I nearly pee my jumpsuit when I see a sign that says Maximum Capacity: Four People. I’ve never been the best at math, but even I know that six people is more than four.
“Excuse me,” I say as I tap the pilot on the shoulder.
He pulls down his headphones (not a headset like a normal pilot would wear, but headphones to listen to music) and glances over his shoulder at me. “What?”
“It says there should only be four people in here at a time.”
“That’s just a safety precaution.”
“Yeah, I know,” I say in disbelief. “Shouldn’t we be following it?”
He shrugs and puts his headphones back on. I can hear Metallica blasting out of them.
Five minutes into the flight, I’ve made the decision that I’m not jumping. I’m staying right here, clinging onto the back of the pilot’s seat.
My friends can jump out if they want. They can say whatever they like. I’ll probably be known as Pussy Ivy for the rest of my life, but I don’t care. I’m not moving my ass from this spot.
After a while, the pilot yanks his headphones back down. “All right, ladies! The drop zone is just below us. Exit the plane, yank the cord, and enjoy your ride down.”
I clear my throat to make my big announcement. “Actually, I—oh shit!!”
Wendy opens the door and fierce wind slams into us. It’s so terrifyingly loud.
My knuckles are white as I clench onto the seat. All I can see are clouds. I want to cry. I want to go home.
“No!” I scream as Wendy scoots over to the open door. “Wendy don’t!!”
It’s too late. She disappears.
My heart is hammering inside of my chest as I watch Lindsay and Miley disappear one at a time.
“You’re next!” Kindrie screams in my face over the roaring of the wind. “Go!”
“I changed my mind!” I scream back. “I’m not jumping!”
“You have to!”
“No, I don’t!”
Kindrie pulls out her flask again. “Take a sip of this it will calm you down.”
The only thing that will calm me down is an IV full of Xanax. Taken on the ground.
“I’m not going!” I shout at her. “Go without me!”
“We’re near the end of the drop zone,” the pilot shouts. “Out of my plane, ladies!”
“You’re seriously not coming?” Kindrie says with a disappointed look on her face.
I shake my head.
“Fine,” she grunts. She puts the flask back into her pocket and scoots toward the door.
And just like that… my best friend of twelve years disappears… probably falling to her death.
I sit there, clinging onto the seat as the plane goes.
“What are you doing?” the pilot shouts at me. “Leave!”
“I’m not jumping,” I shout back.
“What are you talking about? This is a one-way trip.”
“I’m staying in the plane. I’ll wait for them back at the office.”
“I’m going to my girlfriend’s house,” he shouts. “I’m not going back so get out!”
Oh fuck… We’re so high…
My pulse is racing. I’m practically hyperventilating every time I glance at the open door.
“I can’t!” I shout as tears start streaming down my cheeks. “I physically can’t let go.”
He jerks the plane to the side and I scream as my legs slide toward the open door. “Don’t do that!”
“Get out of my fucking plane!” he shouts as he jerks the plane again.
I scream as my body whips around. I’m holding on so tightly to the seat, but my sweaty palms are starting to slip. I don’t know how much longer I can last, especially if he keeps flying like a complete asshole!
“Jump!” he shouts. “Now!”
We’re so far past the drop zone by now. We must be somewhere in California at this point.
“I can’t! Please don’t make me!”
“Stop being a pussy!”
He suddenly banks the airplane, turning in a tight circle. We’re practically sideways. My body is hanging straight down over the open door. If I let go, I’ll slide right out.
“You’re a monster!” I scream as my left hand slips off.
Oh God… I’m hanging by one arm now. I’m toast.
I’m only twenty years old. I can’t die like this…
He stays in the tight turn. Gravity gets the best of me and I fall.
I scream as I tumble, but I manage to grab onto the doorway before I fly out.
We can see each other better now. The look on his face is pure disdain as he glares at me.
“Let go!”
“I can’t! Where is the drop zone? What kind of horrible company is this?”
Instead of answering my very valid questions, he starts grabbing garbage laying around the front, and throwing it at me.
I get hit with crumpled-up papers, an empty water bottle, a packet of tissues, but it’s the McDonald’s cup in the forehead that finally makes me let go.
“Fuuuuucccccckkkkk yyyooooouuuuuu!!!” I scream as I free fall.
I spot the tiny plane in the sky as I flip, flop, and flail on the way down. It’s so much quieter out here. The wind isn’t roaring in my ears anymore. It’s just whizzing by me as I plummet to the earth.