Chapter two
hundred and fifty-one:
Luke climbed up
the stairs onto the bus. He found the girls standing and waiting with their overnight
bags ready to go. For the first time in days, Jen had gotten dressed in a pair
of tight jeans and a t-shirt which seemed to hang off her shoulders.
“So, I guess
someone told you that I’m taking you back to the hotel.” Luke observed
unnecessarily.
“Zac told me. I
told them.” Becky replied.
“Can we go now?” Christy asked. “If I have to look at the inside of this bus
much longer, I’ll go insane.”
Luke smiled.
“Okay, I guess it’s good that I have a cab waiting outside, then.”
“Thank god!” Christy
replied.
“Just one
thing,” Luke began. “The cab can’t get back here, so it’s parked across the
street. We’ve got to walk by some fans.”
Becky shrugged.
“That’s okay. I’m fine with that.”
“Let’s go!” Jen
said eagerly.
“Wait, wait.”
Luke held up his hands. “I’ve got strict orders. None of you talk to them,
okay? Just walk right past.”
“They’re just
girls.” Christy shrugged. “They’re harmless.”
“We don’t know
that.” Luke said. “Just promise.”
Becky nodded. “I
promise.”
“Okay, come on,
we’ve got to go quickly.” He said, and moved aside so the girls could pass.
Jen smiled at
him and tried to hoist her bag onto her shoulder, but Luke beat her to it. “I
got it,” He smiled.
“Thank you so
much for this. All of this.” She gently kissed his cheek and led the way out of
the bus.
Christy walked
several steps ahead, and Jenna looped arms with Becky. “It’s okay.” She
whispered. “They’re just fans… like us, remember?”
Becky smiled at
that.
“Don’t worry,”
Jen continued. “None of them have cameras.”
As they walked
past the line of fans, many of them looked up and eyed the girls. Luke studied
them; to be sure none of them were acting strangely.
He didn’t see
any cameras and he didn’t see any immediate threat.
Many of the fans whispered to each other, recognizing the girls.
One of them,
however, spoke up. “Are you Isaac’s wife?” She asked Christy.
Christy slowed
and responded “Yes.”
“Are you
pregnant?” Another fan asked.
She smiled
slyly, “Not yet.”
Luke couldn’t
believe she was speaking to them, after she had agreed not to.
“Christy-“ Becky urged, “Let’s go.”
They walked
several more feet and someone else called out, “Are you dating
Jen dropped her
gaze, causing her dark brown hair to cover her face. Luke’s possessiveness got
the best of him, and he put his arm around her, “Come on, love.”
He said softly.
“Whore.” One of the fans spat, thinking they were
out of earshot.
Jen snapped, she
let go of Becky and spun around in a fury. She lunged toward the fan, but
Luke’s arm circled her body, and he pulled her back. He quickly ushered all
three girls to the cab and got in the front seat, while they crammed into the
back.
“Well, that went
exceptionally well.” He sighed.