Page 32 of Between Earth and Eternity
She wanted to sit in the window seat, and I was happy to let her, especially with the window being much larger than I anticipated. No, thank you.
“You look as white as a sheet,” she adds.
Could be worse, at least I’m not green.
“I’m fine. Maybe. No. I don’t know,” I say, trying to take deep breaths. I press Elliot’s charm into my wrist, looking for something to take my mind off this reality.
Payson sits on the other side of me, very quiet, very calm. How is he doing that?
One of the other winners looks over to us with a wary expression. My distress is on full display.
“Hey, mind your business,” Pace snaps at him. The fellow winner quickly turns away, resting his head back on the chair’s headrest, but I catch a smirk on his face before I look away.
God. I don’t know who would be worse to throw up on—a nice new friend or a cute guy who may or may not be interested in me. There’s also the unfortunate fact that the ship is now full of at least five hundred more people who could witness my personal ordeal.
“Do you get motion sickness?” Ori asks.
“Not particularly. I just don’t want to die before we actually get there,” I say through clenched teeth.
“The probability is less than zero,” Pace says very matter-of-factly.
“Oh good. So there is a possibility then,” I quip, shooting him an annoyed look.
“I’m just saying it most likely won’t happen.”
“If you’re trying to distract me, you’re doing a really shitty job at it,” I bite back.
Ori covers her mouth to stifle a giggle. I don’t like this side of myself.
“Hey, a guy has to try,” he says, and I notice his cheeks blushing slightly. I was rude, but right now, I’m trying to prevent a panic attack, so apologies will have to wait.
“Is everyone buckled in over here?” a steward asks, scanning our row and checking the harnesses by roughly pulling on the straps.
“Excuse me, ma’am?”
She turns to face Pace.
“Do you have something you can give her for nerves?”
“Excuse me? What—” I start, but I’m interrupted by the steward.
“Are you feeling okay, miss?” she asks in a soothing tone, her brows furrowed as she gives me a once-over.
“I’m fine.”
I catch Payson eyeing me, a skeptical look on his face.
“It’s very common for people to get nervous on launch, but let me assure you, these are extremely safe,” she says in an eerily calm tone. It’s only making me more anxious and annoyed. “We do have something you can take for an actual emergency.”
“This isn’t an emergency. I’ll be fine,” I say before she can go on. Another passenger calls out for assistance, so she departs without another word.
“Trying to drug me? Really?”
“Sorry. I was trying to help.” Payson’s cheeks burn bright pink.
I turn back to Ori, who still has a hand over her mouth to keep from laughing. At least someone finds it funny.
“Attention crew, please commence final check before launch.” The pilot’s voice echoes through the ship. This is it. The ship begins to vibrate, a whooshing sound indicating that the engines have ignited.
