The flight scenario:

On a Saturday morning in March, I left for San Francisco with my classmates. I asked Paige to come over to my room to help me pack the right attire for the trip, but did not expect that she would tell me a secret; one in which her brother hid all these years from me.

To top that off that night before the flight, I struggled with anxiety. A part of me wanted to go to California; while the other half wanted to stay and waste the $90 luggage I purchased.

However, I knew the real reason behind my indecisiveness. It was due to my feelings toward the guys.

I resented the fact that I still liked Owen, despite the fact he still acted like a troublemaker. Likewise, Robin was a great guy, but I just don't see us together as 'friends with benefits'.

I decided to go outside and take a walk in order to clear my mind; but as I opened the door of the dormitory, a gust of wind almost blew my floppy hat away. As a result, I made the decision to stay inside, due to the weather conditions. In my mind, the wind was trying to tell me something as if it were a ghostly spirit, a messenger of a celestial being trying to warn me about something. However, I was probably wrapped up with ideas for my Mythological thesis.

Once, I went back inside to my room I called Paige to come over and decided to start packing for the morning trip tomorrow.

***************

I kept looking at my friend as she stood before my closet. She selected many outfits and laid them down on my bed.

"Paige, I don't think I need all of these clothes. This is almost half my closet! I'll only be there for a week!"

"Nonsense Mae! I'm just trying to make you look good, and it's not your entire closet!"

Sigh!

Why did I even call her? Oh, yes. Because she is my best friend, but I just needed to ask her to select a few items for the trip; that's it. I can't fit all of the items before me into my suitcases. Paige can be so irritating sometimes!

"Paige, you know I'm mostly going to use my sweats for the rope course, so why do I need to bring dresses? I hardly think the Coach will allow us to have some free time to roam the streets of San Francisco."

My friend puckered her lips in the shape of an awkward "O" shape in astonishment.

"Don't you think I know that, Mae? I just want you to take some dresses for emergency ... who knows if the Coach might just change his mind, besides R..."

Paige quickly covered her hands over her mouth, but was determined to know why.

"Besides what Paige?'

Silence.

"Don't tell me 'cat got your tongue'."

She turned away and sat down on my bed.

"Promise you won't tell?"

I faced her and smirked. I had a hunch where this conversation was leading up to.

"I pinky swear promise... so do tell."

"May I remind you that a promise is a promise?"

Is she trying to annoy me? For heaven's sake, spill it out Paige!

"I got it Paige ... I won't tell a living soul! I swear by the moon and the million stars out there, okay? Now tell me what you got, or I will tell Robin you kissed his friend Noah!"

She gasped.

"Y-you know about that? But how?"

I nodded yes. I have my own contacts and am not willing to reveal who they are.

"Let's just say a 'little bird told me'."

Truth is that it was just an assumption; but it was obvious that it would happen anyway. Paige would blush and bump into the handsome guy, as if it were just an accident. She went gaga over him every time we saw him playing on the baseball field.

"Okay you win! You might as well know. My brother always wanted you to be....."'

"SPILL IT! Oh, look who's now saying the same exact same thing during the Gretel fiasco in high school!"

"Are we still going to talk about that? I ..."

"Don't change the subject! (Was getting tired of this little game of hers, so I just blurted it out.) He wants to be more than friends, am I right?

Paige just winked at me, signaling that I got it correct.

Sigh! What's a girl going to do with two guys fighting over me?

***************

For her punishment, I wanted ... no ... the correct word was forced - Paige to drive me to the airport at 6 am sharp.

Despite her many excuses, she could not get out of this easily. However, I knew in her heart, she didn't want to miss this opportunity to say goodbye.

And I have to say I enjoyed teasing her too once we got there.

However, I was also astonished to learn that Robinaire got an earlier ride to the airport from his dad instead.

Now I'm thinking it's because of his sister; who "spilled the beans" on him.

Paige started crying once I opened the door of her car.

A tear slipped down her face and wanted to hug her despite the fact that we might be blocking traffic.

"I'm going to miss you so much Mae! Spring Break won't be fun without you!"

I went back inside the passenger door and asked her to give me a bear hug.

"Paige, stop crying now. I'll only be gone for a week! You'll be fine without me ... besides you'll still have Noah to play with."

She laughed at that comment.

"Besides we talked about this all week. Why don't you come out and give Mae a great big hug!"

Once she got out of her door, we embraced each other tightly, as if we were two sisters that were going to be separated forever.

I said my last farewell, held my Kipling purse and dragged my two pairs of luggage with me.

My gray sweater soon became soggy due to Paige's tears, but at least I brought my trench coat in case of emergency. Therefore, I put the coat on, despite the fact that it went down as far as the bottom of my blue jeans.

I waited for my friend to leave once her vehicle was no longer in sight.

Besides Moira, Paige was somehow like a 'dear sister' who was always there for me.

I soon fell in to a deep trance after she left. It reminded me of the time my sister flew to Rhode Island. I wasn't with her, since I was in class taking my midterms; so my parents were the only ones who were able to drop her off at the airport.

And that was also the same day they died in a car accident by a drunk driver. Don't really know all the details what happened that day, but am sure my brother knew.

I was so stunned over the news when the principal called me to her office that I couldn't stop crying once I left her office. And that was the reason why Principal Rosemary Griggs allowed me to miss the other half of my tests.

My classmates thought I missed it due to pure luck, but little do they do they know it was due to my constant meltdowns.

But just then I was pulled out of my flashbacks, when one of the baggage attendants tapped me on the shoulder.

"Do you need help with that Miss?"

I shook my head no and smiled, and took some label tags with me instead.

Once he left to help another traveler, I headed into the airport and held my head up high, since this would be my first taste in flying to the Golden State.

***************

I wrote down my name and address on the tags once I sat down. I attached it to my bags and went to find my classmates.

Eventually, I found them near the escalator, and waited for the Coach.

Twenty students, including myself, sat in the waiting area that was bound for the 7 am straight flight to San Francisco International Airport.

I wasn't eager anymore to play Maiden Marian for Robin, nor the damsel in distress for Owen, since I discovered Robin's secret. But I'm running out of time! I had to face them; whether or not I wanted to.

Once our instructor showed up, we walked to the airport gate of Flight 796.

What am I going to do? Love is not an easy game to play. Maybe I'll just ignore them. Yes, maybe, I'll just do that. There are other people to talk too on this trip anyway. So why not?

This annoying thought kept playing in my mind, as I went through the area where the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) searched me. And the worst thing was that the two men I had in mind still teased me.

~~

Robinaire motioned me to come and sit next to him.

"Mae, come here ... sit by me. We can talk about what we will be doing in Frisco."

Since when did we call San Francisco 'Frisco'? This is not the Robin I knew, he was too laid-back!

But I sat next to him, because that's what he wanted. And, you might as well know who was trailing along beside me.

In a loud tone, Owen greeted me and tapped my shoulder, which caused me to jump.

The Coach happened to see my leap of astonishment, and exclaimed, "Mae, don't get too excited, we'll be in California in no time 'flat'!"

I think that when he mentioned the word 'flat', it was meant to be a joke, since I've been known to fail courses in gym constantly.

And I was correct ... the boys laughed so hard at the Coach's comment.

Very Funny! Not!

I faced palm myself. (I just love doing that when I get annoyed, don't I?)

UGH! Owen just likes doing that to me, as he did in high school! Why couldn't he just leave me alone?

He'll pay for that!

Luckily, the flight attendant announced that our plane was ready for take-off; so whatever 'monkey business 'the boys had in mind stopped.

Ladies and Gentlemen, we are ready to allow passengers aboard flight 796 headed for San Francisco. Will those of you seated in rows 35 to 45 and 1 through 4 please board the aircraft now. Please present your boarding pass to the agent at the doorway. Please make certain that you have all of your belongings with you. Thank you for flying American Airlines. Welcome Aboard.

***************

So who will be my seatmate/s on the airplane?

Do I even have to ask?

When Coach Smith gave us our airplane tickets, it was by numerical order in class. I also found out that I was going to have to sit in a middle seat in row 12.

And just who would be next to me? Why of course one of the boys that I just love: (As if!). They were sitting next to me that day and at that time I thought it would be fun to ride with one of them, but how time quickly steals that away from you.

Once I got on the plane, I found out that most of the sectional seats were arranged in this format: three seats connected together per row.

Just what I needed!

Robinaire sat by the window, I sat in the middle and Owen sat to my right.

Sigh!

***************

This is your captain speaking as we have a flight from Corpus Christi to San Francisco. The current time is 7 am Central Time Zone and it will be a 3 hour straight flight. We will fly over the terrains of New Mexico, Arizona, Sierra Nevada, and eventually arrive at SFO at 8 am Pacific Standard Time. Please fasten your seat belts as we are about to take off.

I'm scared, since we will be taking off shortly! Someone hold my hand ... oh right ... I have two guys for that.

This is going to be a long flight indeed!

After three hours of anxiety:

The voice on the intercom ensured me that we were now safe after a long nerve-wrecking airplane ride. Well, at least for me it was!

I actually made it through a whole flight! HURRAY! But then again, I shouldn't congratulate myself too much. Why?

Because once we said goodbye to the flight attendants, I saw the plane's staircase that led to the ground; and my fear of heights just sprung back.