“You were looking at me.”
“Only because you were looking at me.”
We laugh again.
Kylen is about to say something, but then one of the teachers announces that it’s time for us to load onto the buses. At once, every kid grabs their suitcase and makes their way to the gates that are opening up. The coach buses are parked right outside.
There’s a bit of pushing and shoving as kids hurry to get on the bus. It seems all of the popular kids are trying to get on the same bus. That leaves my friends and me, plus Kylen and his friends, with the second bus. After we stash our suitcases and backpacks in the luggage compartment, we get on the bus.
“How are we doing this?” Addie asks as she glances at the available seats toward the middle of the bus. “Should we pair off with each other? Rock, paper, scissors?”
“Don’t you guys want to sit with your boyfriends?” I ask.
The three of them exchange a glance.
“We don’t have to,” Carly says. “It’s not like they’re going anywhere.”
“But you can’t live without him for more than a millisecond,” I remind her in a teasing way.
“Well yeah, but I can’t live without you for a millisecond, either.”
I wave my hand. “Thanks, but it’s okay. You guys should have fun with your boyfriends. I was planning on working on my lyrics anyway.”
“Are you sure, Raven?” Sophie asks. “You know you’re just as important to us as our guys are.”
“I know,” I assure her. “But I’m good. Really.” I give each of them a sincere smile before sliding into the seat behind Carly. I mean every word I said. As hard as it is sometimes to share them with their boyfriends, all I want is for them to be happy. And I know that I would want to spend the ride to the lodge with my boyfriend if I had one.
Sophie gives me a thankful smile before calling Damian over and settling down in the seat across from Carly and Ryder, who has just plopped down next to her. The bus is pretty noisy, especially from the kids in the back, but I know I’ll be able to tune them out once I get into my songwriting.
After sliding to the window, I rummage in my purse for the small notepad and pen I stashed there. Just as I get them out, I see a shadow next to my seat and raise my head. Kylen stands there with a hopeful smile on his face.
“Hey. Is this seat taken?” He nods to the empty seat next to me.
“No,” I say, my heart rate picking up. I’m not going to lie—I was hoping he would ask to sit with me. But I didn’t think it would actually happen.
“Thanks.” He drops down next to me and places his backpack on his knees.
“You didn’t put your bag in the luggage compartment?” I ask.
“No way. The guys and I need our snacks.”
“Oh.” I crane my neck and realize that the guys have taken seats behind us. Leo sits alone, though. “You’re not sitting with Leo?” I ask.
His brows fly up. “Do you want me to?”
“No!” I nearly shout. “I mean, no. I guess I just feel bad that he’s sitting alone.”
“The guys insisted I sit with you,” he informs me.
“They did? Why?”
“Because they think you’re awesome. The new song you wrote for us is out of this world. Jasper actually got teary-eyed as we played it yesterday.”
“Did he really?”
“I don’t know. He pretended it was the wind.”
“There’s no wind in the music room.”
