"Guys, Seriously! Where have you been?" Dad isn't pissed. 'Pissed' doesn't even to begin the wrathful rage with which we face upon our return to the quasi-restaurant.

"Sorry, Dad. We were stopped by the state patrol and they had to call back to Albuquerque to verify our stories. I try to give him a look of innocence yet also convey aggravation towards the five-oh. "They detained us for about forty-five minutes."

"But you were gone for two hours! What really happened?" he continues. I don't have any more excuses; that's why I'm so happy that Ry jumps into the conversation.

"After I unlocked the first undercarriage, I dropped the keys," thus raising the bus driver's key ring containing more metal shards than a common janitor's, "Thusly; it took me forever to find the right one. Wouldn't it figure, it was the last key that I tried?"

I roll my eyes and my dad chuckles. "Of course it was the last key Ryan. Why would you try another after getting the hatch open?" Ryan blushes profusely. How adorable!

HSM – SY TRYAN HSM – SY TRYAN HSM – SY

Since we'd appeased Dad, the team had no choice but to file onto Ms. Montez' bus and keep opinions to themselves. But, mind you, that was two-and-a-half hours ago.

I find that my arm has fallen asleep while draping it over Ry's shoulders. I move it away and he gives me puppy dog eyes. "Sorry. I just wanted to get more comfortable." I explain.

"What could be more comfortable than holding me in your arms?" he asks crossly. I notice a hint of melancholic sorrow in his voice and it makes me smile. "What the hell, Troy?!"

I kiss his lips lightly and lean my forehead against his. "How about this? I couldn't be more comfortable than I am right now." I see the corners of his mouth curl into a wicked grin. "Wait. I was wrong." I add upon adjusting myself. His frown reappears as I stand. I pull him to the wall of the bus and sit between him and the aisle.

Well, maybe 'sit' isn't a good way to describe it. I curl into the fetal position while lying on my back and then I hoist myself so that the small of my back lies against his lap. I rest my feet onto the bench and he wraps his arms securely around my bosom. He holds me by my right ribcage to support my weight during periods of acceleration and deceleration. He places his left hand lightly on my stomach and I place mine on top of his, entwining our digits. I turn slightly to place my right hand around the nape of his neck and give him another quick, chaste, yet passionate kiss. I rest my head in the crook of his neck and inhale audibly. Closing my eyes, I utter the most animalistic growl I can accomplish in appreciation of his delectable scent. I know he's smiling like a madman now.

"Much better." I murmur as I allow the weight of my head to fall upon his muscular form and roll so that the bridge of my nose runs perpendicularly to the invisible line running from the southern point of his ear canal to the bulbous end of his collarbone.

"Mais oui. Je suis en accord. C'est parfait." (Oh yeah. I agree. This is perfect.) He coos. I can feel him resting his cheek on my head and I know that we're going to fall asleep like this.

Or maybe not. I can't seem to get my mind to calm down. Maybe I should… "Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz"