Somewhere Only We Know

Chapter Four

"Hey Kevin."

"Hey kid."

Kevin the bus driver could be considered one of Zackary's good friends. He was a rather small man with strong accentuated expressions, his big fingers always tapping on the wheel whenever a good song passed on the radio. He often told the black haired teenager that all the modern music was great, but nothing could beat the 80s and 90s era. Zackary always countered back with the fact that nothing could beat classical music.

"Strong Vivaldi fan?"

"Yes, but I always was more of a Chopin. Then again, Rachmaninov had always been amazing, Bach as well..."

"I get it, I get it, you like them all. Who would blame you anyway? They invented romance, drama and all the heartache we find in song."

Zackary always found himself blushing when someone pointed out his strong passion for classical music. Men, women, teachers, friends, they all found it weird. He liked many other genres of course, but classical music was always one thing he would hold at heart. Kevin helped him place the 1980s and 1990s music era in his top three favorites, teaching him the songs and bands he should absolutely have in his playlist, sometimes playing them out loud in the bus.

Zackary admired Kevin's knowledge and was confused about what this very obviously smart man was doing in the public transport industry. The times he had asked Kevin with disappointment laced in his tone, the man always smiled sadly at him, almost with a pitiful look.

"I am not offended." He answered each time, ignoring Zackary's previous question. "I blame your parents for making you think that only higher class people with prestigious jobs could be smart and educated. The wealthy can also be ignorant."

People, mostly adults, always told Zack about how lucky he was to have such education concentrated on him. Kevin never did. He never told him that he was lucky, that he should take advantage or that he would end up successful like his parents. In fact, Kevin never asked him about his family whatsoever and Zackary was always secretly relieved, not wanting to talk about the successful lawyers and doctors breathing down his neck on a daily basis. Zackary learned not to ask him about his job, switching to asking the man about his family.

Kevin had two kids. A girl and a baby boy. His wife was a nurse in the neighboring city and they saw each other rarely which was one of the reasons Kevin was going to change his schedules to match with hers. Zackary always listened with great attention, feeling a weird tightness in his chest about the way Kevin talked about his kids. He always seemed so kind to his children, so understanding.

Zackary wondered why his father wasn't as warm and welcoming as Kevin.

"What do you have today?" Kevin asked him as he stood toward the front of the bus despite there being plenty of free seats for him to sit.

"Two exams." Zackary replied, grasping onto one of the seats when the bus abruptly moved to the left. "Biology and History."

"Oh? Do you feel ready for the tests?" Kevin looked in the mirror, watching Zackary intently as the teenager scoffed.

He scratched the back of his neck. "No?"

"Is that a question?"

Zackary sighed and face palmed himself a bit too violently. "I don't know! I was suppose to study yesterday but I decided to watch a show instead and before I knew it, I had fallen asleep and it was morning!"