Electric Love ⇒ Heartstopper [ON HOLD]

02 → Bus Rides

♪
'Bus Rides'
♪

"It's literally just another silly crush." Tao commented, walking alongside Issac with Charlie and Gabriel behind him.

"It's not a crush. I don't just fall for any guy who's nice to me." Charlie said as the four boys paused, Tao and Gabriel giving him a look.

"And you're sure you want to spend a whole hour with giant, moronic, rugby lads?"

"Yes."

"I am on that team." Daniel interjected, addressing Tao.

"My point still stands," the boy stated before turning to Charlie. "It's your funeral," Tao commented, lifting up his hands with a grin.

The day flew past, as Gabriel did not have music with Mr Johnson. Currently he was getting changed for rugby practice, waiting on Charlie to show up.

Gabriel had a love-hate relationship with rugby. His dad had recommended he take a sport when he joined Truham in year 10. Rugby gave him his 'friends' that stood around him but none of them could beat Isaac, the quiet, bookish boy he'd met in the library in his first week at the boy's school. That's how he got introduced to Elle, Tao and Charlie.

"Charlie Spring though?" A boy beside him spoke up, snapping him from his thoughts.

"Isn't he in year 8?" Another spoke.

"Year 10," Gabriel corrected, tying his laces.

"He's, like, well skinny though."

"Can he even play?" Someone asked. "I'm sure he'd a nice guy but we actually want to be dece."

"He's really good at track, so I believe in him," Gabriel informed, glaring at the boys making comments.

"But does he actually like sports? Everyone knows he's gay."

"And those two things correlate in what way?" Gabriel defended.

"We're only joking around, mate," Harry interjected, patting him on the shoulder.

Gabriel looked over to Nick who looked uncomfortable at the comments being thrown around. He opened his mouth, about to say something but at that moment Charlie walked in. "Hi," was all he said.

"Hi," Charlie replied, awkwardly standing by the door.

"I know I was joking about being weak, but I'm definitely too weak for this," Charlie told Nick and Gabriel as they looked at the group of boys playing a rugby game.

"Where is your 'can do' attitude?" Nick asked the curly haired boy.

"She left. Long ago."

"Like my will to live," Gabriel joked, receiving a concerned look from Nick. "Joking!"

"Aren't you supposed to be over there?" Charlie asked Gabriel, motioning at the ongoing game.

"Can't. Hurt my ankle," he replied, picking at the grass, looking up at Nick and Charlie. "I am in so much agony," he sarcastically continued.

Nick blew out a laugh before turning back to Charlie. "Just try. Tackle me, I won't dodge," Nick stated. "Come on, I bet you can do it."

Charlie looked uncomfortable but he sprinted towards Nick and tackled him. "That was perfect," Nick commented as they both lay on the floor. "Now, let's try again while I'm moving."

Gabriel gave the boy a thumbs up for encouragement. "I'm going to die," Charlie mumbled, picking himself up from the floor.

After a few more tackles, some successful, some failed, it was the end of practice which Gabriel was so thankful for. He quickly got changed into some normal clothes he'd packed, said his goodbyes and left, hoping not to be late for his play rehearsal - when taking the bus, it's hard to predict if the bus will actually show up. He planned on going straight to the theatre instead of taking the bus home.

Jazz.A_444

You better be on the
bus
If you're late I will kill
you

Harnessing your inner
Lady Macbeth 😍

She might have not gone
through with it but I will

When she threatens you 🤭

Hurry up

What do you want me to do
Drive the bus???

If you get here faster 🤷‍♀️
AND LEARN YOUR
LINES!!

Despite not having the motivation, Daniel pulled out his copy of Macbeth with various highlighting and scribbling and began to read over his lines, listening to his friend's advice.

"Gabriel?" He heard someone call his name. He looked up from his book to spot Imogen.

"Hi!" He smiled at the brunette walking towards him. "What are you doing here?"

"My parents are working late," Imogen replied, now beside him on the bench. "What are you reading?"

"Oh, I'm learning lines for a play," he informed, putting the book away, weirdly slightly embarrassed but that feeling melted away when she responded.

"That's cool," she genuinely smiled. "Harry never told me that you were in a play."

"Harry and them lot don't know. They're not..." Gabriel trailed off, not knowing how to phrase the sentence.

"I think I get it," Imogen replied as the bus pulled up. "This is me." Coincidence that this was the bus he'd normally get if he were going home.

Imogen paused for a second as she noticed that the bus was quite packed. What Gabriel noted was her uncomfortable look.

"Mind if I keep you company?" Gabriel asked. He'd be cutting it close if he went to his house first but he wanted to help the girl out anyway he could, even though they didn't know each other that well.

"Yes please," she replied, sighing in relief before stepping on the bus before Gabriel. "Which stop you getting off at?"

"Crosscove Lane," he replied with Imogen's eyes lighting up in return.

"That's my stop," she informed with a smile. "I think we live on the same street."

"No way that we live on the same street but I've never seen you before," Gabriel commented.

"Wild," Imogen added before she picked up an earlier subject. "So, have you been in many plays before?"

They talked the whole bus ride and talked all the way to Imogen's house after Gabriel decided he was going to walk her home. "See you tomorrow?"

"Of course," he replied, smiling as he enjoyed the continuous conversation they just had. "See you tomorrow." He left for his house, dropped off his extra bag and caught the bus to the theatre.

"Just in time Gabriel, quickly sit down," Mr Walsh called out as Gabriel rushed in side. Mr Walsh was enthusiastic about his productions and a great director.

"Sorry, you can't murder me just yet," he whispered to Jasmine, his friend of five years, as he took a seat next to her. She went to the Higgs girl school but they saw each other mostly in the theatre as Jasmine hated the boys school and wouldn't even go near it.

imogen.h.001

Thank you for
today xx

No problem :)

♪

Hi pretty people!

Thanks for reading :)

- Bubbles