Page 66 of Pucked Together

“Attention all passengers. The captain has turned on the fasten seat belt sign," says a voice on the intercom. "Please remain in your seats at this time. We've hit some turbulence and may have to re-route due to the weather."

I look to my side. Rina's gone.

Another jolt. And voices ahead of me sound startled, too.

"Kee, you still asleep?"

No response.

"Kee?" I lean forward to see if my brother is passed out. But he's also not there.

Then I see him appear behind me. Followed closely by a very flushed-looking Rina.

They make their way to their seats without saying a single word. Neither of them looked at me.

Rina makes quick work of fastening her seat belt and quickly fixes her hair. I have to be blushing for them. Why else would they both be at the back of the plane? At the same time. Looking equally flushed.

Rina and the flight attendant exchange glances as she hustles back to her jumpseat behind us and buckles up again.

Another major jostle.

This time, it feels like we've dropped suddenly. All thoughts of my brother and Rina joining the mile-high club vanish as my breath catches in my throat.

Rina's eyes are closed shut. Her hands wrapped so tightly around the handles on either side of her that they go white.

"You ok?" Keelan asks from in front of me.

"Yeah, some storm we must be passing through." I open my window to see dark, billowing clouds all around us. The window is being pelted.

"Don't planes usually fly over storms?" I ask him.

But he can't answer me because there's a loud bang at the front of the plane as light from outside blasts. The lights flicker in the cabin.

There are gasps and hollering from the guys ahead of us—all the heads on the plane popping up. Three high and low chimes ring out in the cabin, followed by the captain's voice over the intercom.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is your Captain speaking. We need to prepare for an emergency landing. Your crew is fully trained to handle this situation. We have approximately two minutes to prepare for landing. Your undivided attention is very important."

The voice coming through the speakers is so calm I think I might've misheard him.

"Did he say emergency landing?!" I cry out.

The flight attendant goes down the aisle, instructing us to put away any loose items and to tuck our heads into our knees and cover our necks.

Oh my god. OH MY GOD. We're crash landing?! There's no way. This cannot be real.

"Keelan," I say his name with a shaky voice.

"It's okay, Iz. We're going to be ok."

"How could you say that? Oh my god, Keelan. I'm not ready to die."

Keelan huffs out and unbuckles his seat belt as soon as the flight attendant is far enough away. He moves quickly and presses past Rina to sit in the empty seat between us. Rina still hasn't opened her eyes. But Keelan quickly buckles his belt and takes our hands into his.

"It's going to be ok," he says again. So confident. So sure.

"Keelan," I cry.

"It's ok, Izzy. Breathe."