Melissa: I’m so sorry! I wasn’t looking where I was going.
Flight Attendant: Obviously. Is there something I could do for you?
Melissa: Yes there is, thank you. I’m looking for my seat.
She hands the flight attendant the ticket that is in her hand.
Flight Attendant: You just passed it a few rows back, on your left. You’re in the aisle seat.
She points in that direction and Melissa can’t believe that she didn’t notice that her seat is right next to the guy she’d been admiring.
Melissa: You’re kidding right?
Flight Attendant: No. Why, is there a problem? I can find you a seat somewhere else if you’d like.
Melissa: No! ... Um, I mean no thank you. That seat will be just fine. Thanks for your help.
Flight Attendant: You’re welcome. Now if you’d please take your seat, we’ll be taking off shortly.
She returns to the cockpit, leaving Melissa staring at her seat. Or, more accurately, at him. It takes her a few minutes to gather up the courage to walk over to him, and when she finally does, she goes to great lengths to avoid eye contact with him. She leans down to place her purse on the floor in front of her, and when she stands back up, she is horrified to discover that he has been watching her the entire time. Now that all of her is in full view, he looks her up and down with interest before giving her a sexy smile. Melissa blushes and quickly averts her eyes, but not before noticing that he is even better looking up close.
Guy: Hi there.
Melissa: Hi. Um, I think this is my seat beside you.
His grin becomes wider as he glances at the empty seat.
Guy: Is it now? This must be my lucky day.
Melissa blushes again and is saved from answering by the flight attendant’s announcement that everyone was to buckle their seatbelt. Melissa quickly sits down and reaches for her seatbelt and almost jumps out of her seat when his hand brushes hers as he reaches for his own.
Guy: I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to...
Howie trails off as he realizes that Melissa is not even listening to him. After her immediate reaction to his touch, she seemed to have forgotten that he was even there. From the moment he’d first set eyes on her, he’d wanted to get to know her better. But it appeared that she didn’t feel the same way. Not being one to push where he is obviously not welcome, he slumps down in his seat and faces the window. Meanwhile Melissa has no idea that he is as upset about the silence between them as she is. But there’s nothing she can do about it. She’s not very good at talking to guys, especially ones that she likes. She stares off into the distance, but she is very aware of his presence beside her.
**********
A little while later, Howie sneaks a glance at Melissa, as he has been doing every couple minutes since she sat down, and notices that she is trying to look past him at the window. Ever the gentleman, Howie offers her his seat.
Howie: Would you like to trade seats with me?
Melissa: I’m sorry, what?
Howie: I noticed that you were trying to see out the window. You can sit here if you like. I don’t care if I have a window seat or not.
She hadn’t really been looking out the window, she’d been trying to watch him without his realizing it. But having no other option than to confess the truth to him, Melissa accepts his offer.
Melissa: Thank you. I’d like that.
She stands up and holds on to the seat in front of her for support as he lifts up the armrest between their seats and slides over behind her. She is about to move into the vacated seat when the plane jerks rather sharply. The suddenness of the motion causes her to lose her balance and she falls across Howie’s lap. His arms go around her instantly and she doesn’t fight him. The flight attendant appears in the aisle at that moment and informs everyone to put on their seatbelts. She says that there is no need to panic, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. As if on cue, the plane dips again and Melissa grips Howie’s leg in fear. The flight attendant races out of the room only to return just as quickly with a message from the pilot that they would be making an emergency landing in Aurora, Ohio. Howie finally gets Melissa off his lap and into her seat, although she never loosens her grip on his leg. He wraps one arm around her and with his other hand he grabs her free hand and holds it tightly, trying to comfort them both. After several excruciatingly long minutes, they land successfully at a small airport nearby. The flight attendant announces that they are just having minor engine trouble and the problem is being repaired as she speaks and they will be up and in the air again in no time. No one was to leave the plane during this temporary delay. She leaves the room and a number of passengers take the opportunity to get up and stretch, while a few begin to wander around the plane to pass the time. Howie looks over at Melissa, whose head is buried against his chest, and rubs her back to comfort her.
Howie: You can relax now. It’s all over and we’re okay.
Melissa raises her head and looks into his eyes, and before either of them know it they are kissing. After a few passionate minutes, Howie lifts his head an inch and struggles to get a few words out.
Howie: 2 words. Howie.
Melissa: Melissa.
Howie: That’s all I wanted to know.
He kisses her again and she unfastens her seatbelt and climbs onto his lap. Suddenly there is a ringing in their ears. They both look up a little confused, and then they hear it again.
Howie: Oh that’s just my cell phone.
The interruption has brought them both back to reality and as Howie reaches for his phone, Melissa jumps off his lap and steps into the aisle.
Melissa: Um… I have to go to the washroom. I’ll be right back.
Before Howie can stop her, she’s down the aisle and out of his sight. Howie stares after her until his phone rings again. He finally answers it and discovers that it is his bodyguard Dwayne, who is waiting to meet him at the airport in Lexington, Kentucky.
Howie: Hello?
Dwayne: Finally! I was beginning to get worried about you man!
Howie: Why?
Dwayne: I don’t know, maybe because your plane went down in Ohio!
Howie: Oh that.
Dwayne: What do you mean ‘oh that’?! What happened?
Howie: Engine problems or something. No big deal. I’m fine.
Dwayne: You don’t sound fine. What’s with you today Howie? You sound depressed.
Howie: I met a girl on the plane.
Dwayne: That would depress any guy.
Howie: And I kissed her.
Dwayne: I’m still not seeing a problem.
Howie: I scared her off. Your call interrupted us and she ran away. I think she hates me now.
Melissa: No I don’t.
At the sound of her voice, Howie looks up in surprise to see her standing beside him.
Howie: You don’t?
Melissa: Of course not.
Howie: It seemed like our kiss upset you. I thought maybe I was being too forward or something.
Melissa: The kiss, well kisses, were amazing and I wanted them as much as you did. In fact, I want to kiss you again right now.
On the other end of the line, Dwayne clears his throat.
Dwayne: Well Howie, I can see that you have better things to do than talk to me, so I’ll let you go. See you later.
Howie: Yeah later.
He hangs up the phone and watches in silence as Melissa takes her seat beside him.
Melissa: I owe you an apology.
Howie: You don’t owe me anything.
Melissa: Yes I do. I didn’t mean to run off like that. It’s just a natural reaction for me when someone gets too close. I’m sorry that you thought I didn’t like you. I really do.
Howie: I like you too.
Melissa: But we need to take things a little slower okay? Get to know each other a little better first.
Howie: I’d like that. I have an hour or so to spare when we reach Kentucky. Would you like to grab a bite to eat or something?
Melissa: I’d love to, but unfortunately I’m not going to Kentucky. I’m switching planes in Lexington and travelling to Texas to visit my cousin Sarah.
Howie: Oh.
His face falls at the idea that he might never see her again after this flight. Melissa can read his thoughts by the sad puppy dog look in his eyes, and she feels exactly the same way. She makes an impulsive decision.
Melissa: But I guess I could call her and tell her I’m not coming.
Howie: You’d do that for me?
Melissa: For us. And it’s not like this kind of thing happens to me every day. I’ll be right back.
She stands up and Howie grabs her hand to stop her.
Howie: Where are you going?
Melissa: To ask the flight attendant if she has a phone I can use.
Howie: You can use my cell phone.
Melissa: That’s okay, I don’t want to waste your money.
She leans down and gives him a quick kiss before she walks away.
Howie: If you only knew.
He dials his own phone and Dwayne picks up.
Dwayne: Hello?
Howie: Hi Dwayne it’s me. I need you to do something for me.
**********
The rest of the plane ride is uneventful. The minor engine problem was repaired in under half an hour, and they didn’t encounter any other obstacles along the way. Melissa and Howie spent the whole flight talking, and Melissa learned that Howie was a singer and he was going to be performing somewhere that night with four of his friends, but that was all he would tell her about it. She had no idea how big an event it actually was, and Howie planned to keep it that way. He wanted it to be a surprise. They walk into the airport hand in hand, and split up when they reach the luggage area to locate their own suitcases. Just as Howie finds his, Melissa comes up behind him and gives him a big hug.
Howie: Not that I mind, but what was that for?
Melissa: You know exactly what it was for.
Howie turns around to find Melissa smiling at him and holding a single red rose.
Howie: Where’d you get that?
Melissa: Don’t play innocent with me. I don’t know how, but I know it’s from you. Thank you.
Howie: You’re welcome. Happy Valentine’s Day.
He kisses her cheek as Dwayne walks up to them.
Dwayne: There you are. Are you ready to go?
Melissa: Who are you?
Howie: This is my bodyguard Dwayne.
Melissa: Why do you need a bodyguard?
Howie: You’ll see.
Without another word, he takes her hand and leads her out of the airport.