” He should have thought through the ramifications of that, but he was just too dense. I’d seen the bus coming out of my peripheal vision and knew...the typical macho flair the drivers put on their entrance. They like to wheel their buses at the last moment, then open the doors directly in front of the passengers. I reached and laid a hand on Ronald as he turned toward the bus. Sherry was so damned cute when she laid her hand on mine, smiled, and shoved. As Ronald went down with his head in front. Christ! He was stood in front of her, how the fuck could she miss him when he was stood right in front of her. Then she realised what was missing. In a movement so delicate it could have been a ballet move, Beth flung herself into Allan’s arms, her face reaching into his as her lips sought his, eager to taste his tongue on hers. They kissed with passion and despite Allan not yet having shaved, the roughness of his skin against her soft, pale cheeks was not unpleasant. “Are you sure you’re OK. But something nice, you know? We'll take the day, tomorrow, to go shopping. Maybe we'll have dinner at Epcot or something. They have a bunch of nice restaurants, and ... a fireworks show. You like fireworks, little girl? It's like the circus, only more so."That earned me a punch on the arm. "Me? Shopping? You are gonna take me shopping? For clothes? ... I know what fireworks is, dummy. Who doesn't like to go 'ahh' and 'ooh' at fireworks?" Well, I might pick up something, too. I don't have. The doctors tell me that I have a fever, but I can only hope that all of this has been the fevered dream, so that I may wake up to my true life soon, to find you by my side. If that desire cannot come to pass, I have wished that the fever may continue, even wearing me away to nothingness, so much have I mourned your absence, that the pale shadow of your presence in a dream is a delight. I cast off such thoughts only because I know that my joy in the reality of your presence far exceeds that of.