Crush Me

Three

Wilson

Does anyone ever give her a compliment? She's amazing, and she should be in the journalism club.

"You've got to me kidding me. It's not even a thing yet. It's just a silly idea." Leanne turned her head away from Wilson as he shoved their bags forward when the line moved.

"But it would be great for the newspaper, or on Brampton High's web page. I'm sure Ms. Easton would approve it." Wilson couldn't believe she wasn't in the newspaper club.

"How would you know? I mean I can write poetry. I used the prize from the contest to pay for this trip. But that was just luck. Nobody good must have entered." Leanne sounded way too sarcastic.

How can she say that? It was a state-wide competition. Is she really that humble?

"We're going to have to talk about that. You're good or you wouldn't have won. We're getting closer to the front. They must have opened up more stations."

Leanne craned her head to the left and stretched up on her toes. A band of pale skin peeked out from under her pale green t-shirt. She wasn't as chunky as her loose clothes made her look.

"Good thing. You're right, they have all the stations open." She pressed a button on her watch, "It's only an hour till we board, and we still have to check our luggage.

"I think most of these people are on the flight to London. It's a Dreamliner. Way more seats. It's a BA flight. It won't take long for us to get through the Air France line."

"BA?"

"British Airways. My father flies a lot. He'll be on the London flight. He left a few minutes before me."

"Why aren't you with him then? It would have been easier."

Don't snap at her. She doesn't know. No one at school does.

"We don't get along very well," Wilson snapped anyway.

"Sorry, didn't mean to pry. But I get it. I hate my stepdad too." A quick shudder went through Leanne's body.

Wilson reached for her hand and squeezed. He could feel her pulling away and held on for just a fraction longer.

"It's okay. And thanks for understanding. Hey, do you want to sit by me?"

Leanne's eyes popped wide open.

"Why? Are you feeling sorry for me."

Her surprised response made him sigh.

"They don't know what they're missing. Get your ticket out. Do you have your boarding pass on your phone?"

"Yeah, figured it out from the website," she unzipped the back section of her fanny pack. "It's right in here with my passport and the rest of my ID." She slid her glasses up her nose before digging out her ticket.

He pushed her toward the right station and took the middle one himself. He emptied his pockets into the tray, thankfully he remembered to put his pocketknife in his dresser drawer before he put on his clothes. His shoes went in beside them and he waited through the wand scan.

Done. Where is Leanne? There.

He found a bench and waved her over. The expression on her face was furious.

"Jerk. Idiot. I should report him, but it would take too long."

"Why?"

"The wand went off. They took me behind the screen and felt me up."

"What?"

"My doctor told me to give them this letter when I went through. I have some pins in my wrist and my ankle from when I broke them. They didn't even read it. My boobs are not hiding a damn thing." She brushed a couple of tears off her cheeks.

Wow, she isn't wearing makeup. She's the real thing.

"Get your shoes on. I'm sorry you had to go through that. And you should complain anyway. You can do it online if you want to. No need to go talk to anyone unless they call you," Wilson said.

"I've been through worse." Leanne slapped her hand over her mouth. "Forget I said that."

"I won't forget, but I won't pry either. Not unless you want to talk about it."

What is about Leanne. Why do I even give a damn about her? I keep everyone else out of my life, even if they all hang around like I'm the best thing ever. I can sing. So, what.

Leanne slipped her shoes on while he tied his sneakers. He stood up and grabbed her duffel to put on his suitcase again.

Why should she carry it when my luggage has wheels?

"Ready?"

"I guess." She shot a murderous look over her shoulder at the TSA guy. "I could kill him."

"Don't say that too loud. I'd kill him for you considering."

"Really?" She sounded shocked.

"Really. Look." He pointed at the Air France line up. "It's short. Only two ahead of us. Let's go."

He grabbed Leanne's hand and pulled her along with him.

Word Count 2637