The Bus (A R&R Story)
“I won’t get us lost,” Ravi says.
“I didn’t get us lost either,” Rylee shoots back, trying to snatch the map from him.
“Ah, ah, ah… nope,” Ravi holds the map above his head, smiling down at Rylee.
“Asshole, gimmie that,” Rylee laughs, jumping up at the map, grabbing at Ravi’s arms.
“Nope, nope,” he jerks back and forth, keeping the map just out of reach.
Rylee jumps, wrapping around Ravi’s waist. She snatches the map and takes off running though the bushes as Ravi gives chase.
He throws threats, saying he’ll catch her. She laughs as she runs, ducking under branches and throwing glances over her shoulder as he catches up.
She shrieks as she runs, the map waving in her left hand. Ravi does a tackle, landing on top of Rylee and pinning her down. She wiggles under him, moving the map under her, so Ravi can’t get it.
“What did you do with the map, now?” He says, prying her fingers open, as she lays facedown in the dirt.
He flips her over, pushing hair from her face and snatching the map.
“Gottcha,” he rolls off of her, laying on his back.
They lay like that for awhile, watching the clouds float by until they’re hidden by the bright green trees.
Rylee gets up, motioning for Ravi to come on. He follows, map forgotten in his fist. As they make their way through the woods, Rylee tries to look for signs of wildlife.
“You’re crazy for wanting to come here,” Ravi says, his beautiful brown eyes sparkling with the sunlight.
“I’m not crazy. It’s pretty here.”
Ravi points to a red thing hidden in the bushes, “Hey, what’s that?”
“That looks like a…” Rylee puzzles over the object, drawing near, “a bus, I think.”
“An old one,” Ravi corrects Rylee, as if she needs it.
“I know that, Rav, it isn’t hard to see.”
“I mean it’s probably been there for awhile,” he says, pointing to the windows and smiling, “See? They’re busted.”
“Shut up, dork,” Rylee shoves him, laughing when he pushes back.
“I guess we are a magnet for paranormal… uh, stuff,” says Ravi, nudging her shoulder and smiling.
“Your English is so bad,” Rylee punches him on the arm, grinning and laughing.
“It’s not my fault English isn’t my language!”
“But it’s funny as hell,” Rylee replies, laying her hand on the side of the rusty bus.
“So you’re going to touch it after what happened last time?”
“Yeah, c’mere,” Rylee pulls him forward, pulling out her phone and snapping a picture as she pokes Ravi, making him smile.
“Come on, girl, let’s get out of here before we see ghosts and shit.” Ravi drapes an arm around Rylee and together, they stroll from the woods.
Ravi still has that map, no matter how hard Rylee snuck around to get it.