The Love Story that was Never Told

Life Outside

The day we left for the Rocky Mountains was on Saturday the start of spring break. It almost seemed unreal that my dream of climbing a mountain was actually coming true. The bus we were in stunk of smelly and sweaty people that never took showers. I sat next to Clara, trying to avoid eye contact with Ben or Brooke who sat directly across from us.. holding hands. Imagine my delight. Jacob was sitting in the front by himself listening to his IPod. And Landon and Alex sat behind me and Clara goofing off. Clara would turn around to glare at them occasionally when they would kick our seat, but other than that the bus ride was quiet. Aside from the 20 other kids who came on the trip. I eventually ended falling asleep on the bus. Surrounded by the noise generated from the other kids almost seemed soothing to me. After all I had been stressful for awhile. It seemed to just pile up on me and envelope me like when you jump into a pile of leaves. As I sleep I dream of those happy memories I used to have. Before my dad died, before my whole life seemed to go downhill. All of it seemed to just, feel better when I awoke to Clara sleeping to my left. The whole bus was silent. It was night and the lights of the interior of the bus were turned off and there was only an occasional light when we passed a car on the interstate. I could hear snoring, but also something crinkling, like a wrapper. I looked around to find Jacob still awake and unwrapping a granola bar. I moved slowly past Clara trying my best not to wake her and went slowly down the aisle to sit by Jacob. He didn't object as I sank down into the spot beside him and only offered me part of the granola bar. I took it gratefully as I felt my stomach grumble.

"So.." He whispered, tickling my hair. "Have you said anything to Lover boy Ben yet?" Jacob said chewing on his half of the granola bar. I shake my head, my mouth full of granola.

"He has Brooke." I glumly answer. Love just seemed impossible at the moment.

"Aw, come on you can't give up that easily." He turns to me. He moves the bag in between us and looks me straight in the eye.

"Pretend I'm him, what would you say to him?" Jacob raises an eyebrow. Even though the bus is literally asleep aside from the bus driver, I feel incredibly shy.

"No!" I shake my head and wave my hands urgently. He laughs and I can feel his body shake next to mine.

"Come on, it'll be fun." He lightly punches me in the shoulder. I nod. This better be worth it.

"Ok, Ben.." I roll my eyes and I hear him snort. I slap his arm and he laughs even harder as he tries to apologize. He nods suddenly becoming serious.

"Ok, lay it on me." He says shoving the rest of the granola in his mouth. I nod, I can do this.

"Ben. I love you."

"Louder!" He wiggles his eyebrows and I roll my eyes but smile.

"I love you!" I am almost yelling now. I can hear movement from the back of the bus and blush slightly.

"Sh..." Jacob takes my hand and we duck behind the seat's bulgy back.

"Hopefully no one heard that." Jacob finally says after a couple of seconds.

"Yeah... hopefully."