Gasp! Two updates in two days! Holy wow! (Yes, I do say "Holy wow" on a habitual basis. Sue me, I won't care) Ok, I like this chapter more than the last one, and I've got outlines for several chapters to come…now all I have to do is type them up.

Hey, guess what? Today is my second day of college! Unfortunately, this means I now have work that just might come between my darling story and myself. (random person: So why didn't you work more on the story before college started! Huh? Rose of Pearl: cringes I don't know! sobs) But, as evidenced by the semi-double update, I'm still workin' on it!

Many many thanks go to all the people who have reviewed. Reviews are lovely. They make me feel warm and fuzzy inside.

Many many thanks go also to all the non-reviewers who are sticking with this story. You make me happy! (facepalm! mutters: that sounded so corny…)

…Right. Well, ttyl!

Disclaimer: blah blah blah

Chapter 3: Taking to the Skies

Shifting uncomfortably in his seat, Eric tried to settle down for the long flight ahead. He had taken flights of this length before, but still…that didn't mean he liked them. There was always something that bothered him about the fact that, if even one of the many variables that each had to be in perfect position and have the perfect value in order to balance the equation of flying, happened to fall out of alignment…now, what was it that was bothering him? It was on the tip of his tongue…right there…oh yeah: if the equation faltered, he would die.

Shuddering at the thought, Eric closed his eyes and took several deep breaths. A touch of wonder penetrated the curtain of fear that had suddenly tackled him: what in the world was going on here? Sure, he had never liked flights, but he had never had this kind of problem before. He always put his faith in the airlines, in the people who ran them, and, most importantly, in the math that made it all possible. Yet here he was, practically shaking in his seat. What was it about this flight that had him spooked? Maybe it had something to do with the Coast Killer? No. Perhaps last night's romp through every dance club in existence had left him overtired, on edge? No, not that either. Then what…LA. Out of all the variables involved, his destination was the most unique. Was that it, then? 'There's something about LA, something that I'm not telling myself,' he concluded silently. Taking another deep breath, he reached for his shoulder bag, and the tiny package within.

The package was not his. In fact, it had only gotten into his bag about 45 minutes ago. Selena was trying to be sneaky and slip it in without his noticing. She kinda failed, but oh well. Eric knew she wanted to surprise him, so he kept it quiet that her subtlety was somewhat lacking. He wasn't quite sure what was in it, but he had a feeling he knew. And even if he turned out to be wrong, he knew he could count on any gift from Selena to make him feel better.

The fragile paper would have been a lot easier to tear if it wasn't covered in duct tape. Eric suppressed a groan at Selena's antics. That girl was the most endearingly evil person he had ever met. Now, how to open this? He couldn't use scissors, that was for sure. He'd probably get thrown off the plane. His nails were out: they were too short to find purchase on the slick surface of the tape. After picking at a stubby corner of the tape for a full three minutes without success, Eric at last gave up glaring for swearing, and went for his shoulder bag again. There had to be something he could attack this with…nail clippers! With a silent cry of 'Score!' Eric pinched the package until he had created enough of a ridge for the clippers to find purchase on, and then opened a tiny hole that was far overshadowed by his tremendous grin. Beaming triumph, he at last attained the glorious prize of his strenuous efforts: a handkerchief.

Eric blinked, puzzled. He had expected to find a handwritten note or some similar sign of affection imprisoned within this impenetrable fortress. But upon breaching the walls, he found only a square of cloth upon which he could wipe his boogers when he so found the need. Normally Selena gave presents with more meaning…wait.

Eric lifted the handkerchief to his nose and sniffed. There it was: hazelnuts. Ever since he was a child, this scent had soothed away his fears and calmed his frantic mind. It made him feel safe and loved, wanted—protected. Smiling into the handkerchief, Eric breathed deeply and let the scent envelop him. Instantly the remaining tension from his earlier episode dissolved, and the knot in his stomach untied itself. Relaxing into his seat, Eric glanced out the window.

"Oh for the love of…" The words escaped his lips before he could rein them in, and the sound of his laughter echoed softly through his section immediately thereafter. From his position in the plane, he could just make out the windows of the public section of the terminal, the section that came just before the Gates of No Return. All non-fliers were forbidden access to the Gates, and if they wanted to hang around to watch the plane of their friend or family member take off, they had to wait in this pre-Gate section. Of course, if you were Selena, you ignored Gates and waltzed on through them, causing a scene and getting shunted out when the security guards discovered you didn't have a ticket.

Through the glare of the windows, he could make out someone jumping up and down, waving wildly. The sane people passing her in the hall were giving her a wide berth, and Eric was pretty sure security would show up soon. 'Typical Selena. She never cares what anyone thinks,' he thought through his grin, knowing exactly who this nutty someone was. 'There's no way she can possibly know where I am, she's just hoping that I somehow got a seat I can see her from…damn, she beat the odds.' Eric was still grinning as the engines rumbled and the plane began to roll towards the runway.

What seemed ages later, the plane at last began to pick up speed as it prepared to thrust itself into the air. At long last, the flight stewards and stewardesses had finished their mime shows in safety, and everyone was buckled in, awaiting the near moment when the wheels of the plane would lose contact with solid ground. After that point, there would be nothing but the laws of aerodynamics and two immensely powerful engines to keep all the passengers, Eric included, from plummeting to the ground, while Gravity laughed her head off in the background. Feeling a bit of his earlier nervousness return, Eric could hear her voice in his mind: "How dare those foolish mortals attempt to defy me? Don't they have any idea who they're dealing with?"

But then he felt the handkerchief still resting lightly on his palm. With a tender smile, he breathed deep of the hazelnut scent one last time, and then folded the handkerchief into a small square, which he gently placed in his pocket. 'I'll carry you with me everywhere, Selena,' he promised. Relaxed once more, he grinned as the immense power of the engines heaved their load into the skies. 'Look out, LA. You and I have a date to keep.'