camp

bus rides

I audibly gasp and a look of shock takes over my pale face, and I start to run my fingers through my long, dark hair. I inch away from Harry, I mean, he killed a man!

Harry's face breaks into a smirk, followed by the boom of a deep and hearty chuckle. "My god! The look on your face was priceless!" He laughs. What on earth is he talking about this isn't a joke! Is it?

"What?" I accusing say.

"I was joking, damn."

"Wow..." I mutter, makes sense! I doubt the he would've killed someone, I can see it in his eyes. He seems like such a caring, warm hearted guy.

"Sorry to scare you, darl." He says apologetically.

Now it's my turn to laugh "it's fine, honestly"

Eventually the rest of the bus fills up, and we're on our way. About 20 minutes into the bus ride Harry turns to me. "Wanna play 20 questions?" Followed by a school-girl like giggle. At first I'm skeptical, I have a lot to hide.. But I give in. "You go first." I say

"Age?"

"16, you?"

"17"

Harry ponders for a second on his next question, then he leans into my ear, I feel his warm, minty breath on the side of my face. "What's your deepest, darkest secret?" He says slowly, almost seductively, but not quite.

・・・flashback ・・・

"STOP" I screech at my father, although it's unheard over my mothers screams and fathers constant comments. My little eight year old self curls into sobbing ball. I rock back and forth waiting for it to stop.

My dad wanders into my room, which I had since disappeared to. "Come here" he slurs demandingly, alcohol threatening to fall out of the glass he's holding as he sways from side to side. "N-no!" I manage to stutter between sobs. "Okay then, bitch" he takes a step towards me.

・・・flashback over・・・

"Liz? Lizzzzzzz" Harry whines in my ear. I snap out of my trance like state and turn to him. "That's for me to know, and you to never find out. Now an we switch to a lighter question?" Harry, noticing my despair, asks some less personal questions.

Over the next 3 or so hours Harry and I get to know each other, he's an Aquarius, his favourite colour -much like mine- is black, he has some secrets of his own which he's not willing to spill, he's a virgin, likes to party, but not too often, he isn't particularly wealthy but his parents provide for him what they can. He still hasn't divulged to him why he's here, but when I asked he said something, and it stuck in my mind.

"My life isn't rainbows and sunshines. I just wanted people to understand."