Chapter II
"Gwen… I love you." Those words echoed in Gwen's mind throughout the night, her heart fluttered every time his voice called out to her. Sleep did not come easy for her in the hours after Ben's confession, how could it? The young girl's mind raced with all the possibilities that lay before her now––the good and the bad. She was positive they could work out a relationship if they really tried; look how far along they'd come. Only three years ago the two utterly despised each other and were intolerable if they together more than a few hours. Next thing they knew they were on a summer-long road trip to hell––and would unknowingly step into a world they never knew existed––and gradually came to be friends. Weeks and months passed after Ben and Gwen returned home and there wasn't a day they couldn't find at least an hour to hang out. Gwen smiled to herself, remembering back to the day about a year-and-a-half ago, when Ben was sick and couldn't be with her. She had been so sad and miserable without him––not seeing him one day––bothered her to no end, she thought she'd gone crazy.
Ben stirred in the bunk above her, bringing her back to reality. Gwen lay there silently, listening to him shuffle around up there, his arm dipped over the edge in all his tossing and turning. She let out a breath she hadn't known she'd been holding and brought her right arm from beneath her blankets. Her fingertips traced over Ben's dangling hand and caressed it. How she wished she could be up there next to him, snuggled against his back; the thought of that alone made her blush uncontrollably. Gwen closed her eyes for what seemed like the millionth time and tried again to drift off to sleep.