Page 1 of These Pucking Boys: Part Two

CHAPTER 1

JAKE

My ears are ringing, and my heart is beating like a stampede. The pilot told us to brace for impact, so Lachy and I turtle up in our seats. A sense of desperation hangs in the air as curses and pleas are whispered throughout the cabin.

“Bloody hell. This is it, Jake,” Lachy grumbles. He sounds more annoyed than afraid.

“Shut up. It’s not the end,” I retort, then close my eyes and clench my jaw so tightthat ithurts. I can hear murmurs and prayersall around me, but my lips don’t move. My body is locked tight.

A second later,the foulest smell hits my nose, followed by laughter.I know that stench all too well.

“For fuck’s sake, Lachy!”

“Sorry, lad. All that beer turned me into a propane tank.”

“Hold it in!”

He chuckles. “I can’t! Look at the bright side. We’ll dieinstantlywhen I go off.”

I hit his arm. “You’re not gonna die.”

Lachy doesn’t hold it in, and the more he farts, the more he laughs. I keep complaining, but I’m laughing too. It’s better than worrying that wemighthave only a few seconds left to live.

When the plane touches down, it immediately bounces back up. It might have hit the ground going too fast. My body shoots upward, and if it weren’t for the seatbelt, I would have probably hit the ceiling. The plane drops again, hard, and the entire structure rattles. I feel the impact deep in my bones. I’m afraid the plane will break into pieces, but besides the loud whirring noise, it remains whole. Lachy grunts next to me, but that’s all he does. Now it’s just a matter of not crashing into anything.

Suddenly, my body lurches forward. The pilot has activated the brakes. After a moment that seems to go on forever, the plane finally stops, but my heart keeps beating at breakneck speed. The silence is deafening. I think everyone thought this was the end, and the reality we survived hasn’t yet sunk in.

When I sit up straight, my pulse is still roaring in my ears. Lachy is upright as well. We look at each other.

“We’re alive?” he asks.

“I think so.” I punch his arm. “Yup.”

He tosses his head back and shouts. “We’re alive, motherfuckers!”

His outburstis metwith shouts and whistles. I unbuckle my seat belt and stand.Banksy is behind me,andhe’sout of his seattoo, sporting the biggest smile.“Fuck me. I think I peed my pants.”

A moment later, Coach Haagen makes his way toward us, his face as white as a sheet of paper. “Everyone all right?”

“Yes, Coach.” It’s the unanimous answer from everyone.

“Good.” He nods, still looking frazzled.

The pilot makes an announcement. We’ve landed near Taos, New Mexico, andthey’re in communicationwith the nearby airport tower. I look out the window, but I can’t see a damnthing. It’s pitch black outside. Rescue is on its way, but because of our location, they don’t know how long it’ll takeforthem to reach us.

I pull out my phone but freeze when I don’t know who to call first—June or Ryan. As if reading my mind, Lachy says, “I’ll call June. You call Ryan.”

“Okay.” I press on his name, but I can’t get through. “Shit. There’s no signal.”

“Me neither,” Lachy replies.

I glance at Banksy and find him glowering at his phonetoo. “Hell, I got nada. Maya must be freaking out.”

“It seems we’re in a dead zone, boys,” Coach Haagen tells us. “Don’t worry. The authorities know we’ve landed safely. They’ll pass on the message to the organization and your families.”

“Do they know about the emergency landing?” I ask.

Coach Haagen runs his fingers through his thinning hair. “I was able to email my wife during our descent. They know.”

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