But this was different with Maddie, this was a game and he didn’t know the rules

Maddie sat at the plane window with her bag under the seat in front. Finn offered to throw it into the overhead locker with his rucksack but she shook her head. There was something about her Finn couldn’t fathom, her mood could be thrown between sunshine and darkness in a few moments.

A minute ago she’d giggled with him about the hole in the back of Charlotte’s tights, but now she stared out the window at the wisps of fog feathering the plane’s wings. Finn sat in the seat next to her. “Nervous flyer?”

“Sometimes.”

He put his hand on hers. “I’ll take care of you.” He made a goofy face, tried to undermine his cheesy line again, but Maddie didn’t go along with it this time. “You’re a sweet boy.”

“I’m 21 years old. Exactly.”

He play-punched her arm. “I’m a man.” She punched him back. “Ug, me big man, get woman.” “Is that what you think I’m trying to do?”

She laughed. “We both know what’s going on.” Finn shook his head. “I don’t.” “Yes, you do.”

Engine noise flooded the cabin, overhead lights flickering for a moment. Charlotte pulled the collapsible steps up from the doorway into the cabin and folded them away behind her seat, then sealed the hatch. A voice came over the intercom but the only thing Finn made out over the propeller noise was “17,000 feet”.

Charlotte stood at the front of the plane doing the actions, emergency exits here and here, oxygen masks and life jackets.

“What are your plans when we land?” he said to Maddie. “I might just hop on another plane.” “You really are escaping.”

“You have no idea.”

“Then tell me.” She touched his hand on the armrest. “Maybe when I get to know you better.” “So you do want to get to know me better.” “Can you say anything without it sounding like a come-on?”

“I can’t help it, I’m half drunk on a plane with a mysterious, beautiful woman.” “Mysterious,” Maddie said. “I like that.” “Don’t forget beautiful.”

Maddie smiled. “‘What are your plans when we hit Edinburgh?” “Train to Dundee.” “You don’t look too happy about it.” “Let’s talk about something else.” “I’m not the only one who’s mysterious.”

She looked out the window again. Finn was sure there was something here. He’d always been a serial monogamist, devoting himself to a girl then, when it ended, falling straight into another relationship.

But this was different with Maddie, this was a game and he didn’t know the rules. Smoke and mirrors, innuendo and suggestion. He wasn’t sure of anything.

And then there was Amy. He’d never been unfaithful before, yet here he was with someone else, hardly giving Amy a thought. But there was no excitement back home, it was comfortable and boring for both of them.

They were only together because of inertia, because neither of them had the courage to admit they were sleepwalking through it. He’d needed someone reliable after his mum died, a rock to be anchored to, and Amy had been that.

Charlotte walked down the cabin checking seatbelts. She looked put out that she had to walk to the back to check on Finn and Maddie, but she didn’t say anything. Maddie was still gazing out the window, her hand fiddling with the pendant at her throat.

Finn glanced past her. “Is the fog getting worse again?” He had to raise his voice over the propeller noise shuddering the plane. “Do you really make jewellery?” she said. “Yeah.”’

“Will you make something for me?”

“I’d love to.”

“Not a freebie, I can pay.” Finn shook his head. “It would be an honour to create something for such a beautiful neck.” Maddie mimed sticking her fingers down her throat. “You don’t have much experience with women, do you?”

“This is my tactic – make an ass of myself then take the p*** out of myself for it.”

“Don’t, you sound like all the rest.”

“Who?”

“Players,” Maddie said. “Guys who think they’re it. Pulling techniques and strategies, targeting women with low self-esteem, conquering the opposite sex.” “I’m not like that.”

“Good.”

The plane taxied across the airfield, engines racing. One of the oil workers unbuckled and headed for the toilet but Charlotte made him get back in his seat. His mates laughed as he squirmed.

Finn felt a buzz and pulled his phone out of his pocket. Amy again. He sucked on the tip of his tongue and stared at her name on the screen. There was a feature on his phone where you could add a picture to incoming calls, but he’d never got round to it. Maybe if Amy’s face had popped up he would’ve felt worse about what he was doing. Thinking of doing. He pressed cancel.

“Should be on airplane mode,” Maddie said. “Have you ever heard of a plane crashing because someone kept a phone on?”

“And you’re the expert.” “Fair enough.”

“Give it here, while you’ve got it out,” she said, taking the phone from him. She got her own phone out and punched his number into her contacts. Finn smiled. “Why do you want my number?” She handed it back. “You never know.”

The plane turned and stopped at the end of the runway. Finn knew from previous flights that they were next to the sea now, but he couldn’t see anything in the haar.

The engines roared and he felt the thrust of the plane as it began take-off. Maddie’s hand found his and squeezed at his knuckle. He placed his other hand on top but the look in her eyes wasn’t afraid, just relieved to be going.

The rumble of the wheels on tarmac grew louder then stopped as the plane lifted into the air, beads of wet fog flung from the wing, smearing across the window like tears. The cabin juddered and rolled as a crosswind hit and Finn saw the wing bend. The flexibility of aeroplanes always amazed him, giant metal constructions that submitted to the elements, moved with the weather, allowing them to slip through unmolested.

They were pushed back in their seats now, the cabin at a steep angle as the pilot climbed to get above the fog. Finn imagined being in the cockpit in this weather, flying blind, just the radar and a voice from the tower to reassure you that there was nothing looming in the darkness.

More tomorrow.