Crush Me

Sixteen

Leanne

Will his mother know what to do? He's so sure. I guess I'll wait and see. If he changes the topic, I'm going with it. The past needs to stay there. I'll be okay as long as the flashbacks stay away.

"Here comes breakfast. Looks good too," Wilson said.

"I'm hungry again. This is more like a midnight snack," Leanne said. "I can't believe I want to eat again after how we stuffed ourselves earlier."

"Think of it as a way to adjust our bodies to the time change. It's the beginning of the day here, and we should see the sunrise soon."

"Yeah, how's the ice pack doing?"

"I'll keep it until after we finish eating. It's helping, but the pills did more for me," Wilson said.

Leanne folded up their blankets and stacked them on the seats in front of them. She added the pillows, and then said, "Got to pee. Be right back." She stopped to retrieve her tote and squeezed by him into the aisle.

She pulled her brush through her hair, examining it in the mirror.

Not too bad. I'll be okay to wash it tonight. Not getting oily quite as fast as usual. I think I'll take a minute to wash my face right now. Thank God I don't wear make up, other than a little bit of gloss to keep my lips from cracking.

Leanne patted her face dry, used the brush one more time to make sure her hair was good, and hurried back to her seat.

"You look fabulous," Wilson said. "I should go take care of this too." He pointed at his hair. "Can I have the brush?"

Leanne handed it to him. "But I think you're kind of cute with your hair tousled like that."

"I hate it. Probably because even the housekeeper gets after me to deal with my messy hair." Wilson slipped into the aisle headed forward.

Elaine came with the breakfast a minute after Wilson left. She dropped the trays for her and asked, "Can we get more coffee, please? I'd love some orange juice if you have any too. I think I'm a bit dehydrated."

"I'll bring juice and water for you right away. Coffee is brewing, so that'll be after you eat. You want it half cream again, right?"

"Yes please. Thank you for taking such good care of us."

"No problem." Elaine ducked into the galley and came out with her arms full of bottles.

Wilson came back as she started to hand them to Leanne and said, "Give them to me. Thank you."

"Great idea to grab juice and water. I feel like I'm really dry too."

"Probably the champagne. Even though we didn't have much, alcohol can really do a number. With the coffee taking more water out of us, we really need the fluids."

"And I want more coffee before we arrive."

"Elaine said a fresh pot is brewing. She'll bring us more. I can't believe the berries in the fruit cup. That and kiwis, pineapple, and mandarin sections. I love kiwi."

Leanne popped a slice in her mouth and the tart sweetness exploded across her tongue.

Wilson started with his yogurt and stirred it in with his fruit. "Man, this is good. It's been a while since I've had this many different berries." He ate half of the fruit cup and then picked up his loaded bagel.

Leanne took a bite out of hers, and said, "I'll have to remember to caramelize onions when I make these at home. I'm going to remember this forever. What a great way to put together a breakfast sandwich. They even made sure the cheese melted."

Wilson nodded with his mouth full. "Are you going to finish your blog before we land?"

"Definitely. I'm worried about Jo-Jo. It would figure if I ended up in the same room as her."

"I know, I need to talk to my mother. I think she would let us both stay with her, but I'd have to clear it with Mr. Grant. Ms. Hollingsworth is who you need to talk to. I doubt it's safe for you to stay with any of those girls."

"She would let me do that?"

"Of course. Mom's the best." Wilson sounded so sure of himself, she felt the creeping anxiety rolling over her ease.

Leanne finished off her entire breakfast, and sipped orange juice as she watched Wilson swallow the last bite of his bagel.

"I'm going back to talk to our chaperones," Wilson said.

"Do you want me to come with you?"

"Sure. I'll bet they are going to argue with me about this, but I don't want you around those bullies. And Sam has it out for me too."

"I never realized you were having problems too. It sucks. I only saw you with what seems like a bunch of friends around you all the time."

"Best way to keep bullies from giving me a problem was to make sure I was never alone. Defense mechanism," Wilson admitted.

"Wow. Do you have any friends? I know I'm being nosy, but I never knew."

"Not really."

"I'm sorry. I know how lonely it gets."

"Well it isn't as bad now. I've got you as a friend, and I'm hoping this is going to be a lot more," Wilson's eyes caught hers as he spoke.

"It already is. Here comes Elaine with more coffee. She said she had enough cream to make another one for me too."

"You know, I think I'll leave talking to the teachers till after I can call my mother," Wilson said as he plugged her power supply in.

"That way you can say for certain, we have another place to stay," Leanne concluded.

"Exactly." He flipped her computer open and hit the power button.

"Thank you for thinking of me. I'm really scared of Jo-Jo and her side kicks. Stacy isn't much better, and I think Maddy might be worse yet, even though she's always a step behind the other two."

"Didn't you say Jo-Jo has been bugging you since kindergarten?"

Leanne nodded. "I have no idea what I did to get her mad at me either."

"I think she was born mad."

"You might be right. Anyway, I'm going to finish that blog."

"Go for it. Sargent Ellis said Jo-Jo might give you more trouble."

"Nothing new about that. She'll blame me for getting her arrested." Leanne sighed. "Same old, same old."

"It's going to be different this time."

"I don't know, Wilson. She's a bitch and she's out of control more often than not these days."

"Yeah, but now you've got me."