Love Condemned: Beginnings Read Online Free Page A

being close to her for just a minute was good enough for him. 
    After Miranda had taken her seat, Adrian had fumbled with some of the makeshift dinner that he had bought. Not exactly gourmet. Then he heard Miranda ask,   "Was your quest for a meal that unsuccessful?"  That was the understatement of the year. Adrian just laughed a little and said, "It could have been worse. At least I can read the labels on this food." 
    They both laughed a little because they knew that buying food in a foreign country could be dangerous if you cannot read the labels. With another crack of thunder, the bus doors closed which made the sound of the pouring rain a little more distant. It was time to settle in for another couple hours of the bus ride. Maybe he would get a little rest, but if he was lucky, he would learn more about his new friend Miranda.  
    Alice stood up in front of the bus on the speaker and called out everyone's name to make sure we were all on the bus. Adrian did not pay too much attention to the names until she called out Miranda C arroll, then Adrian Hunter. Now that they knew each other’s last name, it was one less question he had to ask. Alice finished up her role call and told everyone to settle in for another 3 hours before they were to stop again. It was now dark outside, people will be asleep quickly. 
    The bus pulled back out onto the road and off they went. Adrian listened to the rain mixed with the sound of Miranda with her ice coffee. He turned to her and watched as she pulled her legs up on the seat again. "You changed. It looks nice. That color looks nice on you.' Adrian complemented.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Miranda settled down with her back against the cool window, one of her legs beneath her and one with the knee propped up in the air. She listened to Alice's announcement while she studied the people in the bus, now having a better view. As she had expected, when Alice settled down again, more than half of the bus pulled out pillows in all kinds of shapes and sizes. Most of the bus would be sleeping before long.
    "You changed. It looks nice. That color looks nice on you,"  said Adrian suddenly. Miranda's head shot back to him, her dark eyes searching his green ones. Oddly, she couldn't detect any hint of sarcasm or irony. That was strange. The only person to compliment her on how she looked was her mom. Her one real friend was a guy, and like her father, he just didn't see things like that. Strangely, Adrian did. He was paying attention? 
    "Thank you," Miranda almost blurted out. "It's ... really just a vest that I've put on, though," she added quietly. It wasn't like she had completely changed indeed, but for some reason, what he just said threw her off balance. She was glad when she felt her stomach complain, distracting her mind from going over that scene from just now again.
    She reached down to go through her bag, balancing herself so she wouldn't have to change position or fall off the chair. She pulled back her arm, sliding back into position. Without looking at Adrian, Miranda opened the lid on the plastic bowl she had brought with her. "I've been well informed by my father before I went on this trip," she explained while she took out the white plastic fork and ripped off the top of a transparent, plastic sachet holding a white salad dressing. "He warned me to buy some kind of dinner at the airport, something that I could take along. Apparently..." she took the fork and mixed the green salad, red onions and bits of tuna in the bowl "... the gas stations in France have no idea of the true meaning of the word 'food'. Everything they call food is equal to petrol or gas here."
    Miranda grinned as she thought about his name, Adrian Hunter. It was a name that suited him, somehow. "I doubt that I can eat this all," she continued after she averted her gaze again. "It's really a salad for two. If you like, I can save some for you." 
    Her statement struck her after she said it. If it hadn't been for the