I personally can say I'm not bothered by people staring at me. Maybe it's because I've always had people stare at me because I'm different. Or possibly the fact that I love making comments back to people when they do stare. And of course the possibility that I just don't care. But never had it occurred to me to like when someone stared. Not being bothered by it and liking it were two really different perspectives.
For the past two years I was used to him staring at me. Quite possible that it made my day when he did because honestly, no one looked at me like he did. Like I said, I'd say I liked when he stared from a distance.
Mitchell's locker was in the middle of the hall. I was all the way at the narrow end. Yes, our hallways we narrowed. I hated being at the end because it was more of a walk and very crowded. But just because it was crowded doesn't mean I wasn't visible to him.
But....(!) these next few days were going to be different. We were going to Washington DC for a class trip! I was super excited that he was going too but also a bit sad. Mitchell was riding on bus 1 for the 11 hour drive and I was on bus 3. Which also meant he was in a different group with a different chaperone. Plus he was a boy so different hotel floors.
When I got to the school that evening for buses, I noticed him almost immediately. Mainly because he was close by a friend of mine. But also because my stupid eyes always find him first wherever I go.
Let's just say the whole ride to Washington was NOT pleasant. The first three hours were crazy. I was emotional about being away from my parents in another state (yes that sounds lame but it's true), and even
worse was that the guy who liked me sat right across the isle from me. I guess you could say I liked him for some time too but only as a distraction for liking Mitchell still.
By seating partner basically ignored me for those 3 hours. I tried watching Guardians of the Galaxy above boy #2's head but he kept thinking I was looking at him instead so I looked away. Until he grabbed my hand. And held it...
Within 20 minutes we had stopped anyway and the genders of the bus were separated after the pit stop. OH THE LOVELY PIT STOPS. The first pit stop where I was stared at by the one and only Mitchell and the same pit stop I lied in a parking lot on my bag and nearly fell asleep.
The rest of the ride straight up sucked. My original seating partner and I got separated and there was no way of getting comfortable on that bus. Out of all 11 hours, I only slept 2. The last 2. With my head against the seat in front of me :(
HEY READERS!!! Sorry these next few chapters are going to be a bit long but they'll mainly all be connected! Hope you're liking it so far!
