Chapter thirty-eight:

Zac knocked on the door to Becky and Jenna’s room. It had been propped open with an old shoe. Zac stepped over the shoe and it’s mate.
He found Becky sitting at the small table with a mug of tea and a magazine open in front of her.

“Hey, Becca. Are you packed?”
”Yeah.” She pointed to a bag neatly packed and leaning against the back of a chair.

Zac studied her demeanor for a moment, then pulled out a chair and sat next to her. “Are you still mad at me?”
”For what?” She asked, her blue eyes meeting his.
”For last night. We had a fight about the letter and tightening security and everything…” He paused.  “And you were really mad at me…”

“Zac…” She reached out and rested her palm on his forearm. “I’m not mad at you. I was frustrated because of the situation. I know you meant well.”
”Really? I thought you were mad at me…”

Becky smiled. “Come on, why we don’t go down to the bus.”

“Ok.” Zac stood and hoisted her overnight bag up onto his shoulder. “Um… this isn’t… one of those things where you say you’re not mad, but you really are, right?”

Becky wrapped her arms tightly around his waist and rested her cheek against his chest. “Zac, I swear, I’m not mad.”

“Okay, good.” He nestled his lips into her hair.

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Jenna was stretched across the front sofa of the bus, with a book open in front of her. She had been listening to music on her disk-man until at last the batteries had worn out. And she was still bored.

She had finished reading every book, magazine and cd jacket she had brought with her, and still she was unsatisfied.

The curtain between the front lounge and the bunks slid open and Taylor came out. He grabbed a can of dr. pepper from the fridge and crossed to the sofa where Jenna was.

He lifted her feet and sat in their place.

Jenna pretended to be fascinated in her book.

“Jen,” Taylor said.

She continued to scan her book.

Taylor sighed and slipped the book out of her hand and closed it.

“What?” Jenna asked.

“What’s the matter?”

“Nothing? I was trying to read and listen to music.”

Taylor raised his eyebrows. “You don’t have any batteries. No one on the bus does. And, that’s my book you’re reading, and I know for a fact you read it yesterday.”

“Ok, so I’m bored.”

“That’s it? There isn’t anything more?”

“No.”

“Alright. But just so you know, if there’s something upsetting you, you can talk to me, or Becky.”

“Thanks Tay, but I guess I’m just bored, and lonely…”

“Well, how about we go see a movie. You and I can hang out, ok?”

Jenna smiled. “That’s sweet. Thank you.”

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