Saving Andromeda

Chapter 3: Who Are You?!?!

[PICTURE OF NATHANIEL ON THE SIDE!]

I have always hated riding the bus. I used to ride it back on Guam and let me tell you, public school buses have a reputation that it very well lives up to. Overcrowded is not even accurate enough to describe the amount of people who ride the bus. Sometimes we must even resort to sit on the ground. Thankfully, when I moved to Hawaii, my mom was able to pick me up from school because she worked at the college nearby.

This bus ride, however, was nothing like my previous experiences. (Asphodel Academy must exceed all expectations!) First off, the buses were clean. (I think I can stop there on what was surprising about the bus.) They were more like tour buses, with air conditioning and even tinted windows. To ensure the security of each student, there are identification cards, given to us with our planners, which are scanned to ensure that each person who gets on the bus attends Asphodel Academy. I think I even spotted a small camera to watch if anything shady was going on. (Thank goodness! You never know with these private schoolers.) 

I showed the bus driver my address before getting on the bus and thankfully, he told my that I was one of the first stops. I sat down next to Finn. Not knowing what to talk about, I brought out my itouch to listen to music.

"Can I see what you listen to?" Finn asked me as soon as I found my earbuds in my bag.

"Sure." I said, a little nervously. People back home used to tell me that my music was screamo. (It's not, but they just assume it is.) I don't want to scare Finn away with my taste in music or make him think I'm sort of emotional freak (which most ignorant people think when they hear my music). If he starts talking about rap music, I think I'll just ignore him for the rest of the bus ride. I am sorry, but I can't tolerate listening to that type of music. (No offense to all you rap music lovers!) I've had an experience on a bus where rap music was blasting, and I couldn't tell the difference between the bass of the song and my freaking heartbeat.

I handed him my ipod after choosing one of the softer songs on my ipod: I Wouldn't Mind by He Is We.

He put the earbud in his ear while I tried to calm down my nervousness. He smiled at me. "You know He Is We too, huh?"

I smiled back, "Yes."

He responded, "I love this song by them." Finn smiled widely and started singing along: "I'm not afraid anymo-ore. I'm not afraid."

He was so enthusiastic and playful that I decided to join in quietly. "For-ever is a long tiiiime. But I, wouldn't mind spending it by your si-ide."

He stopped and looked at me with weird expression. I laughed nervously. "What?" I asked him.

His smile returned. "Nothing, it's just that your voice is beautiful."

I was thoroughly surprised and must have looked caught off guard. No one has ever commented on my voice. Then again, very few people have actually heard me. My cheeks must have been 10 shades redder than usual. I shyly smiled up at him. "Thanks, I guess?"

Finn smirked at me. "I guess now you know what your demonstration for Music Appreciation will be."

~

After a few songs on my ipod, mostly consisting of Mayday Parade and Paramore, I'd finally made it to my stop. Finn's stop was the next after mine so after a quick exchange of cell phone numbers and emails, we said goodbye. 

With my backpack and all my textbooks that couldn't fit in my locker, I got off at a private road surrounded by many trees. After walking for a few minutes, I finally came across what I assumed to be my destination: a huge wrought iron fence and stone gate, with many shrubs probably concealing the house. I rang the machine by the side of the gate.