An Innocent Mistake (#Wattys2016)

Chapter 11

I walk to the school bus and climb the steps firstly meeting my eyes to the bus driver, Timothy. He is full of mirth at the beginning of the new day, elbow placed on the big steering wheel and the chin supported on the formed fist. He gives me a familiar look and I move on.

The bus lurches on the raging engine, crowding the silence with the bustling noise. I tumble on my feet, then revive back by taking a support of the seat's back. I have been looking for the seat that somebody's voice calls me. For that call I search up in my surrounding, among seats.

Then I come up finding Julia sitting behind two seats, her half face is visible. I go to her and settle next to her in the empty spot.

"How come you are here?" I start.

She never had a ride to school in bus, because Mrs.Campbell dropped her in car.

"My mom had a headache this morning and she told me to go in the bus with you. She called the bus driver."

"Hmm."

Throughout the rest of the ride I stay extremely silent. I don't talk much. I feel remorse inside of myself, taking my life problems. I would often have dispute in my head, dealing with the issues talking out the matter from distinct styles, considering it with multiple opinions and analyzing the results.

I look out the window which was more closer to Julia, because she was sitting next to it. I notice her taking cursory glances at my quietness. But I don't want to keep any conversation. I am really tired. My mouth is lazy to disposition the lips and even suck in any oxygen. I somehow feel weak as if I have aged. But if somebody would look at me, they wouldn't say anything like that. I am old internally but young externally. Maybe someday my young image would soon be abducted by the constant depression, leaving the traces of wrinkled, dangling skin over the bones like an old lady, earlier than expected. It's not a pretty picture.

While I am looking out, I have a vague idea that Julia is watching me from the side. She could be and perhaps be not, so I never prefer to make sure of it. I keep my attention out.

"What's wrong?" Julia asks to topple the climax.

I shift my sight to the face before the window, like I am taking a step back.

"Nothing."

"No tell me what's wrong?"

I determine to push my voice down the throat. Not a squeal is produced out of me. I maintain my own personal business.

In the class, I stare into the outer space, watching the fight between me and my parents in the bubble. Mom and dad ignoring me, leaving me out in the darkness, and I am screaming and running wildly falling and getting up to catch up to them. But as I get closer to them, they disappear into the bright flashing light. I cry and weep behind them on the ground. It clearly says that they don't love me and embrace me as their only child. Their love is fading away for me.

"Bethany! Hi where are you? Are you in the class?" Mrs.Delores comes on my head, gives away a smack on the desk and spreads a grin across her face. I didn't like the way she was looking at me. I wish I can kick her and lock her in some closet.

"Sorry, Mrs.Delores," I say.

I fix my back in the seat in vexation.

"Have you caught up to anything that I am teaching?"

"Umm, I-I-mean kind of."

Mrs.Delores scans my worried a face. I don't like anybody scrolling their eyeballs at me and her were the biggest in the class. It is so uncomfortable and humiliating.