LA to The Bay

Chapter 40: Las Vegas to Yosemite (2)

Tour Bus, Las Vegas to Yosemite National Park

I'm roused from my dozing by the feeling of pins and needles in my right arm. Harry! I try to jump but am prevented from moving due to the weight of his body lying against me. He's still fast asleep, his arms still wrapped tightly around my waist. I'm surprised that I managed to fall asleep too, since I normally find it hard to tune out the noise of the coach's engine, even when everyone else is quiet, but I guess the lack of sleep last night must have caught up with me.

Of course Harry is still sleeping, he probably will for the rest of the day given the amount he must have drunk last night, but he can't stay ligged out on me for the rest of forever. I look down at him, breathing gently, his eyelids giving a random flutter every few seconds, he can't possibly be dreaming right now, can he? I can't help but tuck a strand of hair which is lying across his face behind his ear.

Good Lord what is happening to me, I just touched him willingly and I nearly stroked his cheek too? I need to get a grip, if only for embarrassments sake, I need to get him off me.

With all my might I finally manage to push him upwards. God I hope he isn't dead because he certainly isn't rousing despite the fact I am digging in to his arms in order to shift him. He lets out a snort and shuffles in his seat and I prepare myself for him to wake up. It doesn't happen but while seemingly still asleep he lifts up his left arm and wraps it around my shoulder, pulling me down in to his own chest. Great, now I'm stuck again.

I try and stare out the window whilst I formulate a plan to get off him, but the soporific motion of his chest rising and falling is too much, and I quickly feel my own eyelids growing heavy again, the warmth of his body drawing me in and lulling me in to a quiet slumber.

***

I freeze when I open my eyes and realise that I now have my own left arm wrapped across Harry's waist. What the hell is wrong with me? I sit up bolt right and look at him. He is awake and grinning. Of course he is grinning.

'How long have you been awake for?' I spit at him denying him the chance to speak first.

'About twenty minutes.' He yawns as he speaks.

'And what, you didn't think to move me?'

'Why would I? You looked so peaceful, and I thought you would appreciate the sleep?' And what, he just stared at the top of my head for the last twenty minutes?

'Where are we?' I change the subject, noticing that the landscape has changed from desert to rich greenery.

I'm struck by a feeling of paradox, unsure of the land around me, since the sun is intense, and even from inside the coach, sat under the blow of the air conditioning, I can still sense that it's crackling hot outside, the strength of the light reminding me of the Mediterranean in summertime. Yet there is no beach to be seen, but instead a sea of trees, tall and pine like in appearance and suggesting that we should be in a colder climate than we really are.

'I'm not sure, the middle of nowhere I guess. Leah said that we've got about ninety minutes until we arrive.'

'Is that all? How long were we asleep for?'

'Quite a while. We missed lunch and some.'

'So how's your head?' I joke, secretly hoping that it is pounding.

'It's fine, thanks.' He is smiling again. Does he ever stop smiling? This is just typical that of course he would be able to stay out partying all night and wake up without even an inkling of a hangover.

'You didn't think to just go to bed yourself after you dropped me off?' I narrow my eyes and hope that he feels at least some guilt at the strength of my judgement.

'Well after you ripped my heart form my chest so cruelly what else was I to do but go drink my pain away?'

'I sincerely doubt that I ripped your heart from your chest. Bruised your ego more likely.' I can just imagine that I'm the first girl in his life to ever say no to Harry, so of course he would go running straight back to Lottie, Marty and Juno to find some validation afterwards. I shouldn't expect otherwise, and to feel let down by this is yet another example of my own naivety.

'So Louis told me what happened between you and him last night. Are you okay about it?'

'Shut up about it okay, I don't want to talk about it.' Why is he bringing this up now, whilst we are all stuck on a bus together? God I bet he thinks I am a real slut, first kissing Louis, then Tom before finally letting him kiss me himself. Is that why he is sitting with me now, because he thinks I'm an easy target to keep pursuing?

'Okay, I'll not mention it again.' I'm shocked that he has listened to me. 'So are you going to El Capitan tomorrow?'

'No.' I state flatly. As much as I would love to see the sight of Yosemite's crowning glory I heard a whisper that there will be a pool at the place we are staying so I'm planning on a free day of relaxed sunbathing away from the masses. Plus, if it does turn out to be nice here then I can make it at least one place on my list to come back to.

'Suit yourself.' He argues back, 'but I happen to think that you'll be missing out.'