missed flight home | 1k cabo celebration, found family au ⋆⭒˚.⋆
⋆⭒˚.⋆ cabo 1k celebration masterlist!
⋆⭒˚.⋆ cabo 1k celebration info!
summary: in which an airline mistake leaves y/n stranded in cabo alone, sending everyone, particularly garrett in to a panic.
notes: hi! this is the second last request for my 1k cabo celebration!! i fear this story is in very typical fashion for y/n...oops! i hope you're all well and enjoy! <3 💌 🤍
the airport feels colder than it should after two weeks in cabo. everything is too bright, too polished.
the floors shine beneath the overhead lights, the air-conditioning catches against the sunburn still lingering over your shoulders, and every few seconds another suitcase wheel rattles harshly over the joins in the tiles.
the girls are quieter than they had been on the way here.
not sad exactly, just tired in that strange, heavy way that comes after a holiday has ended before anyone has properly accepted it.
allie is walking beside dean with one hand looped through the back of his shirt, letting him pull her through the crowd without having to pay any attention to where she is going.
grace is leaning against logan whenever the line stops moving, her head dropping briefly against his shoulder before she remembers they need to move again.
sabrina and tucker are sharing a packet of chips they bought for far too much money from one of the airport shops.
garrett is beside you, close enough that his arm brushes yours every few steps. he's been close since you left the resort that morning, not clingy necessarily, just always somewhere within reach.
his hand at the base of your back while you move through security, his fingers close around the handle of your suitcase before you have a chance to take it yourself, his knee pressed against yours in the uber on the way to the airport.
the two of you had barely been apart since he surprised you on the beach. after almost two weeks of missing each other through a screen, neither of you seemed particularly interested in starting now.
you look up at him. his cap is pulled low over his forehead, hair still damp from the shower he had rushed through this morning.
he watches you for a second longer, clearly catching your lie.
your stomach had felt off since breakfast. not painful exactly, just an uncomfortable, persistent rolling that ebbed and returned every so often, never quite settling but never becoming anything more, either.
you had blamed it on the early start, then the heat, then the coffee you had drunk too quickly while trying to finish packing.
garrett reaches down, taking your hand. his thumb presses lightly over your knuckles. “you sure?”
you nod. “i think i’m just ready to be home.”
something in his expression softens. “yeah?”
his tone turns slightly teasing as a small smirk graces his features. "i thought you loved cabo.”
“you’ve spent the last week trying to convince everyone to move here.”
“that was before i had to pack.”
his mouth pulls at one corner. “tragic.”
“you don’t understand what i’ve been through.”
“y/n. i carried both suitcases downstairs.”
he laughs quietly, the sound settling something in you. for a moment, the nausea fades enough that you almost forget about it, almost.
by the time you reach the gate, it's returned. you lower yourself carefully into the seat beside garrett, setting your bag between your feet.
the boys are spread across the row opposite. dean now has allie’s passport tucked into the front pocket of his bag after the prank you all had decided to pull, logan is checking the departure board every few minutes despite the flight still being listed as on time, and tucker has his hood pulled up, eyes closed, while sabrina is beside him, scrolling through photos from the trip.
it feels strangely domestic.
all eight of you exhausted, sun-warmed and folded into one another beneath the harsh airport lights.
garrett drops his arm across the back of your chair and you lean into him instinctively. his hand settles over your shoulder, fingers brushing lazily against your skin.
another shake, he glances down at you. “y/n. you should really eat something, it's probably why you feel so nauseous.”
“you pushed eggs around a plate.”
you close your eyes, resting your temple against his shoulder. “i’ll eat on the plane.” he doesn't argue. not because he agrees with you, but because he knows when pushing will only make you more stubborn.
he presses his mouth briefly to the top of your head, laying on a soft kiss.
the first boarding announcement comes twenty minutes later. families with young children, passengers requiring additional assistance, then priority boarding.
the gate area shifts around you, people gathering their belongings, checking passports, moving closer even though their groups have yet to be called.
allie wakes fully at the sound of the announcement. “is it too late to stay?”
“you didn’t even think about it.”
“because we have classes.”
“they're certainly not optional.”
dean looks towards garrett for back up. “g?”
dean shakes his head in disbelief, “coward.”
you smile in response, before you can laugh, another wave of nausea rolls through you. your hand instinctively closes around the edge of the seat. garrett feels it immediately, his arm dropping from behind you.
you breathe slowly through your nose. “i’m okay.”
“i just need the bathroom.”
he starts to stand with you. “i’ll come.”
you rest a hand against his chest, stopping him before he can fully rise. “stay here. they’re boarding.”
“i’m not making you stand outside the bathroom because my stomach feels weird.”
his jaw tightens slightly. “your stomach feels weird?”
“you don’t usually get travel sickness.”
“maybe i’m developing it.”
you lean down, pressing a quick kiss to his mouth. it stops him more effectively than anything else would have. “i’ll be five minutes.”
his hand catches lightly around your wrist before you move away. “take your phone.”
you pull it from your pocket, showing him. the battery symbol is red, five percent.
“and your boarding pass.”
you lift that too, he looks entirely unconvinced.
“do not board without me.”
his expression changes, only slightly. “of course not.”
the bathrooms are further away than you remember. past two gift shops, a café crowded with passengers, and another gate that has somehow managed to form a line across the walkway.
you make it halfway before the nausea rises quickly, forcing you to stop. your palm presses against the nearest wall, you lower your head, forcing yourself to breathe in and out.
the airport keeps moving around you. people step past with rolling suitcases, someone laughs behind you, a child cries somewhere near the café.
you look up. an airline employee is standing a few feet away, a lanyard hanging against her uniform, concern clearly gracing her features.
“yeah.” the answer comes automatically.
she looks at your hand still braced against the wall, then back at you. “are you sure? you don’t look alright.”
you manage a small, embarrassed smile. “i think i’m just a little sick.”
“are you travelling alone?”
“no. my friends are at the gate.”
you point vaguely behind you. “boston.”
her expression shifts into immediate recognition, “they’ve started boarding.”
“i know. i was just quickly going to the bathroom.”
another cramp moves through your stomach. your face must change because she steps closer immediately. “come sit down.”
“you can be okay sitting down.”
there is something so calm about the way she says it that you don't argue. she guides you towards a small staff area tucked behind the customer service desk.
there's two plastic chairs, a small table and a water dispenser that makes a loud bubbling sound as she fills a paper cup. “here. drink some of this.”
you hesitate, she gives you a knowing look.
another employee appears a minute later with crackers, then another with a cold bottle of water. they ask whether you have a fever, whether you have been sick, whether you think it could be food poisoning.
you answer each question while repeatedly glancing at the time on the screen above the desk.
“give it another minute.”
you believe her because she works here, because she says it confidently, because garrett promised they wouldn't board without you.
you reach for your phone, however the screen remains black. you press the button again, nothing.
“is it dead?” the woman asks.
“we’ll find you a charger.”
“it’s okay. i just need to get back to my friends.”
you stand carefully. your legs feel steadier, your stomach still hurts, but the worst of it seems to have passed.
“see?” you say softly. “i’m okay.”
the woman smiles warmly, shaking her head in disbelief. “has anyone ever told you you're quite stubborn?”
“maybe" you offer, sending her a small smile in response.
she walks with you towards the gate, speaking into the radio clipped near her shoulder. you can see the boarding desk from the end of the corridor.
the line is gone, the seats are almost empty, you quicken your pace, the woman beside you doing the same. “hold the gate” she says into the radio.
a crackled response comes back too quietly for you to hear. the gate agent is already reaching for your boarding pass when you arrive.
“sorry” you breathe. “i felt unwell.”
she scans it, the machine flashes red. she tries again, another sharp beep, red.
her brows furrow in confusion. “one second ma'am.”
you glance towards the closed doors behind her. “is everything okay?”
“the pass isn’t validating.”
the woman who helped you steps closer. “she was with medical.”
“did they flag the booking?”
the gate agent types quickly.
your flight number disappears and reappears on the screen, then she stops, the silence around the desk changes, not dramatic, just enough that your chest tightens.
she looks up. “the system has removed you from the passenger list.”
you stare at her, eyes blank with confusion. “removed me?”
“when medical assistance was logged, it appears your ticket was marked for review. it shouldn’t have cancelled boarding, but-”
“my boyfriend is on that plane, my friends too i-”
“they said they wouldn’t leave without me.” the words come out smaller than you intend, the gate agent glances at the door.
"are you sure there's nothing that can be done?”
“the aircraft has pushed back.”
you turn automatically towards the window, watching the plane move away from the terminal. you stand there holding a useless boarding pass while the airport continues around you as though nothing has happened.
you nod quickly. “i know their numbers.”
the woman slides the desk phone towards you. your fingers shake as you key in garrett's number from memory.
it rings, once, twice, before going to voicemail.
“again, please” you whisper.
she redials the same number, yet it goes straight to voicemail, again.
your stomach drops. “he's on the plane.”
“he may already have his phone on airplane mode” the gate agent says gently. “once they're seated, passengers are instructed to.”
you swallow hard. “is it okay if we try someone else?"
each call ends exactly the same.
the woman slowly lowers the receiver. “if they're all travelling together, their phones have probably all been switched over to airplane mode by now.”
your eyes drift towards the window, just in time to see the aircraft beginning to move. the woman reaches out, resting a gentle hand between your shoulders.
“we're going to fix this.”
you nod because there is nothing else you can do. “okay.”
back on the plane, garrett is still standing in the aisle. the flight attendant has asked him to sit twice, he has ignored her twice.
“sir, we need to close the doors.”
“the gate has confirmed all boarded passengers.”
the flight attendant’s expression softens, but not enough. “then she's not cleared for this flight.”
garrett stares at her, his eyes completely blank. “what do you mean not cleared for the flight? she just went to the bathroom.”
dean is standing now too. “she has her boarding pass with her.”
allie is already calling you again, yet it goes straight to voicemail. “maybe her phone died.”
“she had five percent remaining on it though” garrett says, his voice now flat.
logan looks towards the front of the cabin. “can we get off?”
the flight attendant shakes her head. “the doors are closing.”
dean's eyebrows furrow. “then open them again.”
“dean” tucker says quietly, in warning. not because he disagrees, but because dean’s voice is starting to carry and passengers around them are turning to look.
garrett’s hand tightens around the top of the seat. “can you please page for her?"
“the gate has already made multiple announcements.”
“garrett” allie whispers, her face losing all colour. “she would have heard them.”
nobody answers, that's the part that most frightens him. you would have heard, you would have come back, you had promised you would only be five minutes.
the flight attendant gestures towards his seat. “we need you to sit down now.”
garrett doesn't move. for one irrational second, he thinks about pushing past her, forcing the door open and getting off the plane whether they allow it or not.
then the aircraft shifts beneath his feet, slowly, definitively, moving away from the gate.
“garrett.” dean’s voice is quieter now, closer. “sit down.”
he finally does, but not because he wants to, only because there is nothing else he can do.
the seat beside him is empty. your bag is still beneath his chair, your cardigan folded over the armrest, water bottle in the seat pocket.
everything you own is here except you.
garrett picks up your cardigan, holding it across his lap. his hand stays closed around the fabric for most of the flight. by the time they land, everyone has exhausted every possibility they can think of.
dean has spoken to three flight attendants, logan has written down the numbers for the airline, airport security and the terminal’s customer service desk.
tucker has found the next available flight back to mexico, allie has left you enough voicemails that her voice has gone hoarse, grace keeps checking your location even though it hasn't updated since the airport, and sabrina's leg has been nonstop bouncing since takeoff, only slowing when the wheels had touched the runway.
garrett has barely spoken. the second they're allowed to use their phones he calls you again, it goes straight to voicemail.
his screen begins to fill with notifications. there's one missed call.
an unfamiliar mexican number. his heart lurches, eyes widening with anticipation. "dean."
dean looks over immediately. "what?"
"i think she may have called me."
everyone stops walking, garrett stares at his screen.
without hesitating, he presses call. it rings, once, twice, three times. to his dismay however, nobody answers.
he hangs up, immediately calling again, yet there's still nothing, still no response.
"come on, baby." he mutters.
his jaw tightens in frustration.
"she borrowed someone's phone then" dean says quietly.
garrett nods once. “we’re going back.”
dean glances at him. “i know.”
“i’m not waiting until tomorrow.”
they move through the airport quickly, not talking, not stopping.
allie stays close enough to dean that their shoulders knock together with every few steps, logan has one hand around grace’s, while tucker keeps glancing back at sabrina, making sure she's keeping up. garrett walks ahead, your cardigan tied comfortably around his waist.
they reach arrivals before the airline finally answers dean’s call, stopping so suddenly allie nearly walks into him.
“yes” he says. “yes, we’re looking for a passenger who missed the flight from cabo.”
garrett turns, everyone does.
dean listens, his expression shifting slowly from tension, to disbelief, to something close to relief.
garrett takes the phone from him. “hello?”
the woman on the other end repeats herself.
your booking has been transferred, you're safe, you were just placed on the next available flight.
the airline apologises for the system error.
garrett closes his eyes, free hand bracing against his hip. “can i please speak to her?”
a pause, then an apologetic explanation. you're already boarding, your phone has not charged properly, they cannot bring you back to the desk.
his voice is rough. “no. thank you. i really appreciate it."
he ends the call, nobody speaks for a moment.
allie steps closer. “she’s okay?”
garrett nods, exhaling a sigh of relief. “she’s okay.”
the words loosen something in all of them at once.
grace covers her face, sabrina exhales sharply, one hand pressing to her chest, logan closes his eyes. dean looks down at the floor, muttering something under his breath that sounds very much like thank god.
“when does she land?” tucker asks.
garrett looks towards arrivals.
it feels both unbearable and completely insignificant now that he knows you're coming back.
you spend most of the flight asleep. your new seat reclines further than the one you had before, the blanket is softer, and someone brings you ginger tea without you asking.
the airline worker at the gate had upgraded you after apologising so many times you eventually started apologising back. she had given you a small tote bag with snacks, a travel pillow and a packet of cookies she insisted were the best in the staff room.
by the time the plane lands, your phone has charged to twelve percent, using a cable borrowed from the man across the aisle.
you turn it on, the notifications arrive all at once.
missed calls, voicemails, messages. so many messages that your phone freezes, clearly overwhelmed.
baby 🤍
we’re on the plane. they won’t let us off
baby 🤍
please tell me you’re okay
the last one was sent hours ago.
baby 🤍
i know you’re safe now, we’re waiting for you
you stare at the screen until the words blur.
the airport staff had told you they had contacted your friends. you had known they would be worried, however you hadn't quite anticipated how worried.
you type with unsteady fingers.
the reply comes before you can lock your phone.
three dots appear, disappear, before appearing again.
you barely notice the line through immigration, or baggage claim, or the ache in your shoulder from carrying the airline tote. you follow the signs towards arrivals, heart beating harder with every automatic door.
garrett is standing directly in front of them, not leaning against the barrier, not sitting, standing, waiting.
his hair is messier than it had been that morning, his eyes look tired, his jaw is tight enough that you can see the muscle shifting from halfway across the room.
you stop, so does he. for one second, neither of you move.
until garrett crosses the space between you. your tote slips down your shoulder as his arms close around you, the force of it knocking a breath from your lungs.
his hand presses flat against the back of your head, while the other wraps around your waist, pulling you so tightly against him that there is no space left between you.
you drop your bag as your arms go around his neck. “i’m so sorry.”
he shakes his head immediately, face pressing into your hair. “don’t be, y/n.”
“don’t apologise.” his voice breaks slightly on the last word, so quietly you almost miss it.
your chest aches, as you turn your face into his shoulder. “i didn’t know they couldn’t reach me.”
“they took me to medical and then my boarding pass didn’t work and my phone died and-”
his arms tighten, not enough to hurt, just enough that you understand.
he had not known where you were, he had been taken thousands of kilometres away from you without being able to stop it, he had spent the entire flight with your empty seat beside him.
you close your eyes. “i’m sorry you were scared.”
garrett goes still, then his mouth presses against your temple, once, twice.
“i thought you were alone.”
you pull back enough to see him. his hands remain at your waist, clearly afraid to let you go. your own settle against his chest, resting comfortably. “they looked after me.”
his eyes move over your face carefully, as though he is checking for himself.
his hand comes up, brushing gently over your cheek. “you sure?”
he studies you for another second, before leaning down, resting his forehead against yours.
the noise of the airport softens around you. you can feel the exhaustion in the way he holds himself, the relief too.
he closes his eyes. “you cannot do that again.”
a small laugh escapes you. “i didn’t exactly plan it.”
“next airport, you’re coming to the bathroom with me.”
you smile despite yourself. “that seems very impractical.”
behind him, allie makes a noise that is somewhere between a sob and an accusation. you lift your head, she is already moving towards you. dean follows more slowly, but the tension in his face eases the second your eyes meet.
allie wraps herself around you from the side. “you’re horrible!”
“we thought you were stranded.”
grace reaches you next, then sabrina.
for a moment you're surrounded by arms, voices and questions, garrett’s hand remains fixed at the small of your back throughout it all.
logan exhales when he sees you properly, tucker squeezes your shoulder, dean stops in front of you. he looks tired, annoyed, but mostly relieved.
“you made friends, didn’t you?”
his eyes drop towards the tote bag on the floor. everyone follows his gaze, you look down too.
allie pulls back. “what is that?”
you pick it up, shrugging. “they gave it to me.”
garrett closes his eyes, dean stares at you. “you missed an international flight.”
“technically, the system took me off it.”
“and they gave you a present?”
you reach into the bag. “there are cookies!”
logan lets out a short, disbelieving laugh, while grace looks between you and the bag. “you had snacks?”
sabrina presses her lips together, tucker shakes his head, allie turns slowly towards garrett, arms crossing over her chest. “and to think i stress cried over your girlfriend!”
garrett simply laughs, completely speechless. he shakes his head in disbelief at the entire situation.
“they upgraded me too” you admit quietly.
dean walks away, only a few steps, just far enough to put both hands on his hips and stare at the ceiling. logan laughs properly this time, and even tucker gives up trying to hide his smile.
garrett looks down at you, as you send him a small, apologetic smile. “it was actually quite a nice flight.”
he stares for another second, before laughing once more. his hand slides around the back of your neck, pulling you into his chest again. “of course it was.”
you wrap your arms around his waist. “they were lovely.”
“one of them said i could apply to work there.”
“you’re not moving to mexico.”
“you were considering it.”
garrett’s mouth presses against your hair, his hold tightening. “you’re coming home with me, with us.”
you smile into his shirt. “if you insist.”
“and i’m charging your phone.”
his eyes stay on your face. the humour remains, but the fear has not entirely left him yet.
you can still see it beneath everything else.
you lift one hand, brushing your thumb beneath his eye. “i’m here.”
his expression softens. “yeah.”
this time, when he says it, he sounds like he believes it.
the others begin gathering their bags, still talking over one another, still asking questions, still complaining about the emotional damage you had caused from several thousand kilometres away.
garrett takes the tote from your shoulder, then your backpack, then your hand. he keeps hold of it all the way through the airport, all the way to the car and all the way home.
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