WEST COAST 18+

28.

lengthy chapter

W E S T C O A S T

"Daniela, how come I don't see you anymore?" The sound of a man's voice makes her lift her head from a magazine. It was the bus driver she's known since living in LA, recognizing him faster with his uniform on.

Daniela goes to answer, but Shanti talks, "She got a lil boyfriend that be picking her up and dropping her off now."

Daniela stares over at her on her left. "Enrique is not my boyfriend."

Shanti whispers in her ear, "my bad, you just getting them cheeks clapped," Daniela swatting her away. Daniela was clocked in with Shanti and Paul, the first hour feeling like two and a half. It was a slow day, barely any customers coming through.

"Enrique? González?" the bus driver asks, seeming to be aware of which one.

"That's the one," Shanti smiles, getting nudged in her side.

"Hello, blabbermouth," Daniela says, Shanti locking her lips and zipping it. Turning her head, "But yes, we're friends now, and he offers me rides."

The man smiles, "Well, tell him he has me to worry about. You know you were always supposed to be my girlfriend."

Daniela becomes amused. "Sir, you have a wife."

He shrugs, "She's okay with it."

She laughs, flipping a page. "Tell her I said hey, by the way."

"She isn't talking to me, so maybe you need to get her to say hey to me."

Her shoulders slumped. "What you do now?"

"Why is it always the man's fault?" he asks, Daniela slowly raising her eyebrow. "I went out with the guys for drinks instead of going to her after I promised. Fine, you got me."

She leans forward on the glass. "You wouldn't be in this position if you just communicated and did what she asked."

He starts heading down an aisle, "I'll make it up to her."

"How many times can you do that before she starts kicking your ass?" she asks before letting him shop. Daniela dove back into her fashion magazine to cure her boredom. Daniela liked engaging with people, but nobody came in. Not even Enrique. He was busy before her; he'll be busy while with her. They texted a little this morning, but they had lives outside of each other, and it didn't change.

Paul grabs Daniela's attention while racking items at the front of the store, "I didn't know you were interested in him." Him as Enrique, and didn't know as in I thought you hated drug dealers.

Daniela sighs, scratching her jaw, "I've liked him for a while now."

"Oh."

oh boy. Daniela picked up on the tone in his voice—the sadness of a man who had been informed the girl he wanted was off the market. But she could've sworn she went over this and how she had no feelings for him whatsoever. But here Paul was thinking he still had a chance, assuming time was all he needed and maybe a new location where Enrique wouldn't find him.

Ashton was basking in his drama-free days, though walking around with no one to talk to was depressing. He had once built the courage to speak more than five words with Raquel, only to revert back to that shy boy because the whole school now knew Marcus targeted him. Ashton was too embarrassed to face her and ashamed to even look Georgie's way either.

Georgie was slowly cracking, feeling sorry for the lost puppy. Ashton didn't think Georgie would ever forgive him for crossing such a big line, so when he spotted Georgie cutting people in line to stand next to him, he thought he was coming over to beat him up, too.