"It’s getting late, we should hurry " Brad remarked

I nodded and we rushed towards the bus . Cole followed our steps silently.

The bus was full to the doors. So we hurried up to climb in. First went Brad , he offered me a hand to enter and then Cole . By the minute we got in, the door hissed and closed behind us and the driver run the engine .

The bus was so full and there was barely enough space to the three of us to fit in the entrance. I had to grip at both Brad and Cole to keep my balance when the bus first took off. Obviously since North High was a public University , the food and transport accommodations left to wonder. Besides it was Monday and Mondays are always crowded .

Ugh I can't stand the noise !

The voices of the crowd grew louder . I was inches close facing Cole who had his back against the door while Brad was standing by my side .

" Ladies and gentlemen please fasten your belts and prepare yourselves for a journey of wander !" Brad announced mimicking a girl's voice.

" Remind me again why we're friends ?" I replied sarcastically lifting an eyebrow at him .

"Because you thinks he's Brad Pitt" Cole chuckled

" No!" I stated obviously

"Actually she's the cousin of Brad Pitt" Brad answered

I narrowed my eyes and gave Brad a thunder look .

Really ?

"Really ?" Cole voiced my inner thought but more on an interrogative tone than on a sarcastic one.

"Yeah, Ivy's last name is Pitt" Brad blabbed.

" It's Pitterson." I hissed at Brad . I swear I wanted to smash his face with something to make him shut up whenever he made that stupid– not so funny–joke about my last name .

" Okay.. calm down Poison Ivy ! " Brad giggled .

" Now you leave her alone." Cole commanded Brad rather on a protective tone.

I however was annoyed and then confused and then both at the same time

" Did you just call me poison Ivy ?"

"Okay, Okay! I didn't mean it anyway I swear !" Brad lifted both his hands up pleading innocent as soon as I hissed back at him.

"Angry doesn't suit you , you know " I admit that Cole's sweetest tone had me off guards.

" Yeah he's right cousin" Brad agreed

"Okay fine!" I rolled my eyes at him and chuckled. Next thing the three of us shared a genuine laugh.

The Bus made an abrupt stop and I aimed my hand forward as if to catch something in order to keep my feet on the ground. By that time Cole already gripped my forearm to help me stand. And a heat wave run through me .

The back door of the bus hissed and apparently another person climbed in behind Cole. which caused him to close the distance between us now to be almost enveloping me with his body. He gripped the pole behind me with one hand and the other rested in his pocket.

"You can take grip in my shirt" Cole uttered in a deep voice "As long as you don't rip if off ." He added rather amused with a hint of a smirk on his lips .

That’s when I felt my cheeks boiling .

God ! As tempting as it sounded I'd happily rip that shirt off for sure ;there goes my inappropriate thoughts.

Did he really said that ?! what is going on with me for God's sake

"Uh..okay. " I babbled letting out an uneasy breath as I saw his Adam’s apple moving behind his throat. He was so close . I don't usually get intimidated but that was close.

I realized that we were standing almost against each other's bodies. Although I was tall still, he was taller than me, dominating my figure with few inches . And I stood right under his chin almost against his chest so all I could see was his neck and shoulders.

I noticed his neck was sweaty from the heat and his broad shoulders were almost enveloping my figure. Even though I was certainly not the average short girl, I felt so small next to his posture. That was kind of intimidating I admit. My height had always given me strength to face whatever life threw at me. And at that specific moment I kind of felt fragile and weak like any other woman when compared to a man .

I stood there contemplating the thin skin of his neck . My eyes travelled a little further to see the triangle of flesh through his steel blue unbuttoned shirt. I was so close to him that I could inhale his perfume . God his sent was intoxicating !

what the hell is happening to me ?

His jaw line was perfectly chiseled with a three days beard and defined lips. I thought while humming my lower lip and biting it lightly.

I slowly raised my head as I travelled my eyes up again until he locked mine with his orbs. I felt a clinch in my stomach when I met his eyes again this close

This was so weird and unexpected that I instantly drove my eyes back to the floor and turned my face away from his gaze. I felt the heat again building up in my cheeks. It was definitely not due to the weather.

What the hell just happened ! I screamed inwardly,

What was I thinking ? looking up at him while he was so close ! Then again why is it affecting me anyway? The proximity of our bodies was messing with my head. I felt Cole turning away his head in direction of the window while he stood still apparently not minding me at all.

Damn it Ivy! What was that? My inner voice screamed.

I hardly took a deep breath and looked away in direction of Brad who just received a phone call not paying attention to what was happening in here. Suddenly the bus stopped. I lost my balance and was just about to fall . That's when I sensed a powerful grip on my waist; they were Cole’s hands keeping me from falling .

A shivery wave run over my body as I felt the heat from his hands pressed around me. I looked at him and I knew if he moved even a little bit, I would fall. I realized that his hands were the only thing holding me right then as I was barely standing on my feet. But Cole took a step back; his hands always around my waist; looking down not to meet my eyes. He slightly lifted my shirt in his movement while trying to make sure I was standing right; his hands always on me . It felt as if he lifted me for a while and put me down so easily.

So much for feather's size girl .

" Are you okay ?" He asked with a soft tone that showed me just how much he affected me. Looking into my eyes waiting for a response that pathetically couldn't come out of my mouth. He flashed me then with a smile and I felt my cheeks heating up even more if that was possible.

"Uh sorry ", I managed to utter at last , looking down and realizing his grip on my middle.

I looked up and he was looking at me intently .

"I 'm … I'm fine" I breathed out.

He nodded eying me then slowly retrieved his hands from around my waist .I could feel a light breeze underneath my shirt cooling off the heat from his hands' imprint on my body and I gulped silently.