"Passengers, we have reached cruising altitude. You may lower the trays on the back of the seat in front of you, and get up to use the restrooms. Flight attendants will be coming around shortly to assist you." The pilots voice booms over the intercom. 

"It'll probably be around five hours until we go back down," I say to my best friend Cecelia, looking at my watch. "Do you need to use the bathroom? I'll wait h-"

"I'm fine Carly," she replies, lowering her tray. "Right now, I'm focusing all my energy on that cute flight attendant. Do you think I could get his number?"

"With your charm? Absolutely," I tease, smiling at her. The 'cute' flight attendant comes over to us.

"Would you like a drink? Maybe a soda?" he asks politely. 

"I'll have a Sprite," I say. "Ceci, what do you want?"

"Oh, I'll have one of those too, if it's alright," she says, probably distracted by Flight Boy's eyes or something mushy like that. I've never understood why other girls get so weird around boys. 

"Of course that's okay," he says, and hands us our cups. "That would be seven dollars."

"Oh sure," I say, giving him some folded up dollar bills. "Thanks."

"You're welcome." Flight Boy pushes the snack cart to the next row, greeting whoever's sitting there with the same friendly expression he gave us.

"He didn't even notice me, did he?" Cecelia laughs. 

"He might have," I offer. 

"No one does when you're around," she jokes.

"Nah, that can't be true."

"It is," she insists. "Now, tell me more about this place you're taking me to."

Cecelia is going with my family and I to a spot in Hawaii that we visit every year. Since her family is moving soon to New York, my mom thought it was the least we could do. Of course, we were overjoyed when we heard she'd be coming. 

"Oh, it's beautiful," I say. "Clear skies, blue waters, turtles everywhere."

"Turtles?"

"Yes, lots of turtles.  Baby turtles, old man turtles, middle-aged soccer mom turtles, all the turtles."

"You're funny."

"No, I'm hysterical. Anyways, we'll be staying in this cool vacation house with a fantastic view of the ocean."

"And of the turtles," she jokes.

"Yes of course a good view of the turtles! What sort of Neanderthal do you take me for?" We laugh for what seems like ages, when the plane starts to shake.

"Um, I'm assuming this is ordinary, everyday turbulence?" Cecelia asks. Did I mention she's never ridden a plane? Imagine going seventeen years without ever riding a plane.

"I hope so." The plane rattles, sending shivers down my spine.

The pilot's voice crackles over the intercom. "We are experiencing some technical difficulties. Please put on your oxygen mask in case of emergency. We have this under control soon."

That's not good.

We put on our masks, what I assume is twin expressions of worry on our faces.

Boom! The cabin shakes again, and I nearly fall out of my seat. Across the aisle, my little brother Anthony is crying. I wish I could tell him everything will be alright.

A glance out the window shows me the wing is on fire. 3... 2... 1...

The plane starts to plummet to the ground.

I pull the life jacket out from under my seat. As far as I can tell, we're still over land but I figure it might cushion the blow if I jump. Ceci does the same. 

I have to time this perfectly. Too soon, and I fall a thousand miles without a parachute. Too late, and I smush to the ground, still in the plane.

Now.

I jump out of the plane, bright orange life jacket strapped on tight.

Too soon.

I open my mouth but cannot scream, as I plummet to a glorious death.