Page 109 of Up In Flames
“Knox, it’s me. I’m so sorry about the other day…and for leaving…and for a lot of other shit. I overreacted, and I, uh, just landed, but I’d love to come over to your place and talk. I’m really,reallysorry, and I miss you. Please don’t give up on me.”
I hope it’s enough.
As the passengers are disembarking, a shouting match breaks out midplane.Please not tonight.People have completely lost all class when traveling. There is no patience, no understanding, no compassion anymore, and by the time the travelers get to the front where I’m standing, it’s escalated so much that the line behind them has stopped moving in order to give the disgruntled pair space.
“Gentlemen,” I try nicely.
They can’t even hear me because they’re shouting so loudly.
“GENTLEMEN!” I bellow, raising my voice and finally getting their attention. “Please act your age and disembark the aircraft without further incident, or I’ll be forced to call security. And if you think you’re late for your connectionnow,you certainly won’t be catching another flight tonight if I have to make that call.”
The guy in the front looks me over, and I know he’s been drinking. Our flight wasn’t that long, so he probably either filled his bottle with liquor before he boarded, or he managed to get airplane bottles of liquor onto the flight.
“Who’s gonna stop me, sweet cheeks? You?” he asks, flicking the scarf around my neck.
Oh, this asshole is going down. I amwaytoo wired for this bullshit tonight. I have places to be and a man to beg for forgiveness, and if this asshole assaults someone, I’ll be here all fucking night giving statements and filling out paperwork.
“Wow, so it isn’t just me you’re mad at,” the guy in line behind him observes, making the belligerent fuck in front of me turn back to him.Thanks for that, I think, pulling the scarf from my neck as he continues. “You pathetic piece of shit. You’ve already held us up long enough. Can you just get the fuck off this plane so the rest of us don’t have to hear your stupid mouth anymore?”
“Just for that, I think I’ll make you as late as I am,” the man says, cocking his fist back.
Fuck.
I grab his forearm with both of my hands and slow his momentum, startling him enough that he turns back toward me. I pull him in close and sweep his right leg. It doesn’t take much to knock him off balance, thanks to the alcohol, and we go down in the cramped space.
I took a risk here, hoping he wouldn’t hit his head on the way down, but since he didn’t hit a single thing, I’m hopeful it means luck is on my side tonight, and I’m counting on that luck helping me get through to Knox.
“What the fuck?” the drunk man beneath me slurs, bucking his hips, trying to get me off him. I ask another flight attendant to call security and continue to grapple with the guy. I’m smaller which is definitely an advantage here because I can move muchmore easily than my opponent. I quickly gain control of his right arm and bring one leg over his chest while my other is tucked beneath me. Sitting back on my ass, I pull up on his extended elbow and complete the armbar, making him cry out in pain.
“Keep fighting me and I’ll dislocate your elbow,” I warn.
I’m sure the remaining passengers all have their phones out, but my coworkers seem to be doing a decent job of screening us, and they pulled the curtain to the galley. All I’ve done is neutralize the guy, and I did it without choking the bastard out, so I think I’m in the clear.
When security arrives, they take over. One of them fist bumps me as he says, “We’ll need you to hang around for a few.”
Fuuuuuck.
Fuming, I nod and move to the side to let the rest of the passengers off the plane.
By the time we’re squared away, I’ve got a missed call from Knox with no voicemail, and now he isn’t answering again. The fucking rain is making it impossible to see on my drive home, and the fact that it’s eight o’clock at night in November doesn’t help, either. My tires feel like they’re gliding on top of the water since my car is so light, and I need to be careful or I’m going to lose traction. It’s taking more concentration than I have right now,andI’m growing more nervous and impatient by the minute.
I want to just show up at Knox’s house and hash this out, but he’s at the fire station tonight.
Oh! That’s it!
I’ll go home, grab a shower, pack a bag, and sleep at Knox’s so I can be there when he gets home in the morning. I’ll even sleep in the guest room so I’m not acompleteasshole in case he still wants space.
The thought makes my gut churn.Please don’t want space, I silently pray.
Pulling into my usual spot at my apartment, now soggy with standing water, I get out and check my phone for the thousandth time. There’s still nothing. Needing to process, I call Livvy. Thankfully, she answers, or I might’ve just sat down on the sidewalk and cried, letting the storm mingle with my sadness in some falsely poetic moment.
“Liv, I’m spending the night at Knox’s,” I declare when she answers the phone.
“Oh, good! You guys worked your shit out after that clusterfuck?”
“Um, not really. But he’s on at the fire station, and he isn’t answering, so he’s probably on a call, and this shit weather means he’s probably going to be busy all night, and I just want to be there when he gets home.” My voice grows small as I add, “Tell me it’s the right thing to do.”
“It’s the right thing to do, Bird.” I breathe a sigh of relief at the sincerity in her voice as I punch the call button for the elevator. “It’s clear you’re in love with him.”
