𝑰𝒏 𝑭𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒏𝒐

7 : Bus Talks

𝕊 𝕆 𝕄 𝔼 ℝ

February 20th, 20xx

"Are you sure you want to go bowling? We can just go to the mall," Oakley said as soon as we reached the bus stop.

"It's fine, I wanted to bowl anyway," I shrugged.

I checked the bus routes to make sure that we were for sure headed to Bowlero. I could never pronounce the bowling alley correctly, I was pretty sure I was saying it wrong in my head. It was such a strange name but that's why I just called it the bowling alley. The only other one we had beside a public bowling alley was the one on our college campus.

It was smaller but it was famous because it was on campus.

"How long are we bowling?" 

"Two hours, I think. One lane should do it. I don't think I'll win though, I kind of suck at bowling," I said with a shrug.

"Then why do you do it? Doesn't it get frustrating?" 

"Not really? I mean, yeah, I get angry and embarrassed. I just like knowing that there's a moment where I'm so focused on something I'm bad at, that everything else just...fades away."

"Inspirational. I'll see if I can find that on Pinterest," Oakley laughed.

I gave him a look that was in awe. Never before had I met a guy know was Pinterest was. Looking at his outfit, it was probably inspired by the app. He had aesthetic looking string bracelets. On top of them, there was a zodiac sign. 

"What sign is that?" I asked as we walked onto the bus.

"Libra. It's my sign. Yes, I'm a little weird for having my sign on me but I like to be a narcissist sometimes, sue me."

After paying, we went to the back of the bus, behind the second pair of doors. It was my favorite spot. It was a quick way out but it also helped that we weren't at the front of the bus where everyone could see us. We could see everyone instead with few people in the back. 

"What's your sign?" he asked.

"It's a cancer, June twenty fourth."

"My birthday is in October, October second."

"What did you do for yours?" I asked him, closing my eyes for a split second as the sun beamed in my eyes.

When I opened them, they connected with a man sitting across the isle before he looked away. He didn't seem odd at first but when I realized he took up both seats to face us, it made my stomach turn. I knew that trick of them looking away only to stare when I wasn't looking.

"Nothing much, my friends took me out for mine so that my mom could set up our apartment with my sister. When I got home, my friends stayed over and we had eaten pizza and cake together. What about you?" 

"Oh, uh, nothing. Sally and Tate had forgotten because they had planned a date and my mom was out."

For now, I'd drop the feeling. What if he really didn't want anyone sitting next to him?

"You were alone?" Oakley's voice sounded offended. On my behalf?

"Yeah, I'm fine though. It's nothing bad," I chuckled, sort of embarrassed that I had blurted out the truth.