Chapter 11: Travel
Chase sat next to me on the bus. He noticed a bruise on my knee and inquired about it. I felt my face heat. I didn't want Chase to know what had happened.
"I fell." I mumbled, looking out the window.
"Hey, are you okay?" he asked softly.
I nodded again, without turning to look at him. "I'm fine."
I leaned back in my seat, taking a deep breath.
"Are you sure you're okay?" he asked.
I nodded again. "I'm fine, don't worry."
I stared out my window, watching the trees fly past. I was so relieved to be going back to Forks. I knew I would be perfectly safe there, with Jared able to protect me. Hell, maybe I could even convince Steph to move somewhere in La Push.
I pulled a water bottle out of my bag and took a swig out of it. I couldn't wait to be back in Forks; adrenaline was pumping through my body. Although I detested the rain, the people who were waiting for me when I got there was worth much more than having to suffer through the constant cover of clouds and rain.
I smiled to myself, thinking about being reunited with Jared. I wasn't too sure why I felt this way about going back to him; it's not like we were a thing or anything. And yet, I still felt this inexplicable pull to him. He had told me he loved me, or at least something dangerously close to that.
Did I love him? Was I capable of allowing myself to let him in? Was I capable of allowing anyone to make any form of physical contact with me again, when I would flinch when someone did something so small like placing their arm around my shoulders?
Or could Jared help me be comfortable around people again? Would I ever be able to be comfortable around people again? How could I be? After everything that had happened to me, how could I possibly be around people again?
I could feel the familiar bit of panic seep into me just sitting her beside Chase. It had reminded me all too much of sitting next to Edward while he maneuvered his way to the airport in Seattle.
I shuddered, and Chase noticed.
"Are you cold?" he asked.
I smiled in spite of myself. "Chase, it's one hundred degrees out. I'm not cold at all."
He just nodded.
I stared out the window again, anticipation building in my chest. I was on my way back to Forks.
A few hours later, the bus stopped.
The driver came on the loudspeaker. "We are stopping here for forty-five minutes for you all to get something to eat, and stretch your legs. We have a long drive ahead of us still, and we would like to get there before tomorrow afternoon, if that's possible."
Chase and I exited the bus, and I stretched as soon as my feet hit the hot concrete. My body felt sore and tingly in all different places.
"You're going to be freezing once we get to Washington." Chase said.
"I know, I have a sweater in my bag." I said.
He laughed. "You're smart."
"I know." I said with a smile.
Chase and I walked into a service station, and I practically ran to the washroom. I stared at myself in the mirror. I looked horrible. Thankfully, the bruise around my eye was fading quickly, but that didn't stop me from covering it with make-up. I didn't want everyone to know I had been abused. I touched up my make-up and left the washroom.
Chase was waiting for me with two coffees. He handed me one.
"Thanks." I said.
"No problem." He smiled.
After that, we just walked around for about half an hour before we had to go back to the bus. I sighed, not wanting to sit back down.
After I finished my coffee, I felt wide awake. I doodled in a sketchbook, tried to read, went on my laptop.
Nothing held my attention for very long. Even Chase had fallen asleep.
I didn't want to call anyone; a lot of people on the bus were asleep. I didn't want to text Jared, because I wanted my arrival to be a surprise. I jumped when my phone vibrated.
Where r u? It was Jason. I ground my teeth together. God, I hated abbreviations.
On my way back to Forks. Was my reply.
I thought ur rents said u couldn't go back. He replied.
I can do what I want. I'm eighteen. Was my response, before turning my phone off.
I leaned back in my seat, feeling exhausted all of a sudden. I guess I was coming down from my caffeine high.
I fell asleep against the window of the bus.
