Chapter 2
They settled into silence while he ate and she sipped her coffee. Destiny pulled out her latest Patricia Cornwell novel and started reading. She finished up the book about an hour later. She leaned down to put it back in her bag at the same time he was reaching for something, and they bumped heads.
"OW!" They said simultaneously.
"Sorry Destiny."
"It's ok 'Oh my God you're Shane Helms'."
Shane laughed. "You can call me just Shane if you want. Not everyone calls me oh my God."
She grinned at him "Ok Just Shane. I can do that." He laughed again. She was flirting back. This is good...
"Funny!" He smirked shaking his head. Gotta love a girl with a sense of humor.
"So Destiny, where ya headed?"
"North Carolina, Cameron to be exact."
"That is too weird. Me too. I mean this bus stops in what, five other cities before we hit Cameron."
"That is ironic huh?" She replied.
"At least we can keep each other company..."
"True." they chatted for awhile, but she could tell he was tired.
"Why don't you get some sleep? I'll wake you up the next time we stop."
"Thanks. I'll try." Shane leaned back against the seat and closed his eyes; he was asleep in minutes.
While he was asleep Destiny pulled out her sketchpad. She was in the mood to be creative, write or draw, she couldn't take pictures without waking Shane up.
She started jotting on the edge of the pad
Blue
Blue~
The tinted shade of tears.
Blue~
The sunshine sky and the subtle
shade of ocean depths,
That make a man ask why.
Blue~
The mornings afterglow,
the sun on the rise.
Blue~
Graying illusions
of the hopeless sounds of cries.
Blue~
Dark velvet, pierced with stars
lining constellations, reflecting
back on a spinning orb.
One world,
instead of nations.
She looked over at Shane. He looked even younger in sleep, his face relaxed, his breathing even. A tiny smile on his lips... Destiny pulled out her drawing pencils and began sketching him. The angles and planes of his jaw line, the fullness of his lips... he was beautiful. Weird to think that way about a guy, but he was. After the rough sketch was done she pulled out the watercolor pencils, her favorite medium, and filled in the colors.
She was busy concentrating on putting the finishing touches on the silver chain he had around his neck when his voice startled her:
"Wow. Destiny that is fantastic!" She blushed, not only from the compliment but also because he had caught her drawing him.
"It's nothing." She shrugged finishing up.
"If this is nothing I want to see something!" He laughed. "May I?" Holding out his hand indicating the pad. She handed it to him so he could take a closer look. He sat and looked at it and then noticed the poem. It was melancholy, but filled with hope. "Wow Destiny, drawing and writing? Beautiful and talented!"
She was blushing now. "Stop it Just Shane!"
He laughed at her new nickname for him. "Are you gonna call me that the whole way to North Carolina?"
"Maybe!" She laughed.
"So tell me more about Destiny. Why are you going to North Carolina? For the holidays?"
"Actually I am moving there. I needed a change so I just picked a place and now that's where I am headed! I take it you are from there?"
"Yeah, I don't get home as often as I'd like but I love my job."
"So Just Shane, why are you riding a bus?"
"Because the airports are snowed in, there was a major blizzard in North Carolina! I was sick of sitting around and I don't like to drive long distances by myself. Matter of fact I don't like doing much by myself. I'd rather have friends or family to hang out with."
"That sounds good."
They chatted until the bus pulled into its first major city. Time to change buses and drivers. It was also dinnertime. Shane asked Destiny to join him, and she agreed. They talked like they had known each other forever.