Dusk Till Dawn (A Liam and Ally Story)

Chapter 18

I felt multiple pokes on my shoulder. My eyes cringed at the sight of the brightness outside. I looked to my left and saw an elder man poking one more time. "Excuse me, miss, but we are at a stop." I looked over at the window and acknowledged that we were at a gas station.

"Thank you," I replied weakly. I adjusted my spot and grabbed my purse as the elder left.

After I exit the bus and entered the gas station, I looked around the aisles. It didn't take long before I found what I wanted: a bag of two muffins and a water bottle.

I went up to the cashier and handed her the items. As she checked them, I couldn't help but noticed someone standing outside the store, talking on the phone. He looked very familiar, but I couldn't really figure him out. He was tall and had a cap on. It was only until he turned around that I knew who he was: Troy.

My heart began to race at just the sight of him. I see him starting to walk away and that made me anxious.

"Ma'am, that would $7.89," the cashier informed me.

I nodded and grabbed some dollar bills and handed it to her. "Keep the change," I said as I grabbed the bag filled with my items.

I rushed outside and looked both direction. I saw him turning to the corner and I followed him. I tried to speed up, but I didn't want to fall over my three inch heels. "Troy!" I shouted, but he didn't turn around. He kept walking casually.

I turned around, hoping that the bus didn't leave yet. It didn't, but it had a heading that says 'One Minute Left'. This was frustrating. If I do catch up to Troy, that means that I don't need the bus, but if I don't, I don't know what I'm going to do.

I looked back around to see Troy disappear again. Oh, no. I searched around and near me, but most of it were open areas. I heard the bus honked, indicating that it was a warning. I had to take one last glimpse before I could return. I squinted my eyes and blocked the sun with my hand. I looked over behind the dumpster and nothing.

Great...

I heard the second honk and looked back. The bus doors were open and from the distance between it and me, it was long shot that I will get on. But that didn't mean that I didn't try.

I ran as fast as I could, with my purse and bag swinging back and forth, but that didn't do much help. It made it worse. I tripped over my heels and fell to the ground. My hands were pressed against the cement ground. After a moment, I sat up and looked at my heels. One of the heels had broke.

I tried to calm myself, reminding myself that this was not the time to panic. I looked back to the bus and saw the doors closing. I was still very far from it.

I pressed my hand against the ground and helped myself get up. I cleaned myself up and squat down to pick up my things.

This is not the time to cry. This is not the time to cry.

After my purse was hung on my shoulder and my bag was wrapped in my hands, I began to walk, but I felt a sting of pain on my ankle. It didn't matter much to me though. I had to find a way to Long Beach or home, especially since my suitcases were on the bus.

I dig into my pocket to grab my phone, but I couldn't find it. I searched the back pocket and my purse, but it wasn't in there. I retrace back to where I remember it last. My phone was laying next to me on the bus before I exited.

This is not the time to cry.

I told that to myself once more.

The sky was clouding and soon enough, it was raining. I found a bench with a roof to hide myself from it. I was half pass being soaked. This event had reminded me from a similar incident earlier this week with Liam. If only he or someone was here right now to help me. I sat down on the bench and held onto my arms, rubbing them to create some heat.