Forever and a Day

by Alexis Konsantino

  “How the hell can I do that?”

  Xander walked up to Joel, “Remember what I promised you.”

  Joel nodded and Xander leaned him forward, un-cuffed him, and gave him a hard look.

  Xander went back to Doug and JJ, “Doug, when we begin to land I want you to only put one hand on top of your head. The other you keep ready to pop open your belt, your hands could get hurt with both on your head and I hear those doors are heavy so be prepared.”

  “Yes boss. Mind if I hold my girls hand?”

  Xander smiled at him, nodded and turned to a nervous looking JJ. He looked right into her eyes, “I promise I will look after Halo. I will do everything I can to keep her safe. Ok?”

  JJ managed a smile, “Of course you will. I never had a doubt about that Xander.” She turned to Doug and back to him, “We both want to thank you for saving us.”

  “Well, we aren’t out of this yet. When we get to Pago, you can buy me a drink. How’s that?”

  Doug and JJ both chuckled, “You got it!” JJ smiled, then looked over to Halo who was watching them, “I think my boss is getting nervous…”

  Xander nodded and stood up, then moved over to David, Pete and Sarah and spoke with them briefly. When he was done, he sat down next to Halo, and let out a long exhale.

  “Hey Mr. Mystery man, how are you doing?”

  “Oh, hanging in there.”

  “Well you are doing a good job; I see you are a natural leader type.”

  Xander laughed, “Oh I don’t really think so, just trying to help.”

  “I’m happy you are here… oh! I put the plastic bags in your carryon. You might want to put your electronics in the bags, you do have a lot of stuff in there.”

  “Oh crap. Thank you!”

  She watched him pull out his bag and began gathering his things and bagging them up.

  “What’s that?” She pointed.

  “My solar chargers for cell phones.” He showed it to her, “One time a few years back I was on a… oh.” He paused at the memory then continued, “An outdoor shoot that started really early and ran late. I made some friends that day with these.”

  “I bet! So where were you filming?” She probed.

  “I, uh… it was in Portland.”

  “Portland? That’s where you are from right?”

  He caught himself swallowing hard, “Yes, just outside.”

  She saw his nervousness but she began looking into his green eyes and she lost her train of thought, “What do you think our chances are?” She asked quietly and watched his face as he replied.

  “Very good. I won’t let you down Halo.”

  Halo watched his lips as he spoke his words with confidence. God, she wanted to kiss him right then and there. He was so close she could see the fine lines in his sumptuous lower lip as he spoke softly to her. It could be a thank you kiss, a good luck one, or something! Hell, she saw Teuila kiss his cheek!

  She knew the truth, he wasn’t hers to kiss and hers would be different from Teuila’s, but after everything he did for her? Would not just one soft, gentle kiss be acceptable? Did he not deserve at least that? She knew the answer, her heart felt as if it fell and it hurt at the realization that her only chance passed by like smoke on the wind as Xander quickly looked up the aisle.

  It was Teuila shouting back to them to get ready.

  “Xander!” Halo whispered into his ear.

  He turned quickly to her, met her eyes and saw a multitude of emotions swirling in that sea of azure blue, “It’ll be ok, I’m right here.”

  “No… I have to know something!” Halo urgently asked.

  “Uh… go ahead.”

  “I know we have met before! I never forget a face, and I definitely wouldn’t forget yours!” She said hurriedly.

  Wouldn’t forget mine? Oh shit, he thought. If they died, he did not want her going to her grave with knowing he turned his back on her. He sighed, how to word it… “Halo, I wish I would have met you before today. It would have meant the world to me to have gotten to know you. I don’t want to sound corny or weird…” The plane began to bounce around and he quickly looked out through the window and saw the choppy ocean slowly coming up at them as the sole engine’s whine decreased.

  “Xander! What?” Halo urged, “Please?”

  Xander began speaking fast, knowing they did not have much time, “I’m sure you hear it all the time. I—I think you are the most amazing and beautiful woman on the entire planet. Every time I look in your eyes, I just—just…”

  They all heard Teuila scream out, “Brace! Brace for impact!”

  They both bent over and she peered deep into his eyes, “What, Xander? What about my eyes?” She urged and grabbed his hand and squeezed.

  He looked at her with his emotional flood gates thrown wide open, his affection was written all over his face, “Halo, I could live forever and day in them…” He held her little hand and she squeezed back hard. Her beautiful eyes showing part fear and part something else he did not quite understand…

  Xander felt the plane judder hard as he saw a small tear form in her eye. He so wanted to kiss it away and make her feel better. He knew that in his heart and soul he would gladly die a thousand deaths for her if it made her safe. Sarah’s scream brought him to and he heard JJ stifling her crying. The plane began to bounce around and yaw left and right, as the Captain seemed to have difficulty holding her steady. The turbulence was pounding the plane and it sounded like it was going to fall apart. He knew they were almost to the water.

  Suddenly he felt the deceleration as the nose came up and the whine of the engine decreased. Without a second thought, he reached over and pulled Halo close, covering her with as much as his body he could. He felt her trembling begin to calm as she wrapped her arm around his leg.

  Through all the banging, rumbling and shaking he wished that he could stop time for just a few minutes and enjoy the ecstasy of feeling her arm around him, holding him tight. For a blink of an eye, he was in heaven.

  The plane’s tail hit the waves with a clatter and the jarring pulled him from his bliss. “Hold on Halo! I’m right here, hold on!” She squeezed him so tight he was surprised at her strength.

  Suddenly the nose slammed down and hit a wave. The plane bounced off the water hard, jarring their bodies in their seats. Sarah began screaming again and he heard Joel cursing in his girlie voice as the plane came down hard on the water. The engine cut out and the plane began skidding over the surface of the water, vibrating the cabin so hard he thought his teeth were going to fall out. He felt the jet tilt towards the tip of the wing and his heart sank; the plane was going to cartwheel. Miraculously the plane only continued to skid sideways. With a huge lurch that pushed them hard forward against their seatbelts, the plane came to a bobbing stop.

  He immediately looked at Halo, “Are you ok?”

  “Oh my God, are we stopped?”

  “Yes! Are you ok?”

  “I’m good!” She exclaimed.

  Xander unbelted and stood up still holding her hand, “DOUG! The door now! Is everyone ok?” He scanned around and saw that Sarah was crying, everyone else was pale faced and wide-eyed looking around.

  Teuila came running back out of breath, “Xander! The Captain! He’s hurt worse, the—the impact on his back!”

  “I got him!” He called out and looked down to Halo. “Be careful when you go out!”

  “Oh hell no, I’m waiting for you. No arguments. Go help the Captain!” She ordered.

  He gave her a long look then handed the ELT Emergency Beacon to Teuila and ran up the aisle.

  Halo watched calmly as Teuila instructed Doug on how to get the raft deployed. Suddenly she remembered the bags from the galley. She looked up the aisle and saw Xander half dragging and carrying the Captain. He placed him across from Joel and rushed to help. Teuila handed the Emergency transmitter to JJ and told her she was first.

  JJ visibly trembled as she held the ELT to her chest and looked to Halo who gave her
a motion to get going. Then she was out on the wing and was immediately thrown off balance by the bobbing wet wing. Doug got her stable and she got in the raft, still clutching the ELT to her chest.

  Teuila turned to Sarah, “You’re next! Go, go!”

  Xander watched Sarah look to Joel whose face was busy looking out of the window. She unbuckled then made her way out and headed off to the raft.

  Joel turned to them and squealed, “We are going down! Get me out now! It’s my fucking turn!”

  The Captain yelled as best he could through his pain, “Sit down Joel, women first! We’ve got some time, sit down!”

  Xander turned his attention to Sarah just as she slipped on the wet wing and fell down hard on her bum; Doug reached down and got her back up. Seeing she was ok, Xander stepped over to Halo.

  “SHARK!” Joel screamed his face was plastered to the jet’s window, “I saw a fin! FUCK! Why are there sharks here? There is another one!” He jabbed his finger at the window. With a screech, he jumped out of his seat, pushed the Captain aside, and bolted to the open door, knocking Teuila down onto the seat.

  Xander spun and attempted to grab him but he missed as Joel bailed out of the door. As Joel’s feet hit the wing, he slipped, fell on his ass and slid feet first towards a dumbfounded Doug.

  He slid hard into Doug and knocked him off balance. Doug wobbled like a bowling pin as he windmilled his arms trying to keep his balance. Suddenly he slipped and fell backwards hitting the wing hard with the back of his head. He lay motionless as Joel got up completely ignoring Doug and jumped towards the bobbing life raft as JJ screamed in panic.

  Xander watched in horror as Joel leaped towards the raft. His momentum into the raft was stopped cold by Sarah’s body. He slammed into her full force, which in turn sent her crashing headlong into JJ, striking her head hard against hers with an excruciating thunking sound. Xander jumped out of the door but held on to the bottom of the frame as his feet hit, Pete came after him. As Xander got up to run to Doug the plane pitched up from an angry wave and Doug’s unconscious body slid off the back of the wing into the roiling water.

  Xander reached the back of the wing with Pete on his heels, he swiftly slid down on his belly and tried to reach out for Doug and found he was floating out of his reach. He turned to Joel and screamed at him, “GET THE PADDLE! Get to DOUG!” Xander stood up and pointed at Doug.

  Joel looked at Doug then found the paddle and tried to paddle over but the line was caught in-between the flap and the wing, making it impossible to move the raft. Xander whipped out his pocketknife and in a smooth motion cut the line, and had the knife folded and back in his pocket.

  “PADDLE GOD DAMMIT!” Xander screamed out to Joel.

  Joel began paddling and was making headway when he suddenly stopped and screamed then pointed in the water, “SHARK!” Joel began reversing course and began rapidly started paddling away from Doug.

  “Oh shit!” Xander cried out and reached back behind himself and pulled out a gun, chambered a round and aimed next to Doug. The .45 roared out and a blip of water shot up between Doug and a fin. He fired off another round and the fin disappeared under the surface of the water. Xander turned to Pete, then to Halo who was watching in wide-eyed horror.

  Their eyes met and Halo knew what he was going to do, “NO! Xander, NO!” She screamed as Doug suddenly screamed out in pain.

  Xander jammed the gun down the front of his pants and dove into the dark choppy waters towards a screaming Doug.

  Everything seemed to slow down for Xander as he dived into the warm water. Did Halo scream ‘no’ to him? The water fully engulfed him in his dive, he hit something hard and his arms slid painfully over a grating surface. Shark skin! His mind screamed out. Time sped up now as he swam a few rapid strokes to a groaning Doug. Xander grabbed Doug’s life vest and began swimming back as fast as he could the short distance to the safety of the wing. With a heave, he launched Doug up to Pete and David and with a collective grunt, they dragged Doug up on the wing. Xander used all his strength and with a final kick, he managed to roll himself up on the wing heaving in great gasps of air.

  He turned his head and saw Teuila looking down at Doug’s thigh. He watched as streaks of Doug’s red blood washed down the wing and into the water. She began cutting away Doug’s pants with a pair of scissors from a first aid kit in David’s hands.

  Xander looked up to the door and saw Halo look from Doug to him. She shook her head at him with tightly pressed lips. He discerned she was not happy with him, but there was no other choice. He rolled to his feet on the bobbing wing and stepped over to where Teuila had cut away Doug’s pant leg.

  There on his thigh were several puncture wounds. Fortunately, it was an investigating bite from the shark. Nonetheless, blood was seeping from the wounds, “Teuila get it wrapped! Hurry! We can treat him in another raft!” Xander turned to David, “Get another raft ready! Can you do it?”

  David nodded and handed Pete the first aid kit and ran up an accepted Halo’s hand as she helped pull him back into the plane.

  David managed the second raft and with Xander’s help, they got it into the water. David yanked the line and with a pop, the raft burst open and began filling with pressurized air.

  Teuila spun a bandage quickly around Doug’s leg then moved away as Xander and Pete got the groaning Doug into the raft. With sudden realization, Xander realized that this raft was smaller than the first—they all were not going to fit, “Teuila! Stay with Doug, you David, get in with her and try and keep the raft close until we secure it.” Xander turned to Pete, “You help me with the Captain then you ride with Halo and me.”

  Pete began to protest and Xander shot him a hard look that quieted him, “I’ll hand the Captain down, you walk him over to the raft, I’ll pop the other one open and we’ll get the hell out of Dodge.”

  Xander did not wait for an answer as he thought the nose of the plane was now a little lower than the rest of the plane. The Captain had told him that under the nose were holes from multiple lightning strikes and she would more than likely be going down nose first.

  Going up into the plane he grabbed Halo’s outstretched hand and he pulled himself in. He looked to her, “Halo, better get your phone there it its bag.” He pointed at it bulging out in her pocket, and then continued, “Please listen. If you can grab one of the bags up front from the galley, I’ll come up for the heavier one.” She nodded.

  “Captain, time to go sir!” Xander said as he hurriedly hauled him up to his feet.

  Charlie groaned in pain, “You have five, maybe ten minutes at the very most. You need to move.” He managed to grunt out.

  “Got it. I’m handing you down to Pete. He will take you to the raft. I’ll get another one going and get Halo in it.” The Captain nodded.

  Xander watched as Pete got the Captain in the raft then he ran back towards Halo, she was pointing at the defibrillator strapped to the seat next to Jorgen, “It’s red… I didn’t know if I should push the button.”

  Xander checked the big man’s pulse and shook his head at Halo, “It’s better this way.”

  Halo tore her eyes from Jorgen and looked to Xander, “I got another bag filled courtesy of Joel. I’ll take this bag, you get the others… Oh hell!” She yelled, and looked at Xander, “I remember!”

  Xander stopped cold as he hefted the bags and stared at her expecting the worst, “Yes?”

  “My Satellite phone is in my suitcase!”

  Xander sighed with relief, “Drop the bag, I got them. Go get it and hurry!” He hurried behind her, his hands full.

  Xander maneuvered the other raft out of the plane and saw that Pete was in the second raft sitting next to David and holding his hand. He shot Xander a sorry look and shrugged. Xander stood there for a second and gave both men a nod, “You better get clear!” He yelled out and David and Pete began paddling away as Xander cut the line free.

  He looked up to see where Joel went to and saw him already far off in the distance, “Co
ward…” he muttered.

  Xander got the raft out into the water behind the wing and it popped open with a tug from the line. He jumped up into the plane and secured the raft’s line. Grabbing the bag, he noticed his own carryon as well as Halo’s and grabbed those too then walked out carefully onto the wet wing and wobbled his way over and deposited the bags in the bobbing raft.

  Running back into the plane he noted that the front of the plane was definitely at a decline, “HALO! Let’s move it!” He yelled back to her and took the last of the bags to the raft.

  “Here, I saw your name on it! I figured you might need a change… you are all wet! Hurry the plane is tilting down!”

  Xander ran out to the raft and tossed his suitcase in and took Halo’s then helped her down from the exit, “It’s really slippery! Don’t fall in!”

  “You can count on that!” She panted as they made their across the wing towards the raft.

  “OH SHIT!” Xander cried out as they heard a cracking sound then a deep burp erupted from under the plane.

  The plane suddenly pitched forward knocking them off balance, Halo screamed in panic and he reached out for her in desperation. Before he could grab a hold of her she fell flat on her tummy then began sliding rapidly backwards down towards the sea. Xander heaved her suitcase towards the raft and watched in horror as she tried to stop her slide into the sea with her hands scrabbling at the slick aluminum skin of the wing, all the while screaming for him.