Stevie was last on the bus, having been instructed to hand the last of the heath forms to the office by Mr March. Nervously she scanned the seats for her friends, and with relief saw an empty one next to Kasey.

"Hey Kase." She said as she sat down.

Kasey shook her head, a plan forming as she looked at the empty seat next to Zander. "Sorry sweetie, you can't sit next to me."

Stevie frowned and crossed her arms, "excuse me, why?"

Kasey felt slightly bad, forcing her best friend to sit next to her crush on a two hour bus ride. "Because where will I put all my luggage?"

Indignantly, Stevie said, "so who am I supposed to sit with then?"

Zander, who was sitting across the aisle from Kasey, butted in with a hurt look, "what about me?" He said, looking pitifully up at his best friend, "I thought you liked sitting with me!"

Stevie turned to look at him, and for a split second she delighted in the idea of sitting next to him. After all, in some senses they were dating. If you could call it that, Zander would kiss her, flirt with her and tell her she was his favourite girl. But then she would go back to staring at whatever guy she found cute, and he would flirt with every girl who walked by. Stevie was pretty over it. Recently though, it was more of her staring at him, wondering if it was at all possible for her feelings for him to grow any more. So, with a frown and a glare she said, "Gross, no."

Zander however, seemed to be having none of that and grabbing Stevie round the waist, pulled her down on to his lap.

Stevie let out a little surprised shriek. Zander smirked.

She gritted her teeth and glared at him again, "Zander! Let go of me, I don't want to sit with you!"

Before Zander could respond they were interrupted by Mr March, "that's it kids! No more seat changes, just put on your sit belts you little zit poppers! Miss Baskara? Do you need a special invitation?"

Stevie pursed her lips, "no sir." She muttered, elbowing Zander over to the window seat and sitting next to him.

Zander leaned over to her, his cocky smile turning concerned, "Why are you so angry today?" he asked, desperately wanting to put an arm round her shoulders, but thinking it unwise.

Stevie didn't look up at him, she just continued to glare at the back of Nelsons seat. "I'm not angry." She said, attempting to keep her voice level.

Zander didn't see that as an acceptable answer, "really, then what's with all the glares you've been giving me?" he gently put a hand on her shoulder, "why don't you want to sit next to me, Steves?"

Stevie didn't look at him, "well... I'm not angry in general." She said, waving at a boy a few rows down whose name Zander didn't know. "I'm just angry at you." She turned to him, giving him the fakest smile she could muster.

Zander frowned a little, what had he done? "Why are you angry at me?" he asked, his tone a little more urgent.

Stevie was back to staring at the back of Nelsons chair, "because you're an idiot."

"Why am I an idiot?" Zander persisted.

Stevie made a frustrated face at the chair, "ugh ... Because you just are!"

Zander sighed, "That's not very specific." He said.

Instead of responding, Stevie kicked the seat in front of her, and in a much sweeter voice than she'd used for Zander she asked, "Nelly, please switch sits with me?"

Nelson didn't seem too impressed, as he turned around, fixing her with a confused look, "Sorry Stevie, Kevin and I are writing another graphic novel!" he paused and craned his head around further, "besides, you love sitting next to Zander!"

Stevie gave him a pitiful look, "no I don't, now switch with me!"

"Steves..." Zander put in slowly.

Stevie ignored Zander and looked pointedly at Nelson, who shook his head. She frowned at the back of Nelsons seat again, feeling somewhat like a grumpy child.

Kevin poked his head through the gap in the seats, looking down at his grumpy friend, "Nelsons sitting with me! We agreed, and I don't wanna sit with you! You'll hit me!"

This (of course) did nothing to help Stevie's bad mood, she gritted her teeth and crossed her arms tighter over her body.

Zander leaned over and kissed her cheek, and for a moment, Stevie felt the familiar tingling sensation start to take over her whole body. God, could he have any more control over her emotions? Making one last effort to stay angry at him she pushed him away, although it ended up being gentler than intended. "Don't touch me." She said, she had to figure out a way to get away from him. "Okay Kevin, then you come and sit with Zander and I'll sit with Nelson."

All three boys shook their heads at her. Stevie wanted to run. But the only place she could go was the front of the bus, and that was useless. Could she have picked a worse day to realise that she wanted an actual relationship with Zander?

Zander leaned over to her again, his persistence was both endearing and annoying. "Why am I such an idiot Steves?"

Stevie chose not to answer that. "You know Zander, since dumb and dumber won't switch with me, why don't YOU go sit somewhere else?" She gave him another fake smile.

With that boyish grin that made her go weak at the knees he replied, "Nope. I'm comfortable right here thank you Steviekins!"

"Great, just great!" Stevie muttered.

"This is going to be a horrible trip if you stay angry with me the entire time." Zander pointed out.

Stevie tried to roll her eyes as boredly as possible, "well, then be prepared for the worst trip of your life."

Not deterred, Zander gave her another dashing smile and put an arm around her shoulders, "will making out cure you?"

Stevie wanted to take him up on that offer, she wanted to feel the fireworks and run her hands through his hair- because she was the only one he let do that. But the logical side of her brain reminded her that making out wouldn't change the nature of their relationship. So, with a low growl and an angry scowl she turned to Zander, "You know what? Why don't you just go sit with miss 'Lovely blue eyes', over there!" her voice caught a bit, but she kept going, "She seemed to really enjoy your 'company' this morning!"

Zander just continued to smile at her, "are you jealous? Is that what this is all about?"

Stevie realised that she had never actually pushed Zanders arm off her, it was still round her shoulders, his thumb rubbing slow circles on her upper arm. Stevie stared down at her hands, resisting the urge to lean her head on his shoulder and cuddle up to him.

Zander lent in even closer to her, "she might enjoy my company, but even when you're angry I'd still rather have yours."

Stevie's insides melted.

Pulling herself together she tried to defend herself, "I'm not jealous! I don't care about what you do, or with whoever you do it! I'm not your girlfriend!"

She pushed his arm off her and scooted as far over on the seat as possible.

Even still, she heard Zander mutter, "I wouldn't mind if you were."

Another burst of grumpiness hit her. "Well I would, I wouldn't feel comfortable dating you with the 'lovely blue eyes', around you 24/7"

Zander bit his lip and looked at her, with absolute sincerity, "I don't like her! I like you."

Stevie crossed her arms and glared at him, "well I like you too! But that doesn't mean I'll stop being mad at you."

Zander looked very confused. Stevie didn't blame him, she wasn't exactly making this simple. And he was a boy, he needed simple.

"Why?" he asked.

She looked over at him, taking in all the details she loved about him, the way he looked so earnestly at her, the lines of his cheek bones and the brown of his eyes, and his lips- those lips that she just wanted to kiss, because she didn't want to fight with him, she only wanted to be more than his make out buddy. "Because you kiss me and then flirt with her!" she finally managed to stammer out.

Zander looked slightly relieved. He took her hand gently, his touch sending shivers down her spine. "Then be my girlfriend and I'll only flirt with you."

She smiled, her whole body feeling fuzzy. Putting her hand up on one of his cheeks, she kissed the other, her lips lingering maybe a moment to long before she pulled away. "No. Absolutely not"

Zander looked shocked, Stevie knew that he'd only been turned down by one other girl. But if he really liked her he'd keep trying, right?

"Why?" he asked, cupping her face in his hands.

God, she loved the feel of his hands, and she loved how his eyes seemed to see right through her, into her soul. She loved the lighter flecks of brown in his eyes and the darker flecks, and she way they made his eyes so perfect.

Wake up Stevie!

Gently taking his hands away she shook her head, "because I don't want to."

He looked at her playfully, "Give me a better reason."

She crinkled her nose at him, answering his question, with another question. "Give me a reason to be your girlfriend"

"Because I really like you." Zander answered instantly.

With a playful, mocking tone she counteracts: "Give me a better reason."

Zander doesn't miss a beat, "because you're the only girl I want to flirt with."

Inwardly, Stevie 'awws' but out loud she simply smirked, "You can still flirt with me, I never said you had to stop."

"And you know what else?" Zander said, leaning closer to her, "I'd love to date the prettiest girl in school."

Trying to ignore how close he is, she takes a shallow breath and whispers back, "Then go ahead and date her."

Zander puts his hand on her cheek again, and continues to move closer. He stops, an inch or so away from her lips, "alright." And then he's kissing her. Sparks flying and butterflies creating a storm in Stevie's stomach.

She pulls away, and almost imperceptibly whispers, "don't do that."

Again, he looks confused and she sighs, "Look, I know you like me and you know I like you. But either we take this seriously or I'm done and you can go back to 'lovely blue eyes' over there."

Zanders hand was still on her cheek, and he was still so close to her. He pushed a lose curl behind her ear, "I really don't like her. Just because she flirts with me, doesn't mean I flirt back."

He looks so earnest, Stevie thinks. Maybe she should just let him kiss her, not go through all the trouble of making him work for her.

"We will take this very seriously." Zander promises, leaning in again.

She stops him, "how seriously?" she asks, sliding her fingers into the gaps between his and giving him a little smile.

Zander smiled down at their intertwined hands, "very seriously."

"Prove it." She whispers.

For a moment Zander doesn't move, Stevie closes her eyes, trying to block out the feeling of total hopelessness. Her eyes are still closed as he says, "okay," Kisses her cheek and stands up. "ATTENTION EVERYONE!" his voice is loud and she looks up in panic. "I would like to let everyone know that I really like Stevie Baskara." Stevie pulls in a short breath. Zander is still holding her hand as he looks down at her, a genuine (loving? She hopes so) simile directed at her and only her, "Stevie, please, will you go out with me?"

In that moment she must have resembled a cod fish, her mouth wide open and eyes wide. Pulling herself together she nods, "Of course I will." And under her breath she mutters, "Take that, Zanders fan girls."

Zander sits back down and pulls her towards him, wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing her soundly. Stevie is only too happy to reciprocate the kiss, her arms easily sliding round his neck and- because she knows half the bus is watching, she tangles her fingers in his hair. Because she is the only one that can do that and she's going to prove to everyone that he is hers.

Through her haze Stevie hears Kasey "aww" loudly. But she ignores her, because, dammit, Kasey Simon will not ruin her perfect moment.

"You know what would be totally romantic guys?" Kasey says, and Stevie knows it's directed at them, but neither she nor Zander pay Kasey any mind.

Kasey doesn't seem to understand that they are ignoring her and continues, "because you're now officially a couple and everything, Stevie can sit on your lap, Zander, while I," Stevie can feel something being put on the (almost empty, because she's practically on top of Zander) seat behind her, "Put these bags here!"

Stevie pauses and turns to frown at Kasey who gives her a bright smile, "okay, just be careful with my stuff guys!"

With a much leveller voice than Stevie would have used, Zander says, "take your stuff away Kasey."

"Why? You don't need both seats now that Stevie's all over you!" Kasey protests, pouting.

With the winning smile that Stevie loves so much Zander shrugs, "I'm sure my beautiful girlfriend can find a really good way to get rid of it otherwise."

Stevie raised an eyebrow at Zander, spun herself around so her back was against the window and kicked Kasey's bags of the seat.

Zander gins widely, "well done Steviekins." He kisses her cheek and all she can do is smile like an idiot at him. Because he is her boyfriend. This is what she's always wanted, for there to be a label attached to them, because although she's not big on labels, this is one that makes it very clear how she feels about him and he about her.

Kasey starts to protest, "HEY! This is my stuff! It's already bad enough that I have to go camping I'll have to put up with you two doing whatever-"

But Stevie doesn't care, with another dreamy smile at Zander she pulls out her phone, giving him one ear bud and putting the other in her ear. This moment is perfect and no one will ruin it for her.