The next few days, Marinette was grateful.  She was glad not to be alone. Being stuck with friends in some strange town was way better. She recalled there was a hotel.

     She and Adrien left the bus, and the others followed them. The only one who stayed was Nathaniel. Chole kissed him before she grabbed her bag and left.

     The group checked into the hotel so they could get some better sleep, and get a much-needed shower. Nathaniel decided to stay with the bus to check a few more things and call someone to come service it.

        He looked around and still could not discover the source of the problem. He sighed as he pulled out his mostly charged phone. He called a number, for a local bus service and explained the situation to them.

    "What sort of bus is it?" The man on the phone asked. "It is a tour bus," Nathaniel explained. He mentioned how he had recently purchased it to take people on scenic bus tours. "It makes a profit, but the trouble is that the bus broke down twice, and I have no idea why," Nathaniel stated. He was asked about the color of the bus and its seats. "The bus is white and black for the paint job, it has sturdy seats, all blue and it can hold around 15 -20 passengers depending on the age and size of each person," He said. 

   "I see," The man on the phone said. He went on to explain due to the day of the week and the earliness of the hour, it would take him some time to get out there to take a look at it.

   "Even after I look at it, it will take me several days to fix it and to tell you how much the repairs cost," The man told him over the phone.

   "Thank you very much for your time," Nathaniel had said. He hung up when the man finished talking. He grabbed his things and headed to the hotel.

    He thought it would be hard to determine which one the others checked until he saw only one hotel in the small town. He immediately went inside and asked to book a room.

    "Sir, there are only two rooms left. One adjoins a Miss Chole Bougerious room, and the other is in the basement. The basement is a bit damp, and has a few other problems." The check-in clerk told him.

    "I will take the room that adjoins Miss Bougerious's room then," He requested. "Very well, sir, that is an excellent choice,"  She stated and handed him the key.

    "It is on the second floor in room 202," She told him. Nathaniel nodded his head and thanked her. He took the stairs to his room as the elevator was out of order. He arrived at room 202 around 8:45 am. He smiled. The room was small, but he felt it was better than sleeping on a stuffy, broken-down tour bus.

    He laid his suitcase on the floor. He shut the blinds and curtains. He unpacked some clean clothes and entered the bathroom. He showered, glad to get the dust, dirt, and sweat off. He stepped out all soaked. He dried off and put on clean underwear, jeans, and a white t-shirt. He knocked on the door that adjoined his room to Chole's.

 "Hello, who is there? " He heard someone say.

 "Chole?" He asks.

"Yes, it's me, but who are you?" She asks.

"It is me, Nathaniel," He answers.

"Oh, Nathaniel, do come in," She says.

 Nathaniel opens the door and enters her room. He smiles. Her room is bigger than his.

     He blushes when he sees the pretty dress she wears. He always thought that yellow looked good on her.

     "Hi,"  He says.

"Hi, yourself," Chole says.

"You know you got the bigger room," He says.

  "I did?" She asks surprised.

"Yes, but that is alright because you are prettier than me," He says.

    Chole laughs. She thinks sometimes he can say the silliest things.

          "I am glad to be stranded with you," He says.

        "Me too," Chole says.

 The others agree that being together is better than being separated at a time like this one.

      Juleka daydreams about a certain Gary.

 Back to Chole and Nathaniel

   "I like it here," Chole says.

  "Oh, and why is that?" Nathaniel says.

  "I have a strong, handsome man next door to me, so should anyone try to bother me, I can call on him and he will come running," She says.

  "Oh, is that a fact?" I tease her.

  "Yes, because it is you, I am talking about, Nath," She says. She has her hands on my chest now.

        I do not bother to move them. I like how close she is and I wish it were even closer. I do not say a word about it because I do not want to make things awkward between us.

        I  kiss her. She gasps, but slowly kisses me. Soon, we are on the sofa, kissing with my arms around her and her arms around my neck.

 I am glad to have this. I am unsure yet what she is to me, but  I wish it were more. Way more. Nathaniel thought.

With Adrien and Marinette...

These two are sharing a room.

  Adrien smiles at Marinette. He scoops her up into his arms.

    He kisses her. She kisses him. 

 The other couples kiss as well. The others are in separate rooms.

    The only ones who share a room are Adrien and Marinette, and Chole and Nathaniel are the only ones whose rooms adjoin.

Alya wanted to share a room with Nino, but he felt that was a bit too soon. He had barely gotten with her and did not ruin it by taking things too fast.

    "But Adrien shares a room with Marinette," Alya whines. "Yes, but that is because he met her last year, and they are picking up where they left off," Nino explains.

     "My sister needs to be with someone, she can't handle being alone much," Nino says.

   "Oh, why is that?" Alya wants to know.  "Well, she accidentally got stuck in the mall by herself once when she was eight, then she almost drowned at age ten, and when she was twelve she got forgotten in the funeral parlor. I was unsure how that last one took place," Nino answered.

   "Poor girl, no wonder she is afraid to be alone," Alya says.

     Nino did not tell her that he made up the thing about the mall, but the other two events in Marinette's life were real. Besides, he thought, I do not want Alya to feel pressured. We barely got together and I know she is still getting over Felix. I shook my head. That stinking boy was so rotten, that the bus driver kicked him off the bus.

          The story continues in Chapter 14

        Until then,

      bye-bye,

      little owlets!

     Summer out!