A/N: Why hello there! I was probably going to update in a week or so but... Quarantine has influenced me trying to get my lazy ass over here and start typing.

So... reviews:

MYSTERIXUSCXSMOS: aaaaaah you are? XDDD. Lmaooo good point! He is a precious cinnamon roll that needs to be protected! Awww tysm! 333

FanPerson: WOO YOU'RE BACK LMAO! Awwww XD yes. Hm, I guess it felt like a long time to Sophie? It did to me; it was like nearly ten chapters ago lmao. With all she experienced it probably felt like time was passing by much much more slowly. Well I do have some stuff abt Biana that I wanna elaborate in later chapters buuut- I'm not gonna clarify the specifics lol. Ik some do that, I'm trying to not do the whole faking death thang bc it's kinda a weak plot twist, yk? :) You too!

23- The Flight, Part One

My heart skipped a beat as I took in the busy scene before me. We were at the Albuquerque International Sunsport, waiting in line to get through security check. "I've never done this before," I whisper to Tam, my eyes fearfully darting from the woman sitting behind the conveyor belt to the walk through gates.

Tam slipped his arm around my waist, pulling me against his body. "Don't worry," he murmured. "I've gone through these security measures twice before. We'll figure it out."

I press my head against his side. I glance up at him, narrowing my eyes. "You didn't try to pack anything, did you-" I wouldn't be surprised if he'd try to smuggle a knife or something.

Tam rolled his eyes. "Do you honestly think I'm that stupid?" he muttered. "I didn't pack anything out of the ordinary. I even got rid of that bag of salt."

I raise an eyebrow. Why'd he even pack it then, if he was only going to get rid of it? I shake my head and decide not to waste my time pondering on that. We were next in line. Tam drew his arm back and took my backpack from me, setting them down on the belt.

"Phones?" the woman said, gesturing to our pockets. "Anything you might have in your pockets, please take them out."

I fumbled around the pockets of my jeans, which was tight around my stomach. They had been too big for me but Emora helped me twist the waistband a little to fit me. I pull out my Samsung, set it into the box.

"Anything else?" the lady drawled.

I felt around the pockets. Nothing. "Yeah, that's it," I tell her.

"Mkay," she answered. "I'm gonna need you to take off your shoes, and walk through the gates, okay?" I nod, and pull off my worn out sneakers from my feet, leaving them only covered with grey socks.

I glance over to Tam, who gave me a look that said just do as the lady says.

So I slowly walk through the gates, a tiny hiss of relief escaping my lips when there was no sound. I watched curiously as my shoes passed through the belt, right behind my backpack and phone. The lady handed me the box of my things and I quickly slipped the backpack over my shoulder, slipping the phone back into my pockets and stuffing my shoes on again.

I watch as Tam takes out his wallet and phone, placing them on the conveyor belt, then as he slips off his shoes. He slowly walked through security, and no red lights flashed. No alarm sounded.

I let out a breath I didn't know I'd been holding. I trusted him, but nonetheless this whole process kinda scared me.

Tam put his backpack back on, cramming his feet into his shoes. I sighed, running a hand through my hair. It was streaked with grease, and felt really dirty. God, I needed a shower. Stat. Once we got to Milan, hopefully wherever we were staying would have a shower.

"C'mon," Tam said, calling me out of my stupor. He grabs my hand and pulls me closer to him.

"Gate 25B," I check the gate, then the paper map of the airport in my free hand. "This is the right gate, Tam."

He nods, taking off his backpack and unzipping it, his hand coming out with two tickets in his grasp. He zips it back up again and pulls it over his shoulder, nodding for me to follow him. We approach the gate, handing the guy manning it our tickets. He checked it and gave us a thumbs up.

My eyes widen as I follow Tam through the slinky tunnel, my eyes trailing over the airplanes visible through the glass walls. We reached the entrance, and I cautiously went after Tam, who seemed to know where we were supposed to be seated.

We wove through the stuffy crowd of people, who were all reaching up to put their bags in the compartment above their seats, or talking to a flight attendant, or already buckling themselves up. Finally, we stopped in the middle of the airplane, beside three seats. "Can I have the window seat?" I eagerly ask.

"No, we only have the middle and the row seat," Tam explained. "Some other guy bought a ticket for the window seat."

"So we're gonna have to wait for them?" I whine. My legs were starting to ache from the constant standing up.

"Yeah, but why do you wanna sit down already? We're gonna be sitting down for the next like ten hours." I looked and saw Tam was apparently trying to stretch his legs, which was nearly impossible since the lane was so crowded.

I sigh and lean against the seat, hugging the backpack to my chest. Finally, things started to calm down after ten minutes. Most people were in their seats. I groan and stand up. "Can we sit down yet?"

"Nope, I think that's him." Tam pointed to an old guy approaching us. He had a balding head and wore circular glasses. He dragged a mini red luggage behind him.

"Make room, kids," he grumbled.

I backed up, and the old guy flipped open the compartment above us, stuffing his luggage in there and shutting it quickly. Tam and I parted for him to slide into the window seat, and before I could volunteer tribute for the middle seat, Tam, muttering a couple of profanities, slid into the middle seat to separate me and the old guy.

I sat down in the row seat, quickly clipping the buckle on. I glanced over at Tam, who appeared to be very annoyed at the prospect of being trapped in between his girlfriend and an old guy, and took his hand, squeezing it with gratitude. His eyes met mine and he gave me a brief nod of acknowledgement.

I let go and started fidgeting. The pilot spoke over the intercom, but I wasn't listening. I was wringing my fingers fearfully. We were going to fly. "Hey," Tam whispered, grabbing my hand. "Stop that."

I stop wringing my fingers and curl them around Tam's. "Sorry," I mutter defeatedly, sagging in my seat. Then I felt it. We were moving. I jerk forward in my seat, trying to get a good look out the window. The scenery outside was blurring by.

I bite my lip, blood leaking over the torn skin. Oh god. Oh. My. God. I pressed a hand to my stomach as I felt the plane race faster and start climbing in the sky. "Oh my god," I exclaim, wanting to puke and scream at the same time.

Tam flashed me a small look of amusement, and he tightened his hold on my hand.

I stare out the window at the row across from me; there were only two little boys and a teen sitting there so they weren't blocking the window that much. I vaguely saw blue sky. And then the teen leaned forward in her seat, completely blocking it.

I let go of Tam's hand and try to lean over him, desperately trying to get a clear view of the scenery. "Get back in your seat, jeez, calm down," Tam pushed my upper body off his lap, raising an eyebrow.

"I can't see," I protest.

Tam rolls his eyes. "Why does that matter? You'll wanna puke if you do."

"No, I won't!"

"Would you kids stop arguing?" the old man wheezed with a sigh. "If I'd known what I'd gotten myself into, I would've bought a different ticket, goshdang it!"

I snort. "Why're you complaining? I mean, you get the window seat."

"Is that how ye respect yer elders?" coughed the old man. "Youngsters these days."

"Old people these days," I retort. "Thinking they've got a claim to the Earth just because they're experiencing their very last years on it."

Tam made a sound that sounded like a strangled cough. I patted his back as he wheezed.

The old guy stared at me for a minute before he let out a raspy laugh. "You're funny, young'in, I'll give ya that."

I shrug and start tapping my foot on the floor impatiently. "So, Gerald, how's the accounting life going?" I finally ask out of boredom, turning my head to look at the old guy.

I heard Tam sigh and mumble, "Here she goes."

He frowned. "My name's not Gerald. Why'd you call me that?"

I made a nonchalant noise. "You seem like a Gerald, I guess."

"And I don't work in accounting..." the guy trailed off, following it with another cough. Jesus, did that man need some cough drops or something?

"Then what's your real name?" I ask, examining my fingernails. Huh, when was the last time I'd cleaned underneath them?

"Harold," the guy proudly said.

"Eh. I was pretty close," I smirk, my smirk probably looking like I was having a seizure instead. And when I was trying to lounge back in the seat in a cool way I failed dramatically.

I shook my head and squished my back into the back of the seat with a sigh. I was bored. Really bored. "Tam," I whined, turning to him who was tapping his fingers on his knee in deep thought. "I'm bored."

"Too bad," he replied distractedly.

I keep dribbling my fingers on his knee and he frowns, finally paying attention to me. "Would you stop that?"

I stop and pull my hand back, sighing. I wait quietly for a minute. Then another. Then what feels like eternity. "Tam," I mumble. "Are we almost there yet?"

Tam sighed. "This is gonna be a hella long flight," he muttered.

A/N: how was itttt? pleasseee review! 3 thank you everyone! I think we're slowly starting to reach the end of this fanfiction :) there's at least a couple more chapters until then, but I just wanted to say thanks :) I remember when I just started to write this fanfiction in late 2019, and hardly anybody read it, and now there's 87 reviews oh my gods! thank you guysss