Page 1 of Another Lucky Number

Chapter One

‘Excuse me, madam? Would you like something to drink?’

‘Ooh, a glass of champagne, please.’ I quickly fold down the corner of the page I’m reading as the immaculate flight attendant places a flute of beautifully chilled fizz on the tray table in front of me.

‘Hand cooked vegetable crisps or olives?’ she asks.

‘Can I have both?’

‘Of course.’

‘Greedy cow,’ a voice mutters from across the aisle and I shoot the owner (my friend, Amber) a faux dirty look in response.

Once the flight attendant has served the rest of our row and moved on to the next one, I catch the eyes of my two friends and raise my glass.

‘To anamazingholiday.’

‘Yay!Cheers.’ My bestie, Cat, thrusts her own glass in my direction while Amber surveys me with a bored look.

‘Thisisincredible and all, Emma,’ she says. ‘But are you going to do that every time we’re served a drink? You’re starting to take the piss.’

‘Aww, leave her alone.’ Cat comes to my rescue. ‘Neither of us have been in business class before. Don’t spoil the fun because you’re used to these perks from your job. Andremember, it was Emma who made all this happen.’

‘Hmm… that’s not entirely true.’ Amber taps her chin, wearing a pompous expression. ‘I got us this business class upgrade…remember?’

‘Right, Amber,enough.’ I find myself bailing Cat out of her own failed rescue attempt. ‘Let’s compromise. No non-alcoholic toasts – but I make no apologies, I’m having the boozy ones.’

Amber simply rolls her eyes, allowing me to settle back in my seat and enjoy my champagne. Closing mine for a moment, I bathe in the excitement and anticipation of what lies ahead, just several hours from now. This is what life should be about. Not stress. Nor heartbreak. I stretch out my legs, flexing my calves and wiggling my toes as recommended in the traveller advice I read. It feels nice, almost therapeutic.

Suddenly, there’s a bump and the cabin shakes. I glance across at my friends, but they don’t seem to have noticed. Giving my neck a stretch, I try to relax, but then there’s series of bumps followed a huge jolt and the sound of the seatbelt signs being illuminated.

‘Ladies and gentlemen, due to some unexpected turbulence, the captain has switched on the seatbelt signs. Please return to your seats and ensure that your seatbelts are securely fastened. The toilets and first-class bar are now out of use until further notice.’

My pulse quickens and I anxiously tug at my seatbelt to tighten it as the bumping and lurching in the cabin intensifies. Seeking reassurance, I make eye contact with Amber.

‘Relax.’ She chuckles at my terrified face. ‘Happens all the time. Think about it like being on a bus on a bumpy road.’

‘I don’t think I like this bus,’ I murmur.

‘Seriously, it’s fine. The flight attendants are still walking around. That’s a sure sign there’s no problem.’

The moment she says this, the cabin seems to drop a few feet, taking my stomach with it, and the captain’s authoritative voice comes over the plane’s PA system.

‘Cabin crew, take your seats.’

‘Oh my god!’ I watch in despair as they swiftly leave the cabin.

The turbulence is now so heavy that my champagne is slopping over the sides of the glass.

‘All right, I take it back,’ says Amber. ‘Bit worse than usual, but it’s still fine. Maybe less bumpy road, and more… rollercoaster. They’re fun though, right?’

‘Not the time for it, Amber.’ I down what’s left of my drink in one go.

Clutching the arms of my seat for dear life, I glance helplessly at Cat, who’s face has drained of colour. She’s clutching her poker straight dark hair anxiously, and as her amber eyes meet mine, I can tell she’s as petrified as I feel. We’re being thrown around like rag dolls, kept in our seats only by our seatbelts, our belongings and refreshments now rolling around the floor.

Then without warning, the plane goes into a nosedive, the force of the acceleration pinning us to our seats as we scream in terror.

‘Cat, Amber…’ I call to them, tears rolling down my cheeks. ‘In case we don’t make it, I want you to know I love you both more than—’

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