– Now, one minute! I'm almost done! – I exclaimed in frustration and continued typing the message.
– Please, give me the phone and I'll put it in the right mode myself! – The stewardess said insistently and held out her palm to me.
Panic gripped me and I pressed the phone to my chest.
– Understand, I'm not joking! Your phone can cause interference with the instruments! – said the stewardess in a serious tone.
I looked around and found that the neighbours closest to my seat were looking at me with displeased and even contemptuous glances. I felt terribly embarrassed, but, hell, I couldn't give up! I had to write to Cedric and wait for his reply!
A feeling of hopelessness swept over me, but I obediently put my phone in the right mode.
– I can use it later, right? – I asked quietly, losing hope for a happy ending to my flight.
– Yes, of course, but only when we arrive at the Brazilian airport," the stewardess answered me sternly and stepped away from me.
Tears came to my eyes – I was on the verge of hysterics. Putting my phone in my backpack, I squeezed the armrests again and leaned back in my seat. My mind whirled feverishly, and I strained my ingenuity and my mind to find a way out of the situation.
My pulse pounded in my temples, hitting them like a hammer. I was well aware that I needed to control myself, but the fear was stronger than me.
Suddenly, my vampire neighbour placed his icy white palm on mine. I flinched in surprise and fear and glanced up at him automatically – he was smiling a soft welcoming smile.
– I'm sorry I scared you," the vampire said in an apologetic tone. – I just wanted to see how you were feeling.
I tried to fight the shaking rabbit, because I realised that if I didn't answer the vampire, if I kept shaking and acting like a victim, it wouldn't help me and would only make him suspicious.
– It's all the excitement… I'm just terrified of flying… I get this way every time," I said curtly, praying my voice wasn't shaking.
– Do you have any pills to take away the anxiety? – the vampire asked.
– Yes, I always carry them with me… But I forgot them at home… In my red bag… I was in a hurry to catch a plane and forgot," I whispered.
The vampire smiled understandingly, opened a large newspaper and began to read it. His face disappeared behind the paper, which brought me a welcome relief.