The Story of Us

Chapter 1

The story started on a regular June morning I was going into my junior year of high school and I was sitting at a bus stop. I was reading a collection of Edgar Allan Poe's greatest works and currently I was on the story "The Tell Tale Heart" and that's when he approached me.

At first I thought he was just waiting for the bus like every other normal person on that morning, but he wasn't. He sat next to me, read over my shoulder, for a minute, and then some words, now, I don't the he noticed they were coming, but they came loud and clear, "Why should a pretty girl like you be reading such a depressing tale?" I gave him this funny look, one of those what right do you have to be talking like that to the girl who sits in the back of the class who secretly gets good grades, even though everyone assumes that the girl fails. Especially with the added effect of my quiet demeanor, simple looks, and rather outlandish persona and, of course, love for depressing stories. I thought he was just mocking me, mocking me for my clothes and literary choices, mocking me for being so open with the person I am compared to the rest of society.

I was not being very nice by the way I replied, my dad that morning had given me such a difficult time this morning about being who I am and just being difficult about not wanting to be "normal", so when I replied I wasn't necessarily very kind about it, more annoyed. I snapped back then, almost without thinking, "Why does someone like you care? Shouldn't you be afraid to be see me with someone like me?"

That's when I got a good look at him, he was beautiful, not the way the a girl is beautiful, with long eyelashes, thin body high carved out chiseled cheekbones. No. He was stunning. With a nice tan, sparkling eyes that were hazel, but in the sunlight they glimmered green and when you caught a shadow they were stunning deep blue. Though his hair was dirty blond and tousled, like he didn't really care like he'd just gotten out of bed. I try so hard not to let that shock me a little bit, but it did. I just couldn't take it. He was a prep obviously, I'd never seen him before in my grade though, I had made a plan, to avoid all preps and/or judgmental people (funny considering I just judged him...oops), but the bus arrived much too quickly for me to handle, I was still obsessing over his hair and beautiful face. I didn't think I'd ever look at someone and be that star-struck, but I did.

"My bus is here," I said still lost in those eyes of his... I got up and walked towards the bus tucking away my collection of Edgar Allen Poe's Greatest Stories as I walk to the bus I noticed he followed and then a couple words came out of his mouth.

"Funny, this is my bus too," we walked up the stairs, he was much to close behind me in order for me to be comfortable that he was eye level with my rear end. I tried to forget that face as I sat down near the back of the bus, the commotion at the front. I could hear the kids screaming, mothers trying to shush them an old man complaining that the bus was much too hot and I hardly even noticed when he sat down next to me.

"May I sit here?" He looked at me with an innocent little grin of triumph. I nodded slowly trying not to smile. But man. His smile was wonderful. The way it curled up a little too high on one side, the way it framed his dimples(or maybe the other way around). It made him look like he had a wonderful secret he was dying to tell. Or like he'd just stuck a tack on a teachers chair. He was marvelous... And I found myself thinking about him, and I didn't have a single regret. I almost wished he would talk to me more just so I could hear his voice and look at his eyes. And my wish came true. "Well what can I have the pleasure of calling you?"

I gave him a quick glance then opened my mouth, "I'm Cassie." He gives me that lopsided smile, and I smiled back...I couldn't help it, not smiling was a hopeless cause, even for someone as shy as me.

He reached out his hand and I took it expecting him to shake it, but he just held it examining mine. His touch was gentle, but the skin on his hands was rough like he worked often with them. I could feel my cheeks getting hot. I didn't want to be rude, but I was uncomfortable. I mean I was comfortable with my hand in his, but he was a stranger, and for all I knew he could've been a serial killer. He felt it though, and released my hand and I almost wish he hadn't, but he did and I didn't know if I was happy about it or not. "Well Cassie it's my pleasure to meet you. I'm Ryan."

We sat there awkwardly for a few moments, but yet again the bus saved me. We had stopped at my stop and I smiled at him very slightly. "It was good talking too you, but I have to go. This is my stop."

The amount of time it took him to reply was fast. And I feel he had his words all planned out before they came out of his mouth. "This is my stop too," I looked through the window up at the big library and sighed.

"Then come on. The bus is gonna leave before we get off." I let him slide out of the seat then followed him down the aisle out the door, and as we walked up those stairs I decided my personal pact of staying generally away could be compromised, just for him.

We walked up the marble steps into the library and he held the door for me and I walked in slowly, grateful for the rush of chilled air that overcame me when I stepped in. I felt a thin layer of sweat nearly dissolved off the back of my neck, thank heavens my hair covered my neck and back. I walked strait to the counter slipping the book I had been reading over to Mrs. Harris. I didn't bother waiting for Ryan though, I mean I couldn't seem too approachable right? "Beautiful day, right Cassie?" Asked Mrs. Harris, and I nodded as she began to jot down where I could find the books I had requested last week. I glanced over at Ryan helping a mother with two kids get out of the doors and down the steps. Mrs. Harris gave me my list and I decided this time to wait...just because well... He's Ryan and I felt obliged even if I wasn't "the type."

Ryan with his cocky little steps walked back into the library and looked at me. I wasn't sure what to say, but my stupid mouth with it's dumb words just blurted the dumbest thing ever out, "What'd ya do that for?" I may have inwardly gasped, or maybe it was outwardly but either way there was a gasp. He gave me this look and yet he didn't look upset he just looked like I had just done exactly what he expected and I had to fix it before I ruined all chance I had. "I'm sorry that's not what I meant," I could feel my cheeks redden, and he just laughed. Not cruelly or really meanly at all, but honestly and adorably. It was low and firm and shy and it was the most wonderful things ever all fused into one guys laugh.

"It's fine... What are you doing though?" He motioned to the piece of paper in my hand.

"These are all just books I'm going to read this week, I've just got to go and find them. Mrs Harris told me where to look, so it'll be quick" he nodded as I walked to one of the sections, mentally scolding myself for practically telling my whole life story, you could say I'm a bit nervous around boys.

It was weird having him follow me through the library, but after about 15 minutes of book searching I only had one book left. Neither of us had bothered making conversation and it wasn't awful but, weird something I'm used to. I internally blamed my lack of chatter on being in a library, a quiet place. I walked to the last book and I found it on the top shelf. I sighed, I couldn't reach it. I was, well,
not short but not tall, only about 5'4" and as I reached as high as possible, my finger tips only an inch or two from the spine of the book I felt someone's hand on my back and then as I looked up I saw Ryan's hand easily grabbing the book and I relaxed to the floor and smiled embarrassed and not meeting his gaze, yet gratefully "Thanks," I murmured.

"Not a problem" he said back with a grin holding out the book. I grabbed it and our finger tips brushed and I savored the second they did. Then I walked to the counter and gave the librarian my card and books, and waited patiently as she scanned them.

"Well it was nice to meet you," I said cooly trying to act like it was no big deal, yet staying generally quiet. I grabbed my books and put them into my bag and turned not waiting for a reply. I walked out the doors and faintly I thought I heard him yell for me to wait, but I ignored it and trotted down the steps and strait down to the side walked and started walking home. After all nothing could happen between me and a boy like that.