We sit in silence for a minute while our classmates finish boarding the bus and taking their seats. Ms. Chamberlain’s voice comes over the loud speaker to let us know that we’re about to leave. People scramble into seats and shove backpacks in every available space. Minutes later, the bus pulls out of our school lot and onto the road, and Knox reaches for my hand, threading our fingers together. The touch is strangely intimate, and far sweeter than I’m used to. I’m a bit of a loner, I guess. It comes from moving so much, probably. But I’m not used to forming connections or holding hands. I should pull back. This...whatever it is...can’t go anywhere. He said he was leaving and I will be, too. And we barely know each other. Yea, he’s hot, and charming, but that doesn’t mean anything.
Unless… unless I let myself indulge for just a day. What’s the harm in that? I can share a bus seat with a cute guy without making a lifetime commitment, right? And if he wants to hang out later today, would it hurt if I said yes? Maybe I’ll throw caution to the wind and let him kiss me later, I think, smiling to myself. Yea, that probably won’t happen. I’m sure he’s here to spend the day with his buddies. But then he squeezes my hand and smiles at me.
“Feel free to take a nap. I’ll wake you when we get there.”
“Are you sure?” I ask.
“Absolutely,” he says, patting his shoulder. “Sweet dreams,” he tells me, as I lean into him and close my eyes. I doubt I’ll be able to fall asleep with all this noise. I’m one of those people who need total silence and absolute darkness to reach the point of slumber. But when I wake up three hours later, my face cuddled to Knox’s chest, I have the distinct feeling that today will be filled with new experiences.
* * *
Knox
We step off the bus and I stretch. Holding Willa in my arms for three hours was no chore, but I hate being cramped up for any amount of time, so I’m ready to move my muscles a little. We stand in the ticket line, and Willa lets me thread my fingers through hers once again. I have no idea what is brewing between us, but I know that I like the way I feel when I’m with her, and I want to spend as much time with her as possible.
After scanning our tickets, I turn to her. “So, what’s first? Do we tackle the big roller coaster? I hear it’s epic. Or do you want to head to the back of the park and work our way forward?”
“Neither. I am here for one reason and one reason only. I’m going to spend the entire day lounging on the lazy river. I’ll break for food and to reapply lotion, but that’s it. Today is the first day I haven’t had work or school in what feels like forever so I am going to indulge in total laziness.”
“A full day on the water?”
“Yep,” she smiles.
“Sounds perfect to me,” I tell her, and it does. But just then, Austin and a couple of the guys come up behind us, slapping my back just being stupid teenage guys.
“Dude. You coming? We’re going on the WaveRider. Tony smuggled in water guns and we’re gonna shoot water on unsuspecting tourists down below.”
“Sorry, guys, we’ve got plans.” I tell them, not regretting my decision at all. Spending the day with Willa is exactly what I want.
Austin looks at Willa. “You’re the new girl. From Jersey, right?”
“Yea. But, Knox, you don’t have to spend the—”
“But I want to,” I cut her off. “Later, guys,” I say as we turn to head in the direction of the water park.
“Are you sure?” she looks up at me.
“Am I sure that I’d rather spend the day looking at you in a bikini than squirting a water gun at people I don’t know? One hundred percent.” She rolls her eyes and a blush stains her cheeks. “But seriously, I have fun when I’m with you. And that’s what today is for, right? To have fun.”
“It is,” she says. “But I have a feeling that your definition of fun and mine are a little different.”
“You’re probably right,” I concede, squeezing her hand. “Good thing I’ve got all day to educate you.”
* * *
It takesme no time to change. All I need to do is take off my t-shirt and shoes andvoila!I’m ready to swim. So, I grab some towels and snag two chairs in the shade. I know Willa’s plan is to spend the day in the sun, but her skin is much fairer than mine, and I have a feeling she’ll need a break by midday.
To kill time, I scroll through my phone and text my guys a selfie.
Knox:What’s up, bitches?
Booker:Nice. You at Falcon’s Point? I was always jealous your school had a much better senior trip than mine.
Whit:Accurate. We had a blast last year. Falcon’s Point beats the shit out of the worship concert your class had to go to, Book. Didn’t you also tour a nunnery?
Booker:No. It was a factory where they make Bibles. It was kind of interesting, actually.
Whit:Sorry, I didn’t catch that. I fell asleep.
