"True love is like chess, A man always afraid to lose his queen"- Anon
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Shelly's Pov

I thumped onto the floor sitting with my legs crossed. His body adorned the wooden floor, tired as he was. His maroon shirt was too overlarge for him. Stephen wasnt really a good-looking creature, nothing even remotely like Jake for that matter but I liked how he was. Lanky and thin, he was funny and I guess thats what is so attractive about him as a person.

Today was our last day here. Iwould have to say Goodbye to the greenery and never ending trees. I would have to say Goodbye to the treks and food I could consume without thinking of getting more fat. OH WELL!

We would trek down in the afternoon as our train was scheduled at night. It would approximately take us 3 hours to walk back down now becauseit was downhill. For now I could think of the lovely ime I had spent in these very grounds. The fluttery touches, the winks, the flying kisses, all would remain with me as a mere memory devoid of any physical affiliations.

The seven days after that incident had occured had almost been the same routine.

Walk till your legs hurt,

Eat till your stomach hurts,

Sleep as little as posible because you have to walk again,

play cards and indoor games in dim light or sing songs.

My mother had taken it upon herself to keep an eye on me. She kept me by my sidethough that didnt really help her in any way. I was with Stephen more or less all the time. I packed his bag for him while he watched, I sang to him, Iposed next to him in any picture that was taken. He avoided me for sometime before coming back to me again..I wonder why..but no matter he always kept coming back so its not that big a matter.

I had sprawled on the floor next to him without even noticing that I had managed to do so. I only got to know of my forward deed when I felt a hand on my head, playing with my hair.

Giggling i turned to facehim,"What are you doing?"

He didnt reply, just blushed and Got up from the floor.

I lay there thinking, why did he keep doing that?

Our trek wasn't much eventful, our hands kept brushing and my father might've noticed it a few times but other than that I don't think there was much of a problem.

*

We reached the station. Stephen looked for our train and we eventually got in.

" Shelly, why don't you have a cake?" Gunther asked like a concerned brother, " I'm sure you'll be hungry after some time"
My mother sitting right beside me took it upon her to comment,
-" Give her poison instead won't you? We'll save a lot of money"

I smiled acting like it was a joke within the family, I could understand that Gunther felt the tension but he refrained from saying anything. Stephen kept looking like nothing happened.

Flashback

We werr by the river. It was flowing in full speed and my parents and I along with Gunther was there, why wasn't Stephen anywhere in sight?

I slipped and went to look for him, having gone a little from the river. There was a stream. A tiny stream divided into two parts A huge log separating them. There on the log, unclothed except only for his underwear Stephen sat, cigarette in hand contemplating some deep emotion.

" What are you doing here?" I asked

" Go back!" That didn't answer my question.

Reading my mind he replied " Just go back to your parents will you?" hurt and a bit overwhelmed by sorrow I took his suggestion and went back to my dad who was angry with me as well.

I then got a sinking feeling that maybe he knew but Gunther made eye contact and nodded a 'no'.

End of flashback

Stephen had made up for his rude behaviour later on through many of his touches. Some keen and wanting, some needy and demanding. He never talked to me about them he just did that.

Jake always Had to discuss what he did. I found that cute though and I found no reason for Stephen to be so shy. He didn't even talk to me for some days hence.

Having had a lot of discussion, it was finally decided I would be on the middle bunk, Stephen on the top one abovr mine and my father below. Opposite me on the middle bunk would be Gunther and below that my mother.

The man on the top there was a stranger.

I was fast asleep, when Gunther's voice woke me up. " No bro. We'll hold a huge party when we get back home. You will probably get fired so I'll hold it for you."

Mh eyes fluttered open and I looked at him. He noticed my disturbance of slumber and smiled at me. I smiled back. He then proceeded to tell Stephen of his disturbing me, the Boss 's daughter and beckoned me to sleep again.

I closed my eyes once again, when a magazine fell on my face. ' ouch' I said in my head. There was a tiny gap in between the two bunk beds above and middle through which the magazine had fallen. I gave the magazine back from the opened end.

I saw his finger reach down and give a slight move asking for mine. I wanted to stop and say no but the human mind is useless in comparison to the desire of the heart. I reached out and grabbed his hand which he carried with him at the top bunk.

I felt him playing with my fingers and rubbing them each giving careful attention. It was three at night!!

I let out a tiny sigh and closed my eyes to enjoy the feeling.

" What do you THINK you're doing " I flung them open and down came my hand!!

My mother was standing and looking at me with disgust.

I gulped while my heart pounded.

" Go back to sleep"

I closed my eyes for a tiny bit and his fingers came back from the opening, did he not hear her?

It was amazing how easily sleep found me again inspite of the pounding heart inside my chest.
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Long update? Yes I know I didn't give further details of the trip but not much happened and whatever did, you'll find out in the next chapter.

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I love you loads.
Boo.