Umbrellas in The Sun and Rain

Chapter 6

The drugs didn't last long, most likely due to how tired Theo was. He was looking out the window miserably, wanting to go back and drag Boris to the car to kiss him and to tell him he loved him- Did he love him? What even was 'love' anyway? Sure, he had crushes and shit before, but he never acted on them, and the way he felt with Boris was much more intense than just some crush on a girl that was nice to him in the hallway once.  He was annoying, and sometimes even a huge dick, but Theo just felt so..Good with him. Was it the drugs? No, even when he wasn't under the influence of anything he felt this way. All jittery, easily jealous, butterflies in his stomach, melty, and just the need to be with him and do a bunch of cheesy bullshit with him he normally wouldn't want to do.

"You know," Theo was snapped back to reality by the driver of the cab speaking to him, and he looked over to him- He was in the front seat, something his mother had never let him do and his father had never been able to let him do because of Xandra, "They don't let kids under a certain age on the bus without parental permission, and most of the time they don't let pets on."

"..I told you, my dad died. His girlfriend's sending me out east to my other family.

"I guess you'll be fine on that end, then, specs," the man laughed- He was a large man, with kind eyes and an easy smile. He had a stubbly chin of small black and grey hairs, and his pepper hair was slicked back to cover a bald spot, "What did you say your name was, again?"

“Theo,” the word slipped out of his mouth; Fuck, what if he was reported missing and the guy could say he saw him? Then again, he’d also be the one that helped him escape, so… Maybe it was fine?

“Alright, Theo. I’m JP,” he said as he parked in a nearby parking lot where he could see the bus station, and he moved to shake Theo’s hand. His hands were big and rough around Theo’s small, smooth hand- He wondered why so many people he met had such rough hands. Was it a genetic thing? “You want some advice on something?”

Theo then realized something; JP probably saw Boris and him making out on his porch. His stomach squirmed a little as he shifted in his seat. Praying it wasn’t about that, he nodded, pulling his hand away from the shake, “Um, yeah, sure.”

“You’re gonna need something to hide Fluffy in. Dogs ain’t allowed on this bus, it’s right there in big letters on that there sign. And, don’t try to put him in the bag, kid. He’ll suffocate. Plus, it’s too big for you to carry on, it’ll be put under with the rest of the luggage,” JP nodded wisely, “Tell ya what, you go get your ticket, and I’ll whip something up for you while I’m gone. Howzzat sound? And…Uh..Probably don’t bring the dog, they might get suspicious or something.”

Theo, tired and still a little high, decided he’d probably trust this man with his life at this point and nodded, “Alright,” he said, slipping the large bag over his shoulder and handing him Popper, “Be careful, he nips,” JP saluted with a goofy old-man grin, and Theo gave a lopsided smile as he climbed out of the car and walked over to the bus station.

Turns out there were many more  restrictions than just needed an Unaccompanied Child form signed by a parent, and the clerk at the window stated them all in a monotone voice. No transfers, no Journeys longer than 5 hours, the person that signed the form would have to meet him or else he’d be released into the custody of CPS or something. Theo thought these rules were dumb, but he bit his tongue so his high ass wouldn’t blurt it out.

The clerk finished her monologue, looking down at Theo with dull eyes- he wondered how many hours she had worked and how depressing it must be to work here, “All children under 15. No exceptions.”

“But I am 15!” Theo dug around in his cardigans pockets, fumbling with his official-looking, state-ensued New York ID, sliding it to the clerk, who looked over it carefully. Theo watched the lights around him dance around in weird shapes thoughtfully, wondering if it was normally like this or if it was the drugs, until the Clerk slid it back to Theo.