After what felt like fifteen minutes, the bus finally started moving. 

“It’s going to be a two-hour trip,” the driver told us, “so make yourself comfortable.” 

It was good advice. 

But not one that I listened to. 

I clung to the edge of my seat as the bus turned left and right. I was trying not to bump into Jenny’s shoulders because I felt awkward whenever I brushed against it. 

“What are you doing?” Jenny asked, with an amused and yet confused look on her face. 

“Why are you so stiff?” She added. 

I told her the truth. But not in the smoothest way. 

I was stammering. 

“I-I didn’t want to bump into you whenever we turned. I didn’t want to make things awkward.” 

Jenny looked like she couldn’t believe what she was hearing. 

“I don’t care about that,” she said with a slight smile. “Just scoot closer. I don’t mind.” 

There was a small gap that I was trying to keep between us. You know, our boundaries. 

“Are you sure?” I asked.

I must’ve pushed her buttons because Jenny was getting annoyed. 

“Dean, if I truly minded, then I would’ve said so. Now scoot closer before I make you do it.” 

I didn’t want that to happen. 

“Okay, okay,” I said, giving in before moving closer to Jenny. 

We sat in silence for a bit. I was looking around the bus in a daze while Jenny looked out of the window and at the busy freeway. 

Our shoulders were now pressed against each other, though Jenny didn’t seem to mind. 

Me on the other hand…

“Are you sure this is fine?” I asked nervously. 

“Yes, Dean, I’m okay with this,” Jenny said, annoyed. 

“Alright…yeah…just making sure,” I said. 

Oh man, I'm making this awkward. I just know it, I told myself. 

My eyes were zooming past so many things. 

Bus seats, students playing on their phones, sleeping students, Jenny, the window, outside cars, the floor, and back to the guy who was playing on his phone. 

I need to get my mind off of this, I told myself. 

And I think I knew just what to do. 

“Hey, Jenny.” 

“Hm?” 

“Is your phone dead?” 

Jenny pulled her phone from her pocket. 

“No. Why?” 

“Because I want to play a little game,” I said, pulling my phone out. “Which of our parents texted us most recently. My mom or your dad.”

Jenny stared at my phone, then at me. 

“I’m in,” she said. 

We opened our messages and hid our phones from each other. 

“Who do you think is gonna win?” I asked. 

“My dad. Duh,” Jenny said as if stating the obvious. 

I smirked. 

“Hm, we’ll see about that. Now, on three, we show our messages.” 

“Alright,” Jenny said, looking at me. 

I guess I was going to be the one who counted. 

“Okay…one…two…three!” 

Our hands and phones pressed against each other as we read our parent’s messages. 

Jenny’s dad had texted her three weeks ago while my mom had texted me a month ago. 

My smirk went away in an instant. 

Jenny chuckled. 

“Hah, I guess my dad loves me more than your mom loves you,” she joked. 

“Oh, whatever,” I said, playfully elbowing her shoulder. 

Jenny elbowed me back. 

“You’re just mad that you lost. Admit it.” 

“Yeah, yeah. Whatever.” 

We relaxed a tad bit after that. Then Jenny pressed against my shoulder while looking at my phone. 

“What did your mom tell you, Dean? Why did she send you a whole essay?” She laughed. 

I looked at my mom’s message and scrolled down. 

“Eh, she sent me the normal stuff, like how much she missed me and hoped I had fun at the academy…oh wait,” I paused as I read more of my mom’s message. 

Jenny leaned way too close to me as she read along with me. I could smell her lavender perfume, but I quickly focused back on my mom’s text. 

Jenny looked at me, concerned. 

“Oh…Dean…” she said in an awkward whisper. 

“Don’t be all sad like that. It’s weird,” I said half-jokingly. “Plus, this isn’t the first time she told me about this.” 

Jenny and I read the sentence one more time. 

‘While you were at school, I met the most wonderful person! And I want to introduce you to them once you come back!’

I wasn’t mad, nor was I sad at the moment. 

If it was freshman me, I definitely would’ve been fuming, but I’ve gotten used to these sorts of things. 

But I was never used to meeting any of my mom’s new boyfriend for the first time. 

I guess dinner is going to be extra awkward tonight; I told myself.