my breathing speeds up and I start to shake. I close my eyes and think of Cameron's words but it's not enough. Not without him here, next to me. Minutes feel like hours until I feel someone sit beside me. Hands on my shoulders, they move to my cheeks, my name said over and over.

My focus is scattered but I try to control it, to centre it on just Cameron's voice. As if he flipped a switch, I slowly start to return to normal. It takes a while but soon it's as if nothing had happened.

"Mae, I'm so sorry. I should have been here. I should've been faster. I should've- "

"Cameron stop." He shuts his mouth and looks at me, the guilt plain in his eyes. "You're kidding right? You went to the toilet."

"I know, but I should've thought about how this might happen and I should've-"

"Cameron, shut up. You're being incredibly stupid."

He looks away from me. "Sorry."

I nod and before I overthink it I pull him in for a hug. My arms are around his neck and his slowly come around my waist. With my head resting on his shoulder I melt into him, I can't help but notice how well we fit together.

This, being in Cameron's arms, feels like the safest place in the world. He pulls away sooner than I would've liked and looks away, but not before I catch a glimpse of his flushed face.

After about a minute's silence Cameron says, "If your life was turned into an audiobook who do you want to read it?"

"Michael Caine. 100%."

"Everyone always says Morgan Freeman."

"Not me. I want Alfred to read mine."

He laughs, clearly understanding my reference to Batman. "Do you reckon they have Dark Knight on the TV?" We search our screens for the film, racing to see who could find it first.

"Got it!" I fist pump the air in triumph. Cameron groans next to me at his loss. We set up for yet another film. I'm getting tired now; travelling really takes it out of you. But I'll be fine, there's no way I'm falling asleep in a flying tin can.

I fell asleep in a flying tin can.

One minute I'm admiring Christian Bale's body and listening to Michael Caine's voice, the next I have an ache in my neck, the feel of wetness on my cheek and a weight on top of my head.

I've fallen asleep on Cameron's shoulder and drooled everywhere, Cameron's head rests on mine so I'm guessing he's asleep too.

"Ladies and Gentlemen we are starting our decent into Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Please return to your seats. Cabin crew please prepare for landing." The pilots voice comes over the speakers, startling Cameron awake.

I pray he doesn't notice the wet patch he has on his shoulder as I take in his ruffled hair and slightly crooked glasses. I fight the urge to run my fingers through his hair to fix it. I imagine my hair looks similar so I quickly twist it into a messy bun with a bobble I had on my wrist.

"Um, I'm sorry for, you know, falling asleep on you."

He smiles, "It's ok, turns out I wasn't far behind you."

"So, we slept for what? 4 hours?"

"Something like that, yeah." The plane drops slightly and I squeal.

"Not this again, I am not doing this again." Frustrated, I put my head in my hands.

Cameron holds my hands. "Hey, I'm here now, you'll be fine. What normally helps?"

"Um, holding onto something, closing my eyes, deep breathing and focusing on one thing."

"Ok, squeeze my hand, close your eyes, breathe with me and focus on...whatever you want." I nod and slowly close my eyes. Cameron deepens his breathing and I match it with my own, I focus on the feeling of my hand in his. The warmth, the comfort, the security.

Anytime I feel my breathing try to speed up, I picture Cameron's smile. I repeat his words from earlier, when we hardly knew each other. I'm safe, he's here, I'm safe.

When the plane lands on the runway I'm seconds away from crying. I've never been so scared in my life, but I know it would have been so much worse if Cameron weren't here.