Hey Sarge

Chapter 7 : Game on (part one)

(Part one to this chapter! Part two will be out tomorrow! Hope you enjoy. Kisses, Al)

The trip home was supposed to be awkward.

You're stuck with your ex-boyfriend on an hour and a half train ride and then after that, go on another hour ride on a greyhound. You're supposed to feel weird. You're supposed to sit far away from each other. You're supposed to be awkward.

But sitting next to Ravi on the train was quite the opposite.

I felt calm, I felt protected, I felt-

"What's that brain of yours telling you, Pippa?"

"The real question is what are you playing at?"

"What do you mean? I'm not playing at anything." You could tell he was lying by the way he grinned.

"You called me Pippa. In all the time I've known you, I don't think I've ever heard you say my name. It feels weird."

But what felt even weirder is that he hadn't called her Sarge. Maybe through text but that didn't count. Pip longed for him to call her that again. Because then she'd really know if he felt the same way as she did. So really, he was playing with her for that.

"Weird, isn't it? I swear that I've called you by your full name many times."

"If you had, then I wouldn't feel this weird."

"Oh, so you feel weird with me now?" He played it off with a laugh but if you looked deeply into him, you could see what he really meant.

"I could never feel weird with you, Ravi." I kept my eyes on his, just to see if I could still make him crumble into a muttering mess. But it seemed to do nothing. I turned away to look out the window, looking at the tunnel, trying to avoid the thoughts screaming in my head. That didn't work very well so I opted to put on my headphones and listen to some music.

Little did Pip know that Ravi kept his eyes on her, even if it wasn't so directly into her eyes. And then he muttered something under his voice.

"I would sure hope you don't."

—

'Pip, wake up'

My eyes felt like dry glue being peeled open. My music was still on but I started hearing all the sound coming from my surroundings. I also felt my cheek feeling numb. Last thing I could remember is that it was lightly against the glass but this is my other cheek and there weren't head-resters at this level...oh shit.

I shot my head off of Ravi's shoulder and tried to get my thoughts in order but nothing was going to help me get my mind off how long I'd been sleeping.

"Sorry! I didn't mean to fall asleep on you" I say looking down at my hands anxiously. This is the single most embarrassing moment of my life and I can't even control the blood rushing to my damn cheeks.

"All good, Pip. But we have a problem at hand."

Goosebumps travel all over my body, and my eyes grow large. My body's fight or flight mode takes over me and Ravi notices.

"Not the kind of problem. Sorry, I should have clarified. We get to the bus station in 3 minutes but the next Greyhound to Fairview leaves 2 minutes after we arrive and we have to rush across the station to get to the bus because the next bus leaves tomorrow at 6am and I think neither of us want to stay the night at the bus station."

"Shit." I hissed. That meant running. I can't run, it might trigger something.

"Come on, let's wait by the door" He gets up out of his seat and goes to the nearest door, the speakers already advising us of our next stop. I follow him.

"Wait! What about the bus tickets! We won't have time to buy them!"

"I already did! I bought them on the website 5 minutes ago, I sent you your tickets QR code right after!" He shouts making it to the door. I'm right behind him.

I grab onto a handle strap to keep my balance and start preparing myself for what was to come. My knuckles tighten with all the anxiety pulsing through my body.

The train starts coming to slow down and brace myself for the stop. Then, right before the doors open, Ravi looks at me, grinning.

"Are you ready, Sarge?"