Reaching Out

Chapter 1

Lindsey stared out of the window, the passing lights of Vegas illuminating the dark surroundings. She sighed as she opened her backpack and rummaged through it, trying to find her mp3 player.

The blonde felt a piece of paper and took it out. The folded note felt somewhat heavy, and as she examined it in the dull light of the bus she noticed her name written on it in the familiar handwriting of her mother. She unfolded the small note and read her mother's words.

Lindsey,

It saddens me that you decided to leave without telling me, without saying goodbye. Though I'd rather have you with me I understand your need to find your own way.

Know that I'll be with you, no matter where you end up. You're in my heart and on my mind.

Be safe and don't forget to check in every once in a while.

Love,
Mom

At the bottom of the note a quarter had been taped to the paper, accompanied by one last line.

You know where to reach me.

Lindsey smiled as she traced the quarter. She leaned her head back against the seat and closed her eyes. She thought she had planned it all so well, without her mother knowing her intentions. How naive of her to think her mother wouldn't notice her sneaking out, leaving her and Las Vegas to try and find her luck elsewhere.

The bus stopped in one of the suburbs of Vegas, more people getting on. Lindsey, sitting almost at the back of the bus, hoped she wouldn't have to share the already small space. That was until she noticed a girl walking down the pathway.

The striking, brown curls of the girl immediately caught her eye. She guessed the girl to be about her age, and as she saw the girl's sparkling eyes -their ice blue color clear even in the dull light in the bus, she knew she was sold.

"Hi," the girl started as she stopped next to where Lindsey was seated. "Mind if I sit here?"

"Not at all," Lindsey quipped as she shoved her belongings aside, creating space for the brunette to sit. "I'm Lindsey," she said after the girl sat down.

"Megan," the brunette answered. "You headed to San Francisco as well?"

"I'm?not sure," Lindsey started while she was mesmerized by the blue eyes staring at her, leaving her memory momentarily blank.

"Well, what does your ticket say?" Megan asked, smirking a little as she noticed the blonde's blush.

"San Francisco," Lindsey replied as she managed to look away from those addictive eyes. Staring at her fidgeting hands she continued, "But I mean that I'm not sure whether I'll be staying there."

"Ah," Megan said. "Your not a runaway convict are you?" she asked, half kidding.

"No?no," Lindsey said as she looked back at the girl. "I'm no convict and I'm not running away. Not really anyway. How 'bout you?"

"I visited my aunt and am now headed back, college starts again this Monday," Megan answered. She reached in her bag and pulled out a book on astrophysics.

"Wow, impressive," Lindsey said as she noticed the book's subject. "What do you want to be?"

"I hope to get a job at NASA," Megan replied.

"You want to be an astronaut?" Lindsey inquired.

"Oh, no. I plan to do a research job," the brunette replied as she took her glasses out of her bag and put them on. She looked over at Lindsey and continued, "I want to research the possibilities of creating alternative energy in space."

"Beautiful?" Lindsey whispered. The glasses framed Megan's face and the blue in the rim of the glasses accentuated the color of her eyes even more.

"Excuse me?" Megan asked, though she had heard Lindsey's words loud and clear.

The blonde cleared her throat, then said, "That sounds wonderful?And difficult," she added quickly as she saw the smirk on Megan's lips.

"And you?" the brunette asked. "What are your plans for the future?"

"Well, I was supposed to start law school next week, but?well, let's just say I had a change of plans." Lindsey turned away from the other girl, looking out of the window and into the dark night.

"Catch the law bug from your parents?" Megan asked. She waited for Lindsey to respond, but she didn't. "My aunt is in law enforcement?sort of," she started, trying to keep the conversation going.

"I'm sorry," Lindsey said as she turned to face the brunette, tears threatening to fall. "I'm kind of tired?" she trailed off.

"It's okay," Megan said as she laid her hand on Lindsey's arm, giving her a soft squeeze. "You should try to get some sleep."

Lindsey looked from where Megan's hand caressed her upper arm to her ice-blue eyes. She smiled sadly, then said, "Yeah, we have a long night ahead of us, I'd better try and rest some."

After she'd safely tucked her mother's note in her pocket, Lindsey reached for her bag once more, taking out her mp3 player. While she searched for her favorite song she regarded Megan from the corner of her eyes, seeing that the brunette had started reading her book.

She smiled a little as she noticed the concentrated frown on the other girl's face, and thought that the way she bit on her lower lip was very cute?And sexy, Lindsey mentally added.

If only mom knew, she thought. Come to think of it?she probably already knows.

She let out a deep sigh, earning her a questioning look from Megan. She smiled, hoping to show the brunette she was alright, then turned to stare out of the bus, but was actually sneaking glances at Megan's reflection in the window.

A few songs later, Lindsey felt her eyes beginning to droop, the inevitable tiredness finally claiming her body. The last thing she fully registered was a line from this song she was listening to; I'll be there with you, always, anywhere at all. Then the words started to fade to the background, the music becoming a soft hum, lulling her further into sleep.

Chapter 2

The bus stopped and Lindsey felt someone carefully nudging her shoulder, trying to wake her up. As she opened her eyes it was still dark outside, but her green ones immediately registered the ice blue ones staring at her.

"Hey," Megan said quietly.

"Hi," Lindsey replied as she stretched in her seat. "Where are we?" the blonde inquired as she looked out of the bus and noticed they'd stopped at a gas station.

"Claremont," the brunette replied while she put her glasses away.

"California already?" Lindsey looked out of the bus, trying to see some more of the in darkness-covered surroundings.

Megan nodded, "Yep. Listen, I'm going to get something to drink. Can I bring you something as well?"

Lindsey looked at her. Though they'd met only a few hours ago it felt as if they'd been friends for years -the brunette kind of reminded her of someone, though she couldn't quite put her finger on exactly who. As she noticed Megan was still waiting for her to answer she quickly said, "I'll come along with you, stretch my legs a bit."

"Alright." Megan smiled as she shifted out of her seat and headed after a few other passengers, out of the bus. She waited for Lindsey to get out as well and together they headed over to the little shop.

Megan yawned as she stretched her arms over her head. "I need some caffeine."

Lindsey, who walked a few steps behind her, carefully regarded the taller girl, eyes roaming across Megan's body. As she reached Megan's face she was met with a questioning look.

"Well?" the brunette asked.

Apparently she'd asked her something, but Lindsey hadn't noticed since her mind had been preoccupied. As she sought her brain for something to say she saw the corners of Megan's lips turning up, a smirk settling on them.

Busted. Lindsey could feel the heat rising in her cheeks. She quickly looked away, stuffing her hands in her pockets.

"I think you could use a nice cool bottle of water," Megan quipped as she hip-checked the blonde before reaching for the door and holding it open for Lindsey to enter.

Lindsey didn't know what to say, she merely felt her cheeks redden even more, and so, walked past Megan and into the shop.

"Alright," Megan started as she spotted the coffee machine at the back of the shop. She inhaled deep as the aroma met her nose. "I so need my fix," she said as she reached for a paper cup and poured in the dark, steaming liquid.

"Ahh," she sighed as she practically started salivating over the now filled cup.

"You're just as bas as my mom's friend," Lindsey said as she watched Megan. "I don't understand how you can drink that stuff," the blonde said, shaking her head. She'd never liked the black tar, always preferred tea herself. Not even Sara had been able to persuade her into?

Sara, Lindsey suddenly thought. That's who she reminds me of.

But before she could really let that thought settle in her mind she was interrupted by a hand on her arm, pulling her along.

"Come on," Megan said. "They're leaving already."

Lindsey noticed the bus driver get into the bus again, as well as most of the other passengers. Quickly, she grabbed a bottle of water and a box of chocolate chip cookies and followed Megan to the counter. She paid for the both of them, then headed out.

"Hurry," Lindsey said as she noticed the bus driver was about to close the doors and drive off. Clenching the bottle and cookies in her hands, she started to run.

Megan, who was desperately trying to keep all of her coffee in the cup, sprinted after her, her long legs bringing her to the bus before Lindsey.

"Made it," she said as she climbed the step, not even breathing hard -no sign of exertion whatsoever.

"Sheesh," Lindsey panted as she got in as well. "Thanks for waiting up for me."

"Meh," the brunette started. "You needed the exercise. So, having you run just a little faster was only to help you get into shape." She waited in the aisle for Lindsey to pass and take her seat at the window.

"Funny?very funny," Lindsey replied as she looked at Megan menacingly, trying to look angry, but failing miserably as it didn't take long for the other girl's brilliant smirk to affect her -the blonde's own face sporting a grin as well.

As she moved past Megan to sit down she accidentally bumped into her as the bus started moving again, causing her to brush up against the tall brunette. Immediately she could feel her cheeks burn up again. "Sorry," she muttered.

"No harm done," Megan replied huskily.

Lindsey's mouth felt parched as she heard the brunette's voice. Quickly she opened the bottle of water and took a big gulp. The snicker she heard from her new friend made her turn to face her, one eyebrow raised questioningly. "What?"

"Nothing," Megan replied a little too quickly. "Nothing."

"Uh huh?That's what I thought," Lindsey quipped while she opened the box of cookies.

Megan had already downed most of her coffee and sighed contently.

"You're just as bad as Sara," Lindsey stated as she offered the brunette a cookie.

"Sara?" Megan looked at Lindsey, surprise written all over her face.

"Yeah, a friend of my mom," the blonde answered.

Megan shifted in her seat, facing Lindsey completely before speaking up. "You're not talking about Sara Sidle, are you?"

Lindsey's eyes shot open as she heard Megan's question. "Yes. Do you know her?"

Megan nodded. "She's my aunt."

Continued?

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