The cab honked its horn outside my small house in Chicago. I lived in a quiet neighbourhood, so the sound echoed in the air. I grabbed the handle of my suitcase and my bag, and pulled it out of the door. The driver got out to help me put it in the car, then opened my door for me.

"Where to miss?"

"Bus Station please."

We pulled into the bay, and he helped me get my things out.

"5 dollars please miss."

I handed him the money, and walked into the station. People were rushing around everywhere, all hurrying and not wanting to miss their bus. I was taking the Greyhound to Seattle to visit my parents. Almost two days of sitting on a bus with a bunch of strangers. I could hardly wait. Cue the eye roll.

I went to the nearest Starbucks booth i could find first. If i didn't have coffee, i would in no way be able to function the rest of the day. Sitting down on the benches before people started loading onto the bus, i realised there were not a lot of people getting on this one. Hm, must be piling on through the trip then. It was not a secret that these things get packed to the max.

The few people around me started to get on then, so i picked up my bag, and dragged my suitcase out to the bus. As soon as my things were on, i settled down into a sit in the middle of the bus. I took out my iphone, and made a call to Jasper.

Ah, Jasper. Jasper was my best friend, the one person i could rely on and tell everything too. He and i had history, and although it didn't work out, we still remained the best of friends, which was unusual, but fitted us.

"Hey, Jazzy!" i chirped into the phone.

"Bells. I wish you would stop calling me that, you make me sound like a chick." He groaned.

"Yeah, but your my chick."

"That's true. So you settled in?"

"Yep. I miss my parents and everything, but this is going to be a long trip."

"I told you, you should have taken a plane."

"And risk plummeting to my death if it fails? No thanks."

"You're so over-dramatic."

"No, i just have sense. Anyway, is Lils around?"

"She is, but she's too into watching some film about a Princess. She's rather watch that than speak to you." I could tell his was grinning.

"Well, tell her i appreciate that. I've gotta go, might do some more writing whilst i'm on this thing of doom."

"Cheer up Chicka, it won't be that bad. Who knows, you might meet someone."

"Bu..."

"See ya, Chicka." He cut me off, and hung up. Typical.

A few more people trailed on board, but not many. 10 minutes later, and we were on the road. I pulled out my laptop, and started writing. Writing was my passion, the thing i loved to do the most. My grandparents had been well off, so i didn't really need money, with all my inheritance. But i went to college anyway, and got a degree in English Literature. My first book was on the Best-seller list for 6 weeks, which was an achievement i was very proud of. I was in the middle of writing a sequel, and my deadline was looming extremely quickly.

It was based on forbidden love, something that seemed to be desired nowadays. I'll be lucky to get any love at all. I thought i had loved Jasper, i really had. But there was just something that wasn't there. Sure, there was chemistry, but there just wasn't that final spark. He felt the same, so after about a year, we decided to split. Our parents weren't very happy about that, as they thought we were great together, but they respected our decision.

"Crappy, crap, crap." I had no inspiration. Maybe Lils could help me. I took out the picture of her, and set it on the little tray that pulled down from the back of the seat in front, where my laptop was placed already.

"Awh, c'mon Lil, you gotta give me something." And just like that, i started writing again. I swear that girl had magic powers, even when she wasn't near me.

The first stop was in Iowa. A Few people got on and off, but the numbers remained about the same, and i got two chairs to myself still. We waited for about 20 minutes and then continued.

Just as we crossed into South Dakota, hours later, on another stop, things started to get interesting. I saw a flash of black hair as someone ran around to the entrance of the bus, and a high pitched, tinkling voice was heard.

"Eww! I have to sit in these seats? But anyone could have had their ass there!"

The pixie-like woman practically danced instead of walked down the aisle, and her eyes lit up when she saw me, sat alone. She dropped her bag in the floor next to me, and dropped into the seat.

She held out her hand for me to shake.

"Hi, I'm Alice!"