Page 39 of Aftershock

Blushing hysterically, I glanced away.

“Come on, sit down.” Lexi patted the cushion next to her. “Are we watching this movie or what?”

“Yeah, wouldn't want the popcorn to get cold,” I joked awkwardly while sitting about a foot away from her.

“You're going to have to move closer if you want to share the blanket.”

“Well, only if I have to,” I jabbed as I inched toward her.

“Ha-ha,” she mocked while giving me a dirty look.

She pressed play as we watched the screen come to life on the TV. 2012 was one of my favorite movies, yet I couldn't seem to concentrate. All I could think about was the fact that this was simultaneously the best and worst day of my life.

Why was it the worst? I missed my flight. I was trapped in a bathroom after an earthquake. I got into an argument with my mom and blew the situation out of proportion. I had to see my sister for the first time in years. I had to deal with the repressed feelings about the relationship I had with my father. I had to go to a funeral.

Why was it the best? I missed my flight, which started the domino effect of events that led me to where I currently was. I was trapped in an airport during an earthquake with my favorite singer. I realized that my mom needed me just as much as I needed her. I found someone I now considered a good friend, or maybe even more. I opened up about the repressed feelings I had toward my father. I had to go to a funeral so that I could finally learn how to move on.

I didn’t believe in destiny, but maybe this was where I was meant to be. Maybe all of this happened for a reason. Or, who knows, maybe this wasn't where I was meant to be. But who cared? It didn’t have to be written in the stars for me to know that I was exactly where I wanted to be.

I think I made it about forty-five minutes into the movie before I started to feel my eyelids get heavy. I tried so hard to stay awake, but after nodding off several times, sleep finally took hold.

***

What felt like days later, my eyes fluttered open as I looked around and took in my surroundings. The lights were dim, and the sound of voices could be heard in the distance. As I began to focus, I made out squiggly figures on a screen in front of me. I started to remember where I was. I then looked down and noticed Lexi’s head resting on my lap with her eyes closed. Her chest was moving up and down rhythmically. I let a small smile graze my lips as I became aware of the fact that my hand was lying gently on her neck. Her legs were curled up in front of her as she lay on her side with her body sprawled out on the couch. Without meaning to, I began to caress her face, causing her to stir slightly. Out of nowhere, a loud booming came from the speakers as the dramatic music in the movie intensified. Lexi jerked violently and propelled herself up into a sitting position. I yanked my hand away in response as she abruptly shot up.

“What the fuck?”

“It’s just the movie. Everything's fine,” I explained, trying to ease her worry.

Lexi sighed in relief before looking down and realizing that her sudden movement had caused the popcorn bowl that was sitting next to her to fall over and spill on the floor.

“Crap,” she frowned.

“I got it.”

“No, it’s fine. I can get it,” she waved, brushing off my help.

We both kneeled down in front of the couch to pick up the bits of popcorn and began placing them back into the bowl, one by one. Our attention was torn from the mess on the floor when we heard a ding and saw the ‘fasten seatbelt’ sign light up. The plane started to shake violently as I grabbed hold of the couch to stabilize myself.

Air earthquake?

That is when I realized the one earthquake I had experienced was clouding my worldview. It was just fucking turbulence.

Lexi instinctively reached out and clutched the first thing she could reach, which just so happened to be my boob. Without the chance to fully secure my footing, seeing as how I was crouched down, we both toppled over, and she fell, landing on her back, pulling me down with her. I fell roughly on top of her, causing the air in my lungs to be forced out. She was still holding my boob when the shaking stopped. And just like that, the ‘fasten seatbelt’ sign turned off. Lexi’s dark hair was haphazardly laying across her face as I moved my hands to brush aside the uncooperative strands. Looking down at my chest, she yanked her hand off of me as if she had been burned. Her eyes met mine. In a split second, she was snapped out of the trance she was just in.

“Ya know, if you wanted to cop a feel, you could’ve just asked,” I smirked. “I would’ve said yes.”

“Oh my god, I'm so sorry,” she said with a horrified look on her face.

“Lexi,” I laughed, “It’s fine. I know it wasn’t on purpose.”

“Yeah,” she breathed.

Seeing the dazed look she still possessed, I asked, “Are you okay?”

Taking in air, Lexi replied, “You know what? As long as you're here, I’m okay.”

“I don't think me or my boob can protect you from plane turbulence.”

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