Back in the Game

Ch. 8 ~ The Bus Ride

I was staring out the bus window, sighing to myself. The dummy who caught Miranda and I was sitting next to me. I heard him grunt.

"Who was that?" Noah scowled at me. "Why were you two hiding in a classroom?"

I looked forward at the gray seat in front of me. "We weren't hiding, just didn't want to be disturbed."

"Uh-huh," he raised a brow at me and I groaned.

"Just let it go, okay, Noah? She's just a friend." That was such a lie. Miranda was kinda sketchy, but sweet at the same time. Not somebody I'd call a friend.

Bailey was clearly eavesdropping on us in the seat behind me. Daphne sat next to her as she was listening to music.

"You two love birds picking fights up there?" She smirked, and by this point, I was about to punch her.

I felt the tips of my ears turn red, "Love birds? Really? We are barely friend birds."

Daphne had one earbud out now, listening to Bailey tease Noah and me. I huffed and looked back angrily at her.

Noah sighed and looked at his phone again, not satisfied with the answers I'd given him.

"You heard me," Bailey sat back triumphantly. She pulled the purple strand of her hair back out of her face.

"Where's your brother anyway?" I ignored her past comment.

She groaned at the thought of him. "Ben? My st-"

Daphne tugged at her arm, cutting off the insult towards Ben. "Don't even say it," she warned, letting go.

"Fine. My... brother.... thinks he can 'become popular,'" Bailey rolled her eyes and used air quotes, "by playing lacrosse this spring. Literally nobody plays lacrosse!"

Noah snorted with amusement as he scrolled through something on his phone. "Cut him some slack. When he's all tuckered out after playing, then, you can make fun of him."

I rolled my eyes, the bus rolling over a bump in the road. We were nearing the twins' stop anyways.

"Remy, weren't you going to play softball this season?" Daf asked, elbowing Bailey.

"I guess I am now," I responded. Noah looked up from his screen, eyeing me oddly.

"You told me you weren't."

"You must not have heard me," I retort, nervous he'd figure out that I was being forced.

The seat behind us became quiet as Noah and I held our gaze. I finally broke it, staring back out the window.

I felt his gaze still on me as I opened my phone, typing in my password. I clicked on the messages app and looked for Miranda's number. I saw there was an unread text and opened it.

Noah grunted. I turned away so the screen of my phone wasn't visible to him. Pulling back a piece of my hair, I read the text.

You okay?? I saw that kid get on the bus with you.

Why do you care???

No response, but it said she was typing. I huffed, no way I was telling her about Noah.

My phone buzzed again, this time it was my dad. I sighed, slumping down in my seat.

Where are you!?

On the bus.

You sure, Remy? It was supposed to be here 10 minutes ago.

Traffic.

I wasn't lying. We'd hit really bad traffic. Right now, we were stopped in front of Bailey's house on Nook Street. She grabbed her bag and waved to Daphne before leaving.

"Cya guys later!" Bailey called, disappearing down the steps. I nodded.

My dad texted again.

I have somebody over at the house. Behave.

I furrowed my brow and grunted with annoyance. Who even was this?

The more I thought about it, the more scared I became. My dad was bad enough. But what if this person was even worse?

I felt the bus squeak as we pulled away, heading towards my house. We were only about five minutes out.

Noah glance at me. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," I shake my head, keeping the waver out of my voice.

He looked at me suspiciously, getting off his phone. "I won't take that as an answer."

I leaned back in the seat. "My dad has somebody over and I don't know who it is."

Noah frowned at me, tapping my shoulder. "I'm sure it's not bad. Maybe a friend." He smiled at me comfortingly.

"Thanks," I mumble, but that's exactly what I was afraid of. I knew my dad. He wouldn't tell me to behave like that.

Once we were at my stop, I grasped my bag and slipped past Noah. We said bye to each other and I trotted off the bus.

I sighed, finding a dark blue van in the driveway. Why the heck was this here?!

My heart dropped as I watched the door open and a shadow appear. I don't even have to be told to behave. I'll do whatever this guys wants!

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Long chapter! Thanks to the people reading! I will start updating a bit more now!

-pizza