The old bus stop smelled like something had literally fallen over and died. I wasn't sure if it was the lady next to me, who looked as if she'd sooner jump off a cliff than take a shower, or just the natural scent. Either way my nose wrinkled and I pressed my mittened hand over my nose like I was cold. The lady turned towards me and smiled, revealing yellow teeth and some food from her most recent meal.
I tried not to cringe but I knew I had failed by the way her eyes turned cold and the smile brightened a little bit, as if she was happy that I was repulsed. Beyond her I saw a pair of headlights slice through the morning fog, and was quiet relieved that the bus would be on time for a change. I had to be getting to work early today, or mom would kill me.
Part of my stipulation for getting a job, was that I had to take the bus until I could get my own car, even if my mom owned the little bakery shop and drove there anyways. It was some sort of responsibility training, I knew, but sometimes I wondered about her sanity.
It had always just been my mom and I, I know I've got a father somewhere but he decided that his other family, his other daughter, were worth more than my mom and I were. But that just made it easier in my decision on what to think of him. He didn't care about us, he thought we weren't worth it... What an idiot.
The bus pulled close to the curb and the air pressure let out as the driver braked, he opened the doors and the people who had been forced to stand because the bench was all taken up, got on first. I stood up when most of them had boarded, and grabbed my bag, making sure I had everything. One step forward, and then I was being shoved over to the side, hitting the frame of the little structure that served as a bus stop with my head.
The lady who had previously sat next to me scurried onto the bus like a cockroach trying to run away from the light. Are you kidding me? I shook my head and got on after her, which made me the last to get on out of the ten or so people who had been waiting for this bus.
I paid the driver by sticking my money into the little cup thing in the front, and then turned towards the seats. The bus was absolutely packed, people crowding the whole thing, and most of the hand loops were taken up. I squeezed through people, glad to have worn two coats because some of these people reeked of weed and alcohol, while others looked like me, just trying to get to work. Near the back I found a hand loop, and held on just as the driver shut the doors and pulled away from the curb.
Once we got moving I didn't feel like I needed to hold onto the hand loop anymore, so I let go and leaned against the bar at my back. People on the bus were always a chance game, either you sat by a lady who didn't just love cats, but thought she was one, or you sat next to a semi decent person that you could have a casual conversation with.
Today though, was on of those days that you shouldn't either talk, nor make eye contact because the loons out numbered any decent type three to one. Not that loons weren't interesting to talk to, I just wasn't in that particular mood today.
As I watched through the people, we eventually pulled out of the fog, but into rain. Four people got off, each only about thirty feet away from where the last had gotten off, and I felt anxious. I had about thirty minutes to be at work, and a fifteen minute drive left. But that was hoping that nobody else got off.
I had to wonder if this was a valid way to teach me responsibility if I wasn't in control of the elements around me, but then again maybe that was part of the lesson. A glance down at my phone to verify that yes, I had five minutes less than the last time I had checked. My thumb hovered over the icon that would lead me to my text messages, where I could find my mother's tab and explain that I might be late to day. I was just getting myself in the mindset to warn her, when the bus suddenly lurched to a stop. Several people swore, including the driver, who had nearly missed a stop to pick up people.
I, who had not been holding onto anything at all, fell forward, somehow tripped over some man's suitcase, bumped into someone, and was shoved over into a seat that yes- was already occupied. My blond hair that had been pulled into a clip was now spilling out all over the place, my clip no where to be seen. The skirt that I had chosen this morning thankfully stayed modest, though it did ride up a little too much for my comfort.
Apologies spilled out of my mouth as the guy I had fallen onto sat there quietly. The whole bus was looking at us, and with a start, I realized that this guy was incredibly attractive. He had sandy blonde hair and bright green eyes that sparkled with warmth. The apologies died away and he looked down at me with a slight smile.
"Pumpkin, I might be mistaken but I think you just fell for me," he said, his smile turning into a full on grin that made even his eyes seem to smile.
Blood rushed to my cheeks and words rushed out of my brain as I looked upon him, amidst a bus full of people who were now chuckling. The guy winked at me and moved aside a little so that I'd have room to sit next to him and the railing.
"You can sit with me," he said, helping me off his lap and sitting properly, while I still struggled for a coherent thought, "so that I can make sure you don't fall for some other lucky guy," he added, quieter.
"I'm Thea, Thea James," I said stupidly.
The guy tilted his head, "Sean Green, and I think I'll need an application because I'd love to apply for the boyfriend position, if you haven't already got someone to fill it," he said, flirtatiously and confidently.
(Her name was only changed because her dad and step mom never named her, and I don't remember if her mom was given a last name so I made one up)
