Matched

Chapter 17

Tonight was the night. I was leaving.Wewere leaving. I suddenly felt like I was partaking in a modern Romeo and Juliet story. Would we die in the end, too?

I almost laughed at my own thoughts.

“Spencer, what’re you doing?” my dad asked as he walked by my open bedroom door. I smiled at him.

“Sleepover at Luke’s. We haven’t really hung out lately,” I shrugged. He just nodded his head.

“Well, night then. I’m going to my study. Have fun, sweetie,” he called as he walked down the hall. I bit my lip.

“Night dad!” I called back. I stuffed an over-the-shoulder bag with the things I wouldn’t want to search through my bags for. I suppose you could call it my purse, truthfully, I’d never worn a purse before. I tucked all my money into my old copy of “To Kill a Mockingbird”. I figured it was better than having it lay in there loose. I didn’t have a wallet. My iPod (I couldn’t help it, I needed to bring it), some food (hehe), and some other stuff joined it.

My backpack was full of clothes and other necessities. I sighed. 2 pairs of jeans, 4 pairs of shorts, 6 shirts, countless tank tops and almost a drawer full of underwear and socks were crammed in there. It looked a tad ridiculous. I really,reallydidn’t want to wear dirty clothes.

I collected my stuff, stopping to look over my room. I quickly jotted down a note to my dad and left it on my bed and booked it out of that house before I regretted it.

“Hey,” I said quietly to Luke as I made my way to his car. He nodded before looking over my shoulder. Anna was trailing behind Russel.

“Quickly now,” Luke said to everyone once we met around the car. I climbed into the backseat after I threw my things in the trunk. Russel followed suit. He gently gripped my hand and I intertwined our fingers. The ride to the bus station was silent.

“Luke?” I called out to him as he started to walk toward the ticket station with Anna and Russel. He swiveled around and I took a running start and jumped into him. He stumbled back as he caught me and buried his head into my neck.

“I’m going to miss you so much, Spenc,” he choked out. He sounded like he was going to cry, which made me cry. Which made me feel ridiculously pathetic because Anna was staring at us.

“Me too,” I sobbed out and laughed at my voice. “Oh lord, I’m such a girl.”

“Shh, it’s okay. We’ll still talk, okay?” he rubbed a hand up and down my back, comforting me. I nodded.

“No matter where I am or who I’m with, you’re always my best friend, okay? I love you,” I told him.

“Who wouldn’t love me?” Luke joked. I smacked his chest and he put me on the ground. He gave me a broad grin and I returned it.

“Okay, sappy moments over,” I declared, drying my cheeks. “Let’s go,” I turned him around and jumped on his back.

“Really? It’s like a 2 second walk to the building,” Luke said as he hooked his arms under my legs.

“Yes, really. I can’t have you remembering me as a sappy girl. Now you shall remember me as your master,” I declared. “On vard, noble steed!”

“It’s times like these that make me really question if you were really a good choice to befriend in kindergarten…” he grumbled. I laughed and rested my head on his. I inhaled his scent, memorizing it. Woodsy with a touch of Axe and BO. Yummy. Note the sarcasm.

I jumped down from his back and walked into the ticket buying area? I really didn’t know what to call it. The sun was just setting and myself and Russel were planning on taking an overnight bus for tonight. From then on, we would take it as it came.

“You ready?” Russel asked me as he picked up my bag from the ground. I nodded and grabbed it from him. Luke and Anna had just left after a really messy goodbye between me and Luke. I started crying again. Rus handed me one of the tickets and we stood to get on the bus. We waited in line for about 15 minutes before we actually sat. The whole time Russel gripped my hand and whispered hilarious things about the other people around us in my ear. We got more than a couple nasty looks. I settled down next to the window in the middle of the bus. Russel took our bags and put them in the overhead compartment. I took the opportunity to watch as his muscles flexed and his shirt rose slightly.

“Thanks,” I said once he sat. He smiled at me.

“Hey, what can I say, I’m a gentleman,” he joked. I smacked his shoulder and laughed.

“Ookay,” I teased. We grew quiet and he studied my face. I blushed slightly under his intense gaze.

“What? Do I have something on my face?” I asked. He chuckled and cupped my chin with his palm.

“No. No, you look gorgeous as always. I just- I can’t believe your mine,” he admitted quietly. I bit my lip and the corner of my lips pulled up into a smile. “I can’t believe we’re actually doing this.”

“Same,” I admitted. “It seems so… unrealistic,” I sighed, and nuzzled my face into his hand. He lifted my jaw and pressed his lips lightly against mine. I smiled at him as he pulled away.

“I love you,” he told me.

“I love you too.”

“Good,” he grinned. He wrapped his arm around my shoulders, pulling me into his chest. I sighed happily and he pulled a hoodie out of nowhere. He draped it over my shoulders and I rose my eyebrows at him. “Sleep. I’ll wake you up when we stop next.”

“Okay,” I said and let my eyes flutter close. This was the first time in a week I’d been able to sleep with him. I could sleep all I wanted without him there, but I never felt rested when I woke up. Nothing compared to the comfort his warmth gave me. The comfort I’d have for the rest of my life. The thought made me smile as I drifted off.