CHAPTER 21

Pretty soon, it's almost thanksgiving. Caleb and I were planning on going home by bus so we had more time with each other. Caleb have already bought us tickets. If I drive my car, we won't be able to enjoy each other's company. Dara won't be home for Thanksgiving. She would be spending it with Alex's family.

"Okay, you got the tickets?" Caleb asked as he hoisted his backpack.

I rummaged through my huge tote and found them. I waved the tickets in front of Caleb's face. He smiled and took them. Hand in hand we walked to the bus that we were supposed to board.

I was excited since it was my fist time riding the greyhound. I was totally sheltered and riding a bus was something new.

We found our seat and put our bagpacks there. Since there was still time, Caleb went out to buy some drinks and snacks at the concession stand. I sat back and texted my mum.

"Psst, psst! Excuse me.." I heard a hushed voice suddenly. I looked around and saw 2 blond girls looking at me and beckoning me to look at them. I raised my eyebrows questioningly.

"Mm, yeah?" I asked, wondering what they wanted from me.

"Hey, is that Caleb Matthews?" One of the blondes asked.

"Um, yes...?" I answered uncertainly.

Just then Caleb got in the bus and walked towards me. The blonde who spoke stood up and called.

"Hey, you're Caleb right? Caleb Matthews of Jefferson High?" She said. Caleb blinked his eyes a few times and looked confused. Then his face broke into a huge grin.

"Sophie?! Hey, girl! " Caleb walked up to Sophie and they hugged. Then he turned to the other blond and they hugged, too.

"Stacy, you're here too? What are you guys doing here? You guys staying in Seattle, too?" Caleb asked as he sat beside me but turned his body and attention to the two girls. I stared at his back and sighed. I stuffed my ears with my earphones and turned on my ipod. I let him have his little reunion. The girls were vaguely familiar. I finally realized they were in Caleb's grade. But since I was practically a loner, I never bothered about other students in school except Dara, Caleb and some kids in my class.

Even with Troye Sivan blasting in my ears, I could still hear the giggling girls and Caleb talking. I decided to ignore them and looked at the scenery as the bus had moved and we were on our way home. Since I was bored, I got out a book and started reading. I could still hear them talking even after a while. I looked over at Caleb and saw that he was not in his seat. I poked my head over the seat and was surprised to see Caleb and the girls were taking pictures together. When one of the blondes saw me, she squealed.

"Hey, come on, Charlie! Let's take a wefie!" She called and I was taken aback. I wasn't the type to warm up to new people that easily. Okay, so technically they're not really new, but still. I never spoke to them in high school. I was about to say no until Caleb came over and pulled me up. He pushed me in the group, beside the blonde named Stacy, I think. Sophie put her arms around Caleb's neck and pulled him close to her that their cheeks were practically smooshed together. Stacy took our picture. I felt a bit left out when Caleb took the phone and started looking at the pictures with the girls. Feeling awkward, I walked back to my seat and picked up my book. At that moment, seeing Caleb with people his age, it made me feel old. I mean, 2 years is nothing, but why do I feel ancient?

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I felt something on my cheek and I stirred. My eyes fluttered open and a pair of hazel green eyes stared back at me. I sat up and looked around me. It was stil light. I looked back at Caleb and he was smiling. He took hold of my shoulder and pulled me back to my seat. He put his arms around me and just held me, without saying a word. I snuggled in his arms, my irritation with him and the the 2 blondes is forgotten. Suddenly, there was a hiss. I sat up and looked behind our seat. It was one of the blondes. She was smiling apologetically. I pushed away from Caleb and turned away as she turned to Caleb.

"Um, hey, sorry for interrupting. Can I have Dara's number and yours too, Caleb? I thought maybe we could get together sometimes? I mean, we always hung out in school and Dara was like the coolest girl, ever!" She said as she took out her phone.

"Sure, " Caleb said as he punched Dara's number and his into the blonde's phone. She looked positively glowing when she took the phone back from Caleb. She practically skipped to the seat at the back. She did some kind of victory dance when she met her friend's gaze. Then they huddled together, presumably looking at the pictures and Caleb's number. I just looked at Caleb who had settled back in his seat. I knew what the girls were doing. I knew they liked him. I felt a twinge of jealousy when the other blonde came for the phone number. I thnk they matched Caleb better. I was such a stick in the mud and boring when surrounded by the blonde girls.

Just then, the bus stopped at a rest stop and I was relieved since I need the restroom ASAP. When the bus stopped, I rushed to the restroom and did what I had to. After that, as I was getting ready to get out from the stall, I heard familiar voices. The blondes. I decided to wait them out.

"I can't believe we actually saw Caleb again after high school. Remember how you guys went out last year? I really thought you guys were like gonna make it all official. What happened?" 1 blonde said to the other. I heard splashes of water as they washed their hands.

"I know right? And Dara was so cool. She was happy we went out. ..I guess we just drifted apart after high school. I think it's time we get to know each other again. It's really convenient that we're both studying in Seattle. I will definitely make sure we pick up where we left off...Hey, you remember that girl with Caleb just now? She was kinda familiar..." Blonde A said.

"Oh, you don't remember? She always hung out with Dara. I think they're best friends or something. But I can't recall her name. She was a loner, basically. I never saw her at parties that Dara went to. Hey, why was she with Caleb? Maybe they're together....No! I really don't think so." Blonde B said. I stiffened and grasped my hands in to fists.

"Yeah, I mean, why would Caleb be with her? That'd be too weird. Plus, I don't think Dara would like it. I mean, she is older than him and she looks, well, ordinary. I mean, Caleb is hot as eff! And come on, Caleb's so outgoing, there is no way he'd go out with a person like her. She looks boring and serious. I thought she was kinda scary." Blonde A said and then I heard footsteps going out of the bathroom.

They're gone. I took a deep breath and opened the stall door. The bathroom was empty. I went to the wash basins and washed my hands, my head was swirling with so many emotions and recalling what they said about me that it was hard to focus with washing hands. I felt embarrassed that they thought me being with Caleb was ridiculous. It made me feel unworthy. I knew Caleb was too good for me. But to hear someone say that was really an eye-opening experience for me. Do we really look ridiculous together? I looked at myself in the mirror. My hair was up in a messy bun, I was wearing a white top with dark skinny jeans and no makeup. Should I have put on makeup this morning? I thought I looked okay. Suddenly I didn't think so. Taking a shaky breath, I walked out of the bathroom, my head still thinking abot what the girls said.

When I reached the bus, I saw Caleb standing at the door, looking around like he was looking for something. I lowered my head as I walked to the bus. When Caleb saw me, he smiled with relief and took my hand.

"Charlie, there you are! You were gone so long I got worried. Come on, the bus is leaving." Caleb said casually and took my hand in his. Somehow, I felt uncomfortable when Caleb did that. I can't get out of my head the fact that people were judging us when we're close like this. Plus I didn't want Sophie and Stacy to see and tell Dara about what they saw and asking her if we were an item. I could imagine her shock. I pulled my hand from his grasp and pretended to look for something in my bag when Caleb looked over his shoulder to ask me what was up since I pulled my hand out of his.

I saw Stacy and Sophie at their seats. They waved at me and were all smiles when they saw me. I gave a tiny smile and sat at my seat, cursing them for being fake and a two-faced. Stupid airhead bitches! I looked out the window and didn't say a word when Caleb sat beside me and was about to speak to me when that Sophie started calling him. He looked over his shoulder and they started talking about some people in their class. I turned it off and stuffed my ears with my ear pods, trying to block everything. And to silence Sophie's and Stacy's conversation in the bathroom earlier.

My eyes fluttered open. I looked around me and saw it was a little dark. I looked at the seat beside me. Caleb was not there. I heard murmurs and peeked at the back seat. Caleb was in a deep conversation with Sophie. Stacy was asleep beside her. Caleb was sitting at an empty seat across the aisle from Sophie and were talking too her. She was listening intently and giggling as well. Then, she kinda laughed and put her hand on his knee. And Caleb didn't even move her hand or seem uncomfotable. And Sophie kept her hand on his knee. And it moved up to his thigh in front of my horrified eyes. Caleb seemed unaware and was still talking to her. I looked away unable to handle the spectacle. So much for riding the bus to spend time together. Looks like he's spending most of the journey with the Handsy Sophie. I felt anger welling up in me. Not because Sophie was touching and fondling Caleb, but because Caleb was not pushing her hand away and letting her grubby hands touch him everywhere..okay, maybe not everywhere..but it's the same thing. I looked at my watch. I was grateful that it was about time we would arrive at my hometown. I don't think I could stand watching Sophie flirting with Caleb and him letting her. I got busy gathering my stuff and making myself look presentable to get my mind off Caleb and Sophie. Suddenly Caleb came back to our seat and kissed my forehead. I looked at him, annoyed. He was smiling at me. I ignored him.

"Charlie, you ok?" Caleb asked as he took my hand. I ignored him, my hand slack like a dead fish in his hand. I saw him frowned and looked away, not saying anything.

"Baby, what's wrong? Are you mad at me or something?" Caleb asked quietly. Hekept trying to pull me to face him and I kept resisting. Finally, he sighed and left me alone. Through the remainder of the journey, I just looked outside the window and Caleb slept beside me. I looked at him as he slept. He was beautiful. Too beautiful for me. I looked like Shrek beside him. Who was I kidding? We don't make sense. I mean, even the 2 blondes thought it was impossible that we're together. And I think Caleb didn't tell them we're a couple. I mean, I didn't want him too, since it might get back to Dara and I would be screwed. But still...I sighed, not knowing what I want. I leaned back and stare at Caleb, the guy I love and who loves me but I felt that we're so far apart right now, in spite of sitting next to each other. Our personalities are polars apart, our looks don't match and the age thing..okay, not so much the age but the fact that he's my best friend's baby brother. Agh, I should just stop thinking, I was giving myself a headache. But I looked at Caleb, drinking him in, knowing that I should give him up soon. .... I know I should..right??

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I looked out the window as the bus slowly came to a stop. I nudged Caleb awake. He woke up, blinking his eyes and looking around. The driver opened the entrance door and some passangers were already walking out of the bus. I already called mum when the bus almost neared my town.

"You've got everything?" Caleb asked as he looked at me. I nodded, without looking at him. I heard him sigh. We got up and he made way for me to go out first. As he was about to follow me, Sophie called him.

"Hey Caleb, wait up! I wanna ask you something," Sophie called and Caleb looked over his shoulder. I glanced at Sophie's excited face and walked out, without waiting for Caleb, but I felt him held my arm. I looked over my shoulder at Caleb. He looked at me, his face serious.

"Yeah, let's get out of the bus first, shall we?" Caleb said politely. He had a firm grip on my arm and I had to walk out, him holding onto me even when I felt like smacking his hand away.

Once we were off the bus, Sophie and Stacy followed us to the main bus building. They talked non-stop and laughed. Caleb did too, coz well, he's a really nice guy. Which sucked major balls.

"So, ok Sophie, Stacy. We gotta go. It's been nice catching up. Do let me know if the class is gonna have a reunion or something. Could be fun to see everybody, too." Caleb said, still holding onto me.

"Wait, Caleb, can we like, hang out sometime? You know, like for dinner or something? You know..like old times..??" Sophie said, her face pink as she twittered all cute and delicate. Yeah, she annoyed the hell out of me.

"Gee, actually I'm with someone. Yeah, I got a girlfriend. Sorry I didn't make it clear just now. I didn't think it was crucial that I do, but somehow, it is. So, no, sorry. But we can hang out with Dara, that's ok." Caleb said as he let go of my arm, but grabbed my hand and intertwined our fingers. It sent a shiver down my spine. He only interlaced our fingers together and already I felt all turned on and shit...and I'm thinking of leaving him..humph, I must be our of my freaking mind.

"Oh..um, yeah, that's ok. She's a lucky girl. So, um, see ya around, ok? Bye!" Sophie said as she looked a little forlorn. The girls walked off after that. I didn't feel sorry for her at all. It's not because I'm an evil, cruel unfeeling witch. It's just that girls like her can get any guy they want. Unlike me. I know I would never find another Caleb. Like, seriously..I was thinking of giving him up?! I am mental..Must be motion sickness or something.

When the girls were gone, Caleb turned to me and suddenly hugged me, tight. I was a little surprised. But feeling his body tight against me suddenly lifted the burden of jealousy and anger from my shoulders. I hugged him back as he kissed my cheek. When we pulled away, he peered at me. I couldn't look him in the eye.

"Look, I'm a friendly guy. Sometimes I get a bit too friendly, I get that. But you matter more than all the other girls put together, ok. Right now, you're more important to me than even Dara, so please, please...bear with me,ok? I promise to tell the girls I'm with you , alright? Actually, you have no idea how much I wanted to tell them, but I know you won't want me too, since it could get back to Dara. So, I kept quiet about it. But that made you into this jealous-" Caleb said and I quickly cut him off.

"I wasn't jealous, don't flatter yourself." I lied as I pulled away slowly, not looking at Caleb.

"Really, coz I could feel the jealousy heat radiating from you..Look, baby, I love it that you're jealous. It makes me feel good that you feel that way. It means you care about me. So, it's okay to feel jealous. I like it.."Caleb said with that smirky smile of his plastered on his lips.

"Fine, I was just a tiny bit jealous. I mean, that Sophie was all over you and you let her. It kinda made me want to smack the both of you." I said grudgingly and Caleb laughed as he put his arm around my shoulder, pulling me close against him. It was cold and we were walking towards the parking lot. From afar, I saw mum waving at us. I tried pushing Caleb away, but he held me tight and wouldn't budge. In the end, I let him hold me. Only when we were near my mum that Caleb let me go to hug her. I hugged mum, too. Her smell was so comforting that I realized I missed her a lot. It's so good to be home.