FLY

Jett walks up to the address, confused about where he is going, and goes to a door. He rechecks the address, then walks through the front door. An employee is taping a flyer for The White Mountain Freestyle Tunnel Jam competition. Jett walks up the stairs and enters a new world. People are everywhere wearing jumpsuits or skin-tight outfits and carrying helmets. Music is thumping in the background. Out of nowhere, a roaring sound builds behind him. He turns around to a crowd of people crossing his line of sight, back and forth, until there is a break in the crowd. Jett sees a giant glass tube, lit and filled with people, with music playing. Then, through the tunnel entrance, is a woman in an all-white bodysuit and what appears to be a white motorcycle helmet. She takes one exaggerated step into the flight chamber, never touching the ground, and with no effort—like stepping onto an invisible stair—pushes herself higher into the tube, where she continues a beautifully choreographed routine to music while defying gravity. Jett's jaw drops. This is the very first time he has seen anything like this. All he can say is, “What in the…?” Slowly, he walks up to the flight chamber, mesmerized by the angel floating inside it. She enters a Buddha position, effortlessly hovering in the center of the chamber, staring directly at Jett with piercing blue eyes as if she’s smiling beneath the face shield. She flows into an epic, graceful routine, drawing gasps and cheers from the crowd. When the routine ends, she makes a stunning backward exit through the tunnel door. The crowd goes wild. Jett can’t stop tracking her with his eyes, desperate to see who this flyer really is. When the helmet finally comes off, his heart jumps—it's Skyler, the girl who invited him here. Blown away, he approaches her. “Well, you know how to make an entrance. I’ll give you that. I thought you were a private pilot or something, but… not this.” Skyler blushes. “So… did you like the show?” “Uh, yeah! That was by far the coolest thing I’ve ever seen. Why have I never seen this on TV or even heard of this before?” “Indoor skydiving is one of the biggest sports in Europe,” Skyler explains. “It’s just taken a little longer for America to catch on. My friends and I want to change that. We hope to make it to the Wind Games in Spain next year.” “The Wind Games?” he asks. “It’s our version of the Olympics. Only the best flyers in the world compete.” Jett is hooked. “So… how do you do this?” “It takes a lot of practice, a powerful fan, and lots of time in the chamber. Want to give it a go? My treat.” Jett looks terrified. But this is technically a date—and he refuses to chicken out. “Sure… why not?” “Great! Let’s get you suited up and started with basic training.” Jett freezes. “Wait… what? Basic training?” “You’ll be okay,” Skyler assures him with a confident smile. She has him lie on a rolling board. “This is what we call a boogie board. We use it to practice moves on the ground before we go into the chamber.” For the next hour, she teaches him the fundamentals. Several times, Jett forgets everything he’s learning because he keeps getting lost in her eyes. “How long until someone is ready to fly?” he asks. “About an hour,” Skyler says with a teasing grin. “Which means… you're ready.” A moment later, Jett is in a jumpsuit and goggles, heart pounding as he stands at the chamber door. Skyler is already inside with her hand outstretched. He leans forward into a bed of air. Skyler guides him gently, stabilizing him as he floats. She spins him, then takes him up higher. Their eyes lock. Jett has never felt anything like this. He starts laughing—really laughing—for the first time in a long time. Later, the two stand outside the iFly, saying goodbyes. “This was by far the most incredible date I’ve ever been on,” Jett says. Skyler corrects him: “I’d say more like an introduction.” “Well, whatever you want to call it… thanks.” “Meet me here tomorrow after school and we'll go from there.” “It’s a date!” “It’s not a date.” “Right… yeah… okay.” As Jett walks away—almost knocking over a bicycle—Skyler calls out, “Jett.” He freezes. “Yes?” With a smile: “Welcome to the Mountain.”