How to Date Someone You Hate

Chapter 3: Bus Buddies(Mavis)

I wake up in the morning to my alarm blaring off like crazy. My alarm happens to be a goat screaming. My dad changed it to that as a joke, but we never found out how to change it. 

I groan in annoyance and turn it off. I get out of bed and look out my window from the blinds. Warrens blinds are still closed, good. 

I get out of my corgi pajama pants and slip on some jeans. I put on a striped shirt and a bomber jacket.

I can't decide whether to leave my hair down or put it in a ponytail. The good thing about brown hair is that it looks good with everything, so that's no problem. 

I eventually decide on a ponytail and head downstairs. It's only 7, and school starts around 9, so I have time to eat some breakfast. 

I go to the kitchen and grab a bowl of cereal and some milk. As I start eating, I hear a loud "BEEEEEEP" outside. That beep means that my dad is home from the night shift at the hospital. 

The door opens with my dad looking disheveled. His 5-o'clock shadow looks darker than usual, and his hair is a mess. "Hey dad." I greet. "Hey Maves." He yawns. 

"What happened this time?" "Well, I apparently look like some old man's dead son, and he threw a huge fit and started crying, calling me a ghost. So you know, the normal stuff." He runs his hands through his hair.

"Where's your mom?" He looks around. "She's probably asleep. Book club was last night." I take my finished bowl of cereal to the sink. "Ah, ok. Let me guess-" "Three glasses, so less than usual." I answer. Dad hums in response. 

"Well, I'm off to take a nice long shower. You taking the bus?" "Mhm." "Alright then, see you this afternoon. I'm off tonight, thank god." And with that he heads to the bathroom. 

I go and get all of my stuff ready. I already took a shower last night, so I'm good in that department. Before you know it, the bus is outside, and I head in. 

The morning driver is Miss. Elliot, who is nice, but quiet. I greet her and she nods. I walk towards my usual seat, where my bus friend is. 

Bus friends are different than friends. We talk to each other on the bus, share secrets, act like besties, but once we're off the bus, we're strangers, and act like we definitely didn't pour our hearts out about our relationship troubles. 

My bus friend is Laura something. I never learnt her last name. Typical bus buddy stuff. "Hey Mavis." She smiles, motioning next to her. I smile back and take my seat.

"You won't believe what my boyfriend did this morning." She sighs. "Spill." The stories she shares are more interesting than any movie. 

"Ok, so. It was late at night, right? So I'm in bed and all of a sudden he calls me..." As Laura tells the story I listen intently. "Oh my god, what?" I gasp. "I KNOW!" She giggles. 

"How's stuff going with you in the relationship department?" she wiggles her eyes brows.

"My love life is nonexistent. The last time I had a boyfriend was in the 9th grade. And I'm not really into anyone right now." I sigh. "I can set you up with someone if you'd like." Laura offers. 

"No, that's ok." I give her a small smile. She's about to say something when the bus comes to a stop at the school. 

We get off at the school stop and I wave goodbye. As soon as we get off the bus, we are just two people in different classes.

I head inside and go to meet my friends who are at the quad. Elton is reading, and Crimson is talking with her woodworking class buddies. I sit next to Elton, who is oblivious to my presence. "HELLO!" I screech. Elton Jumps up, his book falling onto the floor. 

"Jesus Christ Mavis! Give a guy a warning next time!" He scrambles to pick up his book, face red from what I assume is embarrassment. 

"Whatcha reading?" "Just some book on philosophy." He shrugs. "Oh ok." The bell rings and we both start heading to our first class, Crimson catching up behind us. "Hey guys!" She smiles. Looks like she straightened her hair today. "Your hair looks nice!" Elton smiles. "Yeah, I wanted to put my hair up in space buns. I'll work on it during math class." 

"Nice. My mom won't let me straighten my hair. She says it's too cute." Elton sighs. "My hair is straight as heck, I'd kill for curls." I admit. "Trust me, you don't want curls." Elton laughs. "Coily hair is even worse." Crimson adds. 

" Anyway, I'm gonna skip math too. We're learning about PEMDAS. Literally everyone knows that. Why should I learn it again?" I say. ""I'll skip too. There's this new boba place-" "Elton, you skipped class for boba yesterday. I highly doubt you can leave campus without getting caught again." Crimson shakes her head.

"Try me."

And with that we head to our classes.