Page 19 of Fate Forever and Always

His face turned stark white, giving me a look I didn’t think I’d ever seen before. “Callie, I can't.”

“Why not? Please. Please come with me.”

“Callie, I can’t get on a plane. You know that.”

“Oh, come on, you chicken. Do it for me.”

“The answer is no, Callie, I just can’t. I can’t get on a plane. I'm sorry.”

I can’t believe he is turning down a free trip to the Bahamas because he’s too scared to fly. I mean, I always knew he was, which is why we drove to Tennessee for our college trip. He’s never come with Aubrey and me anytime we have traveled and needed a flight, but I didn’t think his fear was that serious. His skin is whiter than a sheet of paper just talking about it. He looks like he’s going to be sick.

“I’m done eating.” Nick stood up and left his plate on the table. “Thanks for the food.” He walked into his bedroom without another word.

Weird.

After I cleaned up the dinner mess, I was about to knock on his door, but my phone rang. It was my mom. She needed me to help her with something at her house. I left a note for Nick just in case he came out and realized I was gone.

I hope he’s okay.

Chapter seven

Nick

Iheard the front door shut, so I assumed Callie left because she was mad at me. My assumption made me feel like an ass as soon as I saw the note about her mom. After doing the dishes, I sat down to play some video games. My playing was trash because I couldn’t stop thinking about the trip. I would love to be able to go on a trip with her, but I can’t fly. I just can’t.

The first and last flight I ever took was when I was moving here. I flew here after my parents died. It was probably the worst experience of my life.

It was like anything that could go wrong happened all at once. My flight got delayed three different times, causing me to miss my connecting flight. At fifteen, I had to try to find a new flight and coordinate with my grandma so she’d still be able to pick me up. The turbulence was so bad it made me cry like a baby. To top it off, all of my bags got lost. Granted, I got them back a week later, but still, I didn’t have them for the first week here, which made things very hard. I had taken only the most important things with me, like my pictures and important documents. Ihad just lost my parents, and then I lost everything I owned. It wasn’t a very pleasant time for me to say the least. I haven’t flown since, and I wasn’t planning to ever again.

I gave up on playing my Xbox and called Aubrey and Link and told them what Callie had asked me. I needed to know if I was being a complete idiot, and the two of them were usually very honest. Link and I hadn’t known each other that long, but we got close fast.

As I thought, they didn’t hold back. Link told me to stop being a little bitch, and Aubrey said the same thing, but with a little more finesse.

“Nick, come on. When are you ever going to get another opportunity to go to the Bahamas for free? Aubrey's voice got more serious. "Plus, it will give you some alone time to spend with her, and maybe you can finally tell her how you—”

“I’m not doing that,” I cut her off. “I can’t tell her. We have already had some weird, awkward things happen, and thankfully, they haven’t ruined anything. I’m not going to press my luck.”

“Nicholas,” Aubrey screeched. “What happened? Why haven’t either of you told me? Why am I the odd woman out? We are supposed to tell each other everything.”

“I haven’t told you because it’s none of your business.” I smiled because Aubrey hates being told something wasn’t her business, and I knew it would set her off. “And she probably hasn’t told you because she was so drunk both times. I don’t think she even knows what happened.”

She huffed into the phone, and even though we weren’t on Facetime, I know she rolled her eyes because Link was laughing hysterically.

I was quiet for a few moments because, as much as I didn’t want to admit it, they were right. I really do want to go with her, but I just can’t get past the thought of flying.

“I will give you some Xanax if you go so you can knock yourself out on the plane. You won’t even know anything is happening. It is a short flight anyway,” Aubrey said. “I promise it will be worth it.”

“I don’t know Aubs.”

“Bro, come on. Spend time with her and make her happy. Show her what she is missing,” Link added.

“I don’t know…I guess I will think about it.”

After hanging up with them, I got comfortable and put on a movie I had no intention of actually watching. I laid down while trying to talk myself into going.I don’t know if I can make myself do this.

I must have fallen asleep, because the next thing I knew, Callie was covering me up with a blanket.

CALLIE

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