Chapter 3

The following week passed with surprising velocity in much the same fashion as the previous. Liz came into little contact with Stefano, and was quickly becoming closer to Chris. She even felt the envious glances of her fellow female classmates as he helped her with her books, or pulled out a chair. He would drive her home nearly every night, with the pretence of picking his brother up from the local junior school although she was fully aware that Chris's family lived just 2 houses down from the school.

It was on one of these nights that Liz found herself unbuckling her seatbelt to climb out of the car, when Chris leaned across her to her door handle stopping her get out of the car.

Liz looked up into his eyes, the surprise clearly written on her face. He was staring at her lips as they parted in her surprise.

"I've wanted to say this for a while now Liz" He started hesitantly.

His close proximity was making her feel incredibly nervous; she hadn't really been this close to a guy that wasn't related to her before.

"Chris?" She asked, the innocence in her voice noticeable even to her ears.

He was still leaning on the door, the side of her body crushed into his, their faces just a few inches away. He gazed into her eyes a little while longer till there was a loud rapping on the window, shocking them both out of the moment.

They both turned to see who was outside the window but there was no one.

"Um, I better go." Liz's voice was hoarse, "I'm making tea tonight and I don't want to get in trouble"

Chris looked at her a moment longer and agreed. "Yes maybe it is best, I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Yes of course" she smiled at him.

Getting out the car Liz's legs felt wobbly and her heart was beating from what might have happened in that car. However although she knew Chris was everything a girl could want, she couldn't help but feel a little relieved that nothing had happened and spoilt the friendship of a very valued ally.

Wednesday was the day of the trip and there was a definite hum of excitement in the air as Liz's class lined up outside the building waiting their turn to take a seat on the bus.

"I need everyone's permission form as they get on the bus, so please make sure you have it out ready" Called an anonymous teacher from the front of the line.

Everyone started shuffling around in their bags for their slips, and it was as she was looking, Liz's heart leapt into her mouth. Her form was still in her locker with her wallet. Heart racing she calculated how long she had to get back and how many students were in the queue.

Turning to Chris she asked him to delay the bus as long as he could, and set out running at top speed towards the school.

Liz had moments to spare as she raced blindly behind the back of the bus, form clutched in her hand.

As she rounded the corner she jumped at the door and handed in her form, panting. Climbing aboard she looked around for a seat, only to find that nearly every seat had been taken. She searched out Chris to see a quiet boy from the class sitting next to him. He mouth "Sorry" to her and held up his arms in a shrug.

"Please take a seat Miss Hart, we're already late."

Blushing, she glanced around desperately for a seat till her eyes landed on one of the last seats at the back, far away from any of her friends down by the front.

She rushed towards the empty chair and was a little put out to see that in the adjoining seat sat Stefano. She gingerly sat down next to him as he glanced up and a small scowl crossed his features. She made sure not to touch him however this was no small feat, as his long legs seemed to take up nearly all the leg area, including her own.

She wondered how he could even get into the seat let alone journey in comfort.

Liz had a sinking feeling that this journey wouldn't be so comfortable for her either. She adjusted her seating position, staring straight ahead of her trying her best not to look at him. As the Bus started off, she risked one glance at him, and saw out of the corner of her eye his stiff posture, angled as far away from her as possible.

As the journey continued, her listening to her IPod, him glaring out of the window in silence, the tension seemed to mount between them.

Finally, as the bus jerked around a corner a bit too fast, Liz was propelled towards Him, her small frame being thrown with the bus almost across his lap, her earphones flying out of her ears.

He let out a low growl as she felt his thighs tense under her chest from where she had landed.

Fighting to right herself against the directional force of the bus but to not touch him any more than necessary, Liz's cheeks flamed as he put his large hands on her jumper-clad shoulders and easily manipulated her body into a sitting position again. He bent between his legs to retrieve her IPod and practically threw it in her lap.

Not daring to look at him, she mumbled "Thank you" and was rewarded with a slight shrug as he went back to glaring out the window, the tension between the two in no way diminished, if not heightened.