Jackson, the co-pilot, Nathan, the attendant, Mr. Russel, Ms. Twist, Taylor, Lex, and Eric proceed down the tunnel. Eric is confused by the chaos. "I didn't do anything!" he said. "I have my ticket right here!"

Arriving security officers quickly have control of the situation. Jackson is taken to a seat at the gate and dropped there by the co-pilot, who, winded, eyes the officers. "You got this?" he asked.

The officers nod. One moves toward Nathan as he is dropped in a seat away from Jackson. Taylor sits behind her boyfriend.

The co-pilot and attendants start back toward the plane. Ms. Twist hustles over to them and an airline representative.

The co-pilot said, "No one gets back on board. That's my call."

Ms. Twist said, "Please. I got thirty students going to Paris."

During these negotiations, Melissa exits and takes a seat away from the others, aware she is unnoticed in the confusion. She looks at Jackson.

Lex and Mr. Russel are trying to calm him down. "It's alright. It's alright," Lex said. "You're off the plane. You're off the plane."

Rattled, Jackson attempts to compose himself. Ms. Twist appears, hurriedly pulling aside Mr. Russel. She said, "Airline's not taking this very well. They'll let one of us back on and the rest can grab a six-ten flight. Gets in two hours later at DeGaulle. It's alright. It's not that big of a deal."

"I'll stay," Mr. Russel offered.

"No, you know the whole French thing. Get on the plane," Ms. Twist said.

Russel understands this point and takes off towards the boarding ramp door.

Pleading his case, Eric follows Russel. "I was in the bathroom. The lock was stuck," he said. The airline personnel closed the door behind Mr. Russel. "But I didn't fight with anyone!" Eric yelled after him.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nathan, Taylor, and Eric watch out the observation window as the plane takes off.

Nathan turns over his shoulder, looking back angrily towards Jackson. Taylor wraps a calming and restraining arm around Nathan's shoulder, but he starts towards Jackson, who is seated with Ms. Twist.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lex races out of the bathroom with a dampened paper towel. He hands it to Ms. Twist, who is seated next to Jackson. The teacher places it on Jackson's forehead.

Lex said, "I called your mom and dad and they're on their way."

"Cody, talk to me," Ms. Twist said. "What happened?"

Jackson looks at Lex, who nods. His friend's expression is soothing and open.

With a lowered tense tone, meant for only the two people beside him, he began. "I…I saw it…like, I don't know…the plane took off. I saw it leave the runway…I looked down and saw the ground…"

Ms. Twist and Lex exchange concerned glances.

"And then the cabin banged, and the left side exploded. Then the whole plane…blew up. It was so real. Exactly how everything goes."

"Been on many planes that blew up, have you?" Lex said.

Good point. Jackson looked away.

"You must have fallen asleep," Ms. Twist suggested.

An angry Nathan stomped over. "We got thrown off the plane and blow a half day in Paris because Cody has a bad freakin' dream?" In a mocking voice he says, "It's going to explode! It's going to explode!"

"Screw you McHugh," Lex said.

"Lex…" Ms. Twist said.

With a raw nerve, Jackson stands. "Only trip you're gonna take is to the hospital."

Nathan scoffs while moving aggressively toward Jackson. Nathan makes a quick move and grabs Jackson. The two security guards rush in to break it up. Chaos erupts again as the two boys wrestle in the terminal.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Eric, depressed as he watches the plane take off, says, "There they go, and here we stay."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

One guard restrains Jackson; another restrains Nathan.

Out of the observation deck window, Flight 180 lifts off the runway.

"You're paying for my trip Cody," Nathan said.

"I wish you were on that plane," Jackson said.

Out the observation window, the 747 headlights and taillights suddenly, violently, erupt into a gigantic fireball of flame.

It takes a second for the concussion to hit the terminal, but when it does…Boom! A window shatters. Chairs rock. People are knocked off their feet.

Stunned, Jackson turns to the window.

The unceremonious speed of obliteration of hundreds of lives is cruel as flaming debris plummets from the early evening sky.

Melissa is rattled and afraid, but aware of Jackson as she is the first to turn her eyes toward him. Eric walks back from the window, shocked by shocked step. Ms. Twist drops to her chair as her legs give out.

Alarms ring. The security guards tear off toward more urgent duties.

Outside, sirens wail as emergency vehicles race to the tragedy.

Lex's head turns toward Jackson, then Taylor's, then Nathan's. In the chair, beginning to cry, Ms. Twist eyes Jackson, as if afraid of him.

The sirens are piercing. The emergency vehicles' strobing red lights reflect in Jackson's eyes, now in tight, as he looks out, frozen with shock upon the doomed Flight 180.