Taking Back Michael Clifford*5 Seconds Bonus Story*

Moving On & Going Home

Grace could feel the pain gnawing at her insides. She wanted to scream, to slap Michael across the face.

She had dropped him off at the airport, and they had gotten a screaming match, in the middle of the airport.

She fixed her mascara in the mirror, and shrugged a lady away who asked her if she was okay.
That lady is old enough to be my Mom, she thought, and the pain ripped through her again.

Mom.

Grace walked up to the counter, flashing the last of the cash she had taken from Michael.

"One plane ticket to Peoria," she said with a smile.

"It leaves tomorrow," she said, with a frown.

"It's alright. I just wanna go home."

The lady nodded, sympathy clouding her features.

"Big city dreams not go well?"

Grace nodded.

"Something like that."

"Well, the plane leaves tomorrow at 5PM. I have a daughter your age that's off in Europe right now. You could come with me, and you can have a nice rest and hot shower."

The woman seemed trustworthy, but you never know.

"No thanks. I think I'll pass."

The lady, named Ana, nodded, and printed out a ticket.

"Here you go. Hope you get home okay," she said. Grace took the ticket, looking at where plane was leaving from.

Terminal B.

She sighed, and made the trek across the airport, hunger following her.

***

Grace buckled in her seatbelt, when a man sat down beside her. 

"Hey," he said, flashing her a big smile. "Hi," Grace said shyly.  

"My name's Elliott . Elliot Nickels. My Dad, he owns this plane company." "Oh," Grace barely manages to stutter, thinking about all the money that must run through Elliott's family. 

"My Dad, he, uh, is the pilot. I could run up there and ask if we can sit in the cockpit, at-least for the take off. The takeoff always looks amazing in the cockpit, especially during sunrise," Elliott gushed. 

"Umm...sure I guess," Grace said, not sure if she should tell Elliott that she had a slight fear of heights, and that she had never been on an airplane before. "Follow me," Elliott said with a smile, and Grace took his hand reluctantly. Grace gave him an uneasy smile, and Elliott yanked her up from the seat. 

"Hurry! It's going to take off soon!" Elliott was dragging Grace behind him, and she started giggling. Not saying that sprinting through a plane like the back of the plane is on fire, while also sprinting towards her most imminent fear was romantic, Grace just thought it was cute how big of a fuss Elliott was making of something that wasn't really a big deal. 

"DAD WE'RE HERE!" Elliott shouted, slamming the cabin door. A middle-aged man with blue eyes and greying hair turned towards Grace and Elliott, a cheeky smile playing on his lips. "And by we, I assume you mean this beautiful girl?" Grace blushed slightly. Elliott's father's eyes were full of warmth and compassion. "Sweetheart, what's your name?" "It's Grace," Grace said softly, suddenly realizing how interesting her Converse were. 

Michael bought them.

Grace grimaced. 

"Do you happen to have a trash can?" Grace asked, and Elliott's father smiled.

"Yeah Sweetie." 

"Good. I need to throw away these shoes." 

Elliott frowned. 

"What's wrong with your shoes?" 

Grace felt the pain rip through her, even though she tried to stop it.

Elliott noticed, and took Grace's hand in his. "I'm so sorry," Elliott said. 

"Listen, when we get to Peoria, we'll rip those shoes to shreds, okay? And then I'll buy you the best pair of Converse that you could ever want!" Grace smiled, feeling deep appreciation for Elliott's kindness. 

"Listen Up Elli and Grace," Elliott's Dad said with a chuckle, and Elliott blushed. 

"Elli?" Grace teased.

Elliott scratched the base of his neck. "Yeah... My Dad calls me that. It's really stupid."

"I think it's pretty cute," Grace teased, and Elli's face lit up. 

How long had it been since I made Mikey's face light up?

STOP THINKING ABOUT MICHAEL DICKHEAD CLIFFORD.

"It's your Captain Seth Nickels speaking here, or Dad, if you're my Elli," Seth said with a wink directed towards Elliott, causing him to blush even more and mumble a few curses under his breath. 

"Please, everyone, take a seat and get buckled! We are getting ready to take off for Peoria, Illinois. We will arrive at approximately...well...whenever we get there." Grace could hear the people in the plane's laughter in the plane, and could see Seth smiling. 

He really must love his job. 

Elli began to put on a headset, and Grace wants to ask him why, but then Seth says one more thing, "Please enjoy your flight. And if you don't, please don't review us at all. No one stars! C'mon people! This is a business!"

Laughter.

"Okay, all joking aside, please buckle up!" 

Seth takes off his headset, and begins to talk in some sort of code to Elliott. 

Seth looks at Grace, and pats Elliott on the shoulder. 

"Mister Elliott Robert Nickles here, Co-Pilot." Elliott blushes, and looks down, mumbling stuff. 

"Hey Grace, there's a little tradition that our family has. Guests and special people always are exceptionally special to us. Want a little treat?" 

"Sure," Grace said, dumbfounded. 

"YOU get to sit in the Co-Pilot seat," Seth said with a smile.

"What about Elliott...?"

"Hey, Grace, I've taught him everything I've learned from being a pilot for over fifteen years, and so if the plane goes down and I have no idea how to save it, don't expect him to jump in and save the day." 

Grace laughs, and Elliott mumbles more curses directed at his Father. 

Grace sat down, fumbling with her camera, trying to record this for her family. 

she quickly buckled up, Elliott fussing over her, triple checking to make sure she was safe. 

"Take off in 3...2...1!" The plane slowly began to lurch forward, and butterflies filled her stomach. 

Thrilling Excitement.

Terrifying Fear. 

Grace began to shake slightly when they started to lurch off the ground, and Elliott noticed. He leaned forward and began to whisper things into her ear, in attempts to calm her down. It works, and once they're at a safe height where they can walk around, she feels drowsy, like she's about to fall asleep. Elliott gently unbuckled her, and bridal-style carried her over to the passenger seat in the cabin. 

He kissed her hand, and then her forehead. 

"Why do I have to sit back here now?" Grace said, yawning. 

Seth smiled. 

"Because, we have to somewhat follow the rules to be able to keep our business running, right?"

That was the last thing Grace heard before she fell asleep. 

***