chapter 2

Chapter 2: The Jump

"Hope Everett," Coach Sanders voice boomed and his slightly wrinkly face seemed to crease even more.

I winced at the icy look he was throwing at me, "Coach, I can explain."

"Explain? I don't want to hear your excuses kid, you're already 30 minutes late and everyone is ready except for you. So get to that plane, now!" He whipped out his arm, pointing furiously towards the plane on the tarmac. 

Nodding, I rushed head hanging low to the equipment room where all the helmets, suits and parachute bags were stored. In less than a minute, I was up and ready, suit on and helmet in hand. I smiled satisfactorily as I checked if I double checked my equipments. Always have a second parachute, just in case. Coach Sanders words seemed to echo in my head and I snatched a second parachute- better be safe than sorry. 

I checked my watch. Nevermind the elevator, I was taking the stairs. When I arrived, the only familiar faces were those of Coach Sanders and Emma, one of the many mentors. 

Emma smiled, "Hey, Ho-"

"Hope, please sit while I do a last briefing," cut off Coach Sanders- he really seemed to be in a foul mood today. I saw the two boys who had entered the building but not the little girl. They were obviously brothers with both of them sharing the same light brown hair and honey tan except for the eye colour. The smaller one had bright blue eyes while the older ones' were a beautiful shade of brown. I found it pretty cute that two brothers were jumping together.

🎶Para- para- paradise every time she closed her eyes-

I instinctively patted my pocket but soon realised that my phone wasn't the one ringing. The older boy stood up suddenly, eyes wide and glanced at his phone. "Just a minute, sir," he apologised to Coach Sanders and took the call. 

I was stunned. Not because he had dared to take a call in front of Coach but because he listened to Coldplay. I suddenly felt a profound respect for this boy whom I didn't know. The type of music you listened to usually revealed a bit of your personality so I was convinced that this guy must be good. Fine, to suddenly deduce that from a song was a bit over the top but whatever, I had no idea that it would be so refreshing to meet someone who listened to the same genre of music.

For instance, Tina and I rarely found songs that we both enjoyed and the only mutual singer we liked was Shawn Mendes. She was so hung up over Doja Cat who - don't get me wrong - is a good singer but not my kind of vibe. 

I stared at his retreating back. He was tall, lean and had wide shoulders. His call ended and he ran back, face grim and eyebrows furrowed. 

"I-I'm sorry, I have to go, it's urgent," He rushed and his eyes riveted on his brother, "Aiden, you stay here." 

"But Dylan-" Aiden stood up alarmed while Coach Sanders started to protest.

"-No buts. You stay here," he ordered with a surprising amount of authority and this time, everyone fell silent. Aiden glowered at his brother angrily and slowly sat back in his chair. Dylan gave one last apologetic look to everyone, removed his parachute bag, gave it to Aiden and sprinted out without looking back. For a whole minute, nobody talked, all lost in their own thoughts. 

What could have been so serious on that phone call for Dylan to just up and go so abruptly? 

"Alright," Emma finally broke the heavy silence and I shook all negative thoughts out of my head. I was going to jump, soon. "Aiden, this is your first time alone, right?"

Aiden nodded grimly- he didn't seem so sure now that his older brother was gone. 

"I know you're just 16 but if it can reassure you, Hope right there also did her first jump alone at your age. If you don't want to do it, we won't force you, you can come back another time," Emma suggested sweetly, she had a talent for comforting newbies. Convinced, Aiden tightened the straps of Dylan's backpack on his shoulder, 

"I'm ready." 

Coach hauled himself in the pilot's seat and bellowed, "Time for take-off." The mini plane's engine roared to life and we couldn't hear ourselves anymore. A rush of adrenaline filled me and I couldn't help quivering with excitement. We all climbed in the passenger seats, strapping our seat belts on quickly. The propeller whirled faster and faster and the sound was absolutely terrific. 

Aiden turned to me, looking totally panicked, and I bit down a laugh, "Everything's going to be okay, we're going to jump together, alright?" He nodded like a little puppy, "Don't go too far, please ma'am."

My jaw dropped, "I'm not a ma'am! I'm just two years older than you," I exclaimed indignantly. 

"Sorry, sorry," he mumbled and glanced at my blue backpack, "Your bag is so cool, I didn't see a blue bag in the changing room so Dylan took the green one," he frowned. I glanced quizzically at his bright green backpack, "How come? I know there were about three blue ones when I entered." I remembered seeing some blue bags hanging at the back.

"Blue is my favourite colour," he sighed, gesturing to his blue shirt. 

"Mine's green," I grinned at the coincidence behind it all, "Do you want to exchange?" I thought it might comfort him more if we did. 

"Really?" He lit up, smiling enthusiastically.

"Yeah, plus all backpacks have the exact same devices packed into them," I nodded, removed the bag and handed it to him. 

Emma, who was sitting a meter away, shook her head, "You both checked the contents already, right? You're going to be jumping soon. We're already at 10 000 feet." 

We nodded simultaneously, verified that we both had parachutes and activation devices, switched bags and clicked them back on. It took me a few seconds to realise that the parachute in his green backpack looked actually different from mine. Whatever, it was probably my imagination- the kid looked so happy to have a blue bag on his back. 

"Alright, put your helmets or goggles on," Emma called out. I jumped out of my seat, shaking the odd feeling away, and stuffed on the helmet. Adrenaline was at its maximum and my heart thumped harder. "Hold onto the bar!" She screamed, pressed the red button and the door flew open. 

The pressure was huge. I felt like I was being sucked out of the aircraft, wind lashed out on every side and I clutched the bar tighter. No matter how many times I did this, I felt the same. Happy. There was nothing else to describe this emotion.  

"3...2...JUMP!" 

"Wait, why are we jumping at 2-" Emma pushed Aiden, "-AAHH-" and he fell out screaming wildly. I laughed, this always happened to newbies. 

I shouted at Emma, the wind cutting my breath short, "See you down there!"