Crush Me

Two

Leanne

Leanne shifted her giant tote bag to her other shoulder and bent to pick up her locked duffel bag. Its scuffed imitation leather made her think of herself and the scars hidden beneath the surface. She brushed several feathered strands of her hair out of her face and decided to kick it instead. It wouldn't matter much. It was a survivor like she was.

How did I manage to qualify for this trip? Look at them. All of the best looking, most popular kids in school. No one will even stand close to me in line. What was I thinking?

"Hey, Leanne!" Jo Jo Ames shoved in front of her, and her three best friends joined her. "Thanks for saving us a place."

It was the second time kids from her class pushed into the line up. There were people trying to get on other flights behind her, and Leanne cringed.

"I didn't save a place for you," she protested.

"Tough." Jo Jo turned her back on Leanne after kicking her duffel out of her way. When she reached out to grab it, Stacy kicked it further away.

Leanne gave up and followed the line, leaving her duffel behind. It wasn't worth fighting the bullies for it.

Someone behind her grumbled under their breath. "Quit letting them push you around. Someone's going to steal your bag."

Why am I doing this? Because you want to see Paris. The prize from the poetry contest I won was enough to cover the cost of the trip. It was all paid for, including food. A special group deal from a local travel agent. They did it every year. If I'm careful, I can even afford a trip up the Eiffel Tower.

A small smile flickered across her face as she argued with herself. Patting her fanny pack with its secured zippers to keep her phone and passport safe, she turned to make sure she was keeping up with the line. Her duffel would be safe for a few seconds.

"Hey, drop that!"

Leanne whipped her head around to spot a scruffy man with torn jeans and a stained jean jacket, trying to jerk her duffel away from a guy.

Man, I only looked away for a second.

She couldn't see who was trying to help her, but she gave up on keeping her spot in line and shoved her way between baggage carts and travelers until she came up behind the thief. She shoved him in the lower back, and when he turned with his free hand swinging, she ducked under it and grabbed for the handles of her black faux leather duffel.

Geeze, please don't break!

"I've got it, Leanne. You can stay with me in line."

She looked up into eyes with the longest eyelashes she'd ever seen. Chocolate brown, with tiny flecks of green and gold, the laugh lines made her heart melt all over again. Wilson Quaring held her bag out toward her with a smile.

"I can't butt in. Thanks though, I'll just go to the back of the line."

"You're staying with me. You'll miss the flight. Take a look, the line is nearly out the door. It's spring break and you were almost at the front." His voice chased shivers down her back.

"You can't be seen with me. I'll wreck your reputation." Leanne almost stuttered. "I don't even know why the chaperons approved me to come on this trip."

"Because you're smart, you can write amazing poems, and you're one of the prettiest girls in the school."

"No way. You need to get your eyes checked, Wilson."

I can't believe he's even talking to me.

"And I love to listen to you when you sit in the hall behind the theater to practice on your flute."

Leanne shrank back into herself as her cheeks flushed.

"I thought no one was around."

"I won't let anyone know. I go down to the theater to do my voice exercises. Mr. Matheson is coaching me. I'm there at least three times a week," Wilson confessed. "He told me you're the best in the band."

Heat flooded her face. Leanne bent forward to shake her hair into place and turned to meet his eyes again. She stepped out between the lines and started to go toward the back of the line then stopped. Wilson was right. She would miss the flight.

"It's okay girl, stay with him." The woman behind him had two toddlers riding on top of their suitcases on a baggage cart. "I saw what those little witches did to you."

Leanne choked up. She didn't deserve the help. It was her screw up. She should have stood up to Jo Jo. Two tears slid down her cheeks.

"Thank you."

"Pay it forward, girl. I've been there." The young mother made a lightning grab for her son as he slid off the luggage.

"What she said, Leanne. No one minds. Most of us saw what Jo Jo did," Wilson grabbed her arm and pulled her into line beside him.

"I guess I don't have a choice if I want to make the flight. The rest of the kids are all ahead of us." Leanne gave in and put her duffel on the floor in front of them. Wilson bent over, and as she got a quick look at his butt, her heart beat a little faster.

When he straightened up again, he had her duffel and put it on top of his luggage. He slipped the cracked handles over his own, and said, "There. It should stay and we won't have to worry until we get to the scanner. Did you bring a laptop?"

Leanne tightened her arm down over her tote bag. "In here. It's just an old Windows Seven clunker, but I've got all my writing stuff on it. I was thinking about starting a blog about my trip."

Why did I say that out loud? It's just a dumb idea. No one would want to read it anyway.

"Can I be your first fan?" Wilson smiled again.

Is this guy for real? I've been imagining and dreaming for almost four years, and now he's paying attention to me. There's got to be a catch.