The bus was hot that afternoon. Someone up front had a side window cracked open, but the cooler air disintegrated by the time it made it's way to the back. There were only a few people on the bus; I was the only one who was sitting in the back. The air was stagnant with cheap perfume and stale sweat. The combination made my nose tingle and itch. So there I was, splayed out indelicately in a plastic green bucket seat.My halfway bare thighs were plastered with sweat to the hot plastic. I fanned some air into my tie-dyed tee-shirt. The bus rumbled on towards the 4-Corners Mall, my destination. It's a boring, one-level strip mall, and I was fortunate enough to work there. I got to wear an apron with "The Sausage Co." flying high on the chest, and hand out samples of new meat products. At least the mall was air conditioned. No one had gotten on the bus for a while, I noticed. Then there was a soft screech of the brakes as it pulled to a halt. My attention was drawn up towards the front of the bus. A tall guy stood there, feeding is change into the meter. He was amazingly handsome; a mane of brown hair capping his head,very neatly shaven, square-jawed. He smiled at the bus driver, then looked towards me, looked away and sat down near the front. My heart stopped. I knew him. I remembered walking hand in hand with him through a small forest near our homes. He had taken me to the carnival, and we'd ridden the Ferris wheel together. I had snuck out my bedroom window to meet him at midnight. We'd only taken a walk around the neighborhood, down by the river, holding hands.He was the one that rewarded me with my first kiss on that moonlit shore. All of this came rushing back to me as I stared at the back of his head. I hadn't seen him since the day before he'd broken up with me. I was only 12 then, and here I was, a few days past 17. Right then, he slowly turned his head and looked back at me. I cast my eyes quickly away, embarrassed. I had to talk to him. I slowly peeled myself from the sticky seat. It made a soft tearing sound that I was sure the entire silent bus could hear. I trotted down the shaking bus aisle, seeing the bus driver's eyes study me cautiously. I plopped down in the seat in front of him, turned to him and flashed a dazzling smile. He smiled back in such a way that made me melt from my heart down. "Hi," I nearly whispered. "Hey," He smiled. There was a long silence that made me utterly uncomfortable. I looked down and blushed. Whenever I would glance up, there his eyes were, and I'd just giggle inanely. Finally I found my voice. "You're Scott, right?" He nodded. "I am." I smiled sweetly. "Do you remember me?" I expected an immediate yes. After all, he was looking at me with such interest. Such familiarity in his eyes. "No," He shook his head and smiled warmly. I was taken aback. How could he not remember me? I didn't look that different. I mean, sure my hair was shorter, and blonder than it used to be, but, still.... "You...you don't?" I stumbled, becoming quite confused. He merely shook his head, and continued to look me over from head to toe. My cheeks grew bright red, as I knew they would if anything went wrong. I spoke again, "You don't remember me? We.....I....that one summer night, by the river?"I couldn't believe that he didn't remember such a huge occasion. It had given me chills to this day--how sweet and romantic had that night been?This question had given Scott a blank stare. "I'm sorry," he began, "what's your name?" I didn't want to give him my name. I wanted him to remember me,remember everything. At that moment, I think my sanity flew out the window. I put aside everything that would've kept me from doing it. I put aside the fact hat he didn't remember me or that my name was Kristin. I put aside the fact that it could've all been a total coincidence. I reiterated the past--I kissed him.