Free What goes around comes around (Lily’s Story) by O.C Shaw Page B

not sure if his question is about whether we’ll soon be on our way
or whether I find him pleasing to stare at.  I flush, fearing the latter.  His
bright blue eyes bore into me, and for a moment I feel again like he can see
straight into my soul.  He finally looks away, back at Stuart, and I gasp a
deep breath – I didn’t realise I had been holding it.  The paralysis that
had held while he looked at me had finally releases.  How long had I been
transfixed? I wonder.
    “Nice-looking, isn’t he?” Pat whispers in my ear.  I nod,
flushing bright red again as I realise my gawping has not gone unnoticed.
    “Bit like Rob Lowe,” I whisper.
    “That’s what I thought!” Pat shouts with a shrieking laugh
that has everyone’s heads swinging back round to look at us, including the Rob
Lowe look-alike.  His gaze fixes upon me again, and I giggle completely
uncharacteristically.  His eyebrow shoots up again, and I see a twitch of a
smile play at the corners of his lips.  His lips , I find myself gazing
at the perfect Cupid’s bow. It’s only the fact Stuart is still speaking that means
I manage to pull my eyes away this time.
    “...one more, Annie,” I hear Stuart say.
    “Is that her?” I hear Mr Abs say, as all our heads swing in
the direction he’s looking.  Sure enough, there she is, striding across the car
park, untied hair billowing around her face and over her shoulders, looking
more than ever like some catwalk model.  Her long legs are encased in tight
faded blue jeans, that showed every perfect contour, and a fitted leather
jacket finishes the look.  A collective sigh rises from the male members of the
small group as she waves and hurries over.  A quick glance at the Rob Lowe look-alike
tells me he too is enjoying the show; the small smile I saw earlier is playing
again on his lips.  Stop looking at his lips , I tell myself crossly,
ignoring the small spike of jealousy I felt when I saw him watching Annie. 
Three different pairs of hands offer to take her bag for her, which she
graciously bestows on Stuart.  Stuart immediately hands it to the driver, who
rolls his eyes and moves to pack it onto the coach.     
    “Right, all aboard!” says Stuart with a grin, as he puts one
arm around Annie’s waist and urges her forwards.  The object of my crush has
already retreated back inside the coach.  When I finally mount the steps I find
myself worrying who I’m going to sit beside and not paying attention to where
I’m going.  Oh my God, this is like school all over again ,I
realise, hating the insecurity.  I step into the warm coach and scan the available
seats.  A long arm waves at me from about halfway down – Annie.  I focus
on her, ignoring anyone else who might be looking, as well as failing to notice
a bag that has been left sticking out into the aisle.  I trip, of course, and
land nearly on Stuart’s lap.  Of course HE has to be sitting beside Stuart.
    “Hello again, Lily,” Stuart sniggers as I struggle back to
my feet, apologising all the while.
    “Do you think she’s safe to be on a walking holiday?” I hear
the other guy say to Stuart as I move on down the coach.  I’m mortified to hear
them both chuckling at the prospect.
    “Roomie, come and join me,” Annie trills loudly, thankfully
distracting attention away from my blunder.  All the men on the coach look at
me with undisguised envy on their faces as I move to join her.  There are
actually enough seats available that we don’t need to share rows at all, but it
seems too rude to not sit beside her having been invited, and frankly I’m just
glad to finally be sitting down in my own seat.
    “Thank God,” she whispers conspiratorially as I join her, “I
thought I was going to have to fight Stuart off from wanting this seat,” she says
with a wink.  I laugh.
    “Would that be so bad?” I wonder out loud.
    “Hmm,” she says reflectively as she gives it some thought.  “I
think it’s more a case that we