The songs mentioned in this chapter are: 'Today was a fairytale' by Taylor Swift, 

'Higher' by The Score,

and 'I want it that way' by The Backstreet Boys.

I encourage you to listen to them to set the scene ;)

I plug in my headphones, and I let myself get immersed in the lyrics and melody coming out from the small earbuds. Rapidly, the world outside fades away, blocked out, well at least, the other people and the loud atmosphere in the bus, as I stare out the windows, focusing more on the trees in the distance than the crews of students slowly getting onto the buses.

Today we are going on a school trip, and everyone is excited, talking, laughing... But I'm sitting here alone – as it's often the case – because Lisa is sitting with another friend of her and Judy is with Wes; I can hear her on the other side of the bus, giggling at whatever he is saying. Though it doesn't really matter because I'm used to it and I have my loyal best friend with me: music. 'Today was a fairytale' by Taylor Swift starts playing, and my mind naturally drifts away to that Saturday in the park, to that rainy day, to my stunt at the supermarket, to all that has happened in the past month... to Alex... My heart rate follows the rhythm of the song as I contemplate my thoughts. Alex and I have drawn closer, even though in the last two weeks we haven't seen each other a lot. We haven't had a lot of time to work on our project because of a big amount of homework and tests, and the next report is not due until a while. Yet the more we work together, the more we get along. I can't help the smile tickling my lips, which I bite on with my teeth through my considerations. Alex has really surprised me, in a good way, and I find myself really eager for these moments with him.

"Stop biting your lip, Miss Clumsy Cookie." I jump, when someone – well, Alex, who else would tell me that?! – puts his bag on the seat next to me.

"This seat is taken?" he asks, raising an eyebrow.

I look around the bus to see if all the other seats are taken, but no, there is still plenty of room in the bus. He could have sat with his friends, yet he's chosen to sit next to me?! My heart picks up a pace no more in sync with the music, which I only hear distantly now, and I'm left speechless. I'm not used to this, though I manage to say, "Yes, er... I mean no... well you can sit here if you want." I smile shyly.

He sits down, and I wonder if my answer would have changed anything anyway. I mean, he looks so chill, yet so imposing with his legs wrapped in ripped jeans and stretched out, and his penetrating gaze observing me. I don't think anyone would dare to ask him to move away.

His presence becomes even more unsettling when he leans over me. I lose my breath as a million questions about what he is doing cross my mind, yet at the same time, it is turning more and more blank with the closeness. His hand brushes my ear, leaving a trail of goosebumps just below, and his gaze is on mine, creating the same goose-pimples inside my stomach. I stare back into those hypnotizing eyes, trying to find out what's inside his head, but I only get lost in the light brown sparks mixing with the dark intense shades. I barely acknowledge his fingers grabbing one of my headphones, but I'm well aware of the few tiny inches remaining between our faces, as he takes the earbud the farthest from him. It may only last a couple of seconds, but when he moves back to his seat, the breath I draw in is as deep as if I have stopped my breath during an eternity.

Alex grabs casually my MP4 player from my hands and smirks, while I'm still staring at him with big eyes.

"Taylor Swift?! Why I'm not surprised?!" he cocks an eyebrow, looking at the screen.

All at once, the music seems to come back to my ears, and more blood flows to my face as the lyrics ring in my head. '...when I saw you standing there... It must have been the way...'

"So girly and romantic, such a good girls' song!" he adds, his eyes twinkling.

"Hey! The lyrics are really great, and you should listen to some of her songs. They can be dark too!" I retort, trying to reach for my MP4 player like it is holding my life, or at least my sanity. But he moves it away from me, a smug smile inked on his lips.

"Let's see... What else do you have?"

He looks through the MP4 player, turning it away from me, and I can only glimpse his focused and interested gaze. Then he puts the device in his pocket to keep it out of my reach, and he just lets the songs play on shuffle while he refocuses his gaze on me. He doesn't say anything more, so I look out the windows, trying to shrug off the disconcerting feeling of his intense eyes piercing through me, like burning though my skin to read my soul.

"Oh! You like this song?! It's one of my favorites! I'm surprised!" he exclaims, his eyebrows raised, when basses and guitars start echoing through my ears.

I recognize almost instantly the loud deep beat of 'Higher' by The Score.

"I told you I'm full of surprises!" I tell him with a little smirk. It's surely the song that is pumping some confidence in me.

He stares at me with bright eyes, and then he starts singing. "I see them running, 'cause they see me coming..."

I widen my eyes, though a smile quickly stretches my lips, and I shake my head at this unimaginable spectacle.

"All my life... I have been waiting, I have been waiting for this... All my life... I have been fighting, I have been fighting for this..." The lyrics leave my lips as the music takes over like when I am alone in my room, except that, right now, I am with Alex, in a bus full of people. But this fact is forgotten; I don't know if it's the catchy, powerful song, or if it's Alex's contagious bright mood. All I know is that something strong and light at the same time is rushing through my veins and taking over.

Face to face, Alex and I are singing our hearts out, shaking our heads in rhythm and miming the lyrics. It's like we're doing our own little concert as we're looking at each other, understanding each other,

"Broke my bones, tasted blood," he goes on, "But I'll keep on flying."

"Flying..." I do the backups, and his smile widens, making me lighter.

"I'm too young for dying..."

"'Cause there's a dream I can taste...Think it's time I break my chains," I sing in turn, exactly the same way I do it alone in my bathroom, yet right now, it's even better.

Everyone is probably staring at us right now, but as crazy as it seems I don't care. I forget about the world outside. There is only Alex, me, and the music as if we are on our own little planet and the music is our language.

"They try to get me down but I just get higher!" we finish in sync, and we both burst into laughter when the song is over. The strong and light rush in my veins is turning into a warm tickling, and I feel good. I feel light, like I haven't felt in a while.

"Oh no?! The Backstreet boys?! Really?!" he asks with a blank stare as the next song starts.

"Hey! Once again, it's really good! You should try to really listen to it!" I reply. "Don't judge a book by its cover." The familiar melody engulfs me, and I put my hand on his to stop him from skipping the song. Though I quickly remove it when he glances down at it and I feel the now well-known electricity on my fingertips. "'I want it that way' is one of my favorite songs," I add, staring at my hand, which is now on my lap, and smiling.

"I want it that way..." I start humming again without realizing it.

I feel comfortable, I guess, and once I realize what I'm doing, the song is already wrapping around my brain.

I peek from under my lashes to see Alex smiling at me and shaking his head. I don't know what is happening to me; I can't really put a word on it, but a cozy softness spreads inside me, making me overlook the time and place. I don't care if all eyes are on me; I'm just looking at Alex's ones.

"But we are two worlds apart, can't reach to your heart..." My heart skips a beat when he stares at me intensely.

I try to ignore it, joking around and miming the lyrics instead.

"Tell me why... Ain't nothing but a heartache..." I put my hands over my heart dramatically.

But I guess it isn't enough for my heart to get back to his normal rate in front of Alex's penetrating gaze.

"You are my fire... the one desire..." My voice falters, and it hits me. I realize the lyrics apply to the situation. My skin is burning when I'm near Alex; he is a fire that attracts me. Every time that I cross his burning gaze, I feel an irresistible desire to taste those lips, to feel his hands sparking fire on my skin, to lose myself in his darkness... I gotta admit I feel this undeniable attraction towards him.

"Am I your fire?... the one desire..." I breathe out the last line.

My breath is caught when I realize that we've ended up closer. I don't know how; maybe it's the Law of attraction drawing us closer. But it's like I'm under a spell, his penetrating gaze lighting a fire within me, an overwhelming desire, and the only thing that I want is to close the few inches that still separate our lips.

Claps of hands pull me out of my trance. My heart jumps as we both lean away from each other, and I barely hear one of the teachers announcing, "Okay, everyone, we've arrived! Get off quietly, and then we'll announce the groups."

We gather our things without a word, my movements slightly fumbling as I try to steady my hammering heart, racing thoughts, and shaky hands. Just putting away my MP4 player and grabbing my bag and jacket requires me much more time than everyone else. Yet Alex waits for me, and he is about to tell me something when the teacher hurries us to get out, as we are the only ones to still be in the bus.

Under the teacher's careful gaze, we get off in silence, and as soon as our feet are on the muddy ground, we are carried away and pulled apart by the mass of people.

I spot him on the other side of the parking lot, joined by his friends, so I stay in my corner, feeling my heart rate coming back to its steady pace and my lightness dropping back to earth.

Lisa is soon meeting me, and I catch sight of some people looking at me weirdly. I suppose that Alex and I's little concert earlier hasn't gone unnoticed, but I just look down, trying to ignore it and go back to my invisible status. Luckily, Judy is still busy with Wes; otherwise, she would pester me with questions and innuendos.

Rapidly, the groups are announced, and to my disappointment, Alex is not in my group. I search for him, but his group is already heading in the opposite direction. I just catch his intense gaze on me before he disappears in a building, and I'm left staring at the large wooden door with my cheeks burning.

For most of the day, we are apart, and I gotta admit that I kinda miss him. I find myself glancing around every time our groups pass each other, and my heart skips a beat every time I glimpse his strong, unmistakable figure from afar, and even more when I meet his dark gaze from time to time.

The day seems to pass by uneventful and long, and finally, we get to the last activity of the day, which is a cave's visit. All the groups are reunited for this, all gathered in the first chamber, near the entrance.

The teachers are explaining the history of the place on a slide show, yet I can't focus on the endless slides of images and texts. My eyes are scanning the room, squinting to make out the silhouettes around in the dark. However, I don't find the one I'm looking for, and I let out a sigh, letting my gaze and attention go unfocused.

Though my attention comes back in a jump when out of nowhere, a hot breath raise goosebumps on my neck.

Whose do you think this hot breath is? ;)

I hope you like this chapter and the way I incorporated the songs. Please please let me know what you think in the comments, vote, add to your library...

I'm new here, so your help and feedbacks are more than welcome! :)