The Kiss of Life

Chapter 5 ~ Ezzy the Gypsy

Chapter 5 ~ Ezzy the Gypsy

“I’m so excited!” I exclaimed jumping up and down in my seat.  Bethany, a student in the writing class, is the daughter of the super attendant.  She easily convinced her dad to allow the trip.  In about five minutes the bus leaves heading for Danvers.

       “Calm down will you,” Zac muttered in my ear causing me to jump in shock.  Zac always stays away from me when other people are around, so others won’t view me as crazy.

       “What are you doing here?” I question astonished.

       “I’m going to find our witch friend,” he replies slowly.

       “Well duh,” I roll my eyes, “Why don’t you just pop up there?  You never show up in front of people besides me.”

       Zac opens his mouth to reply, but is cut off short when a girl sits beside me and starts up a conversation.

       “Hey, I’m Esmeralda.  Nice to meet you!  Are you new?  I haven’t seen you around.  Hey, you kind of look familiar,” she lets out in one breath.

       My eyes are as big as saucers as I take the girl in.  Her fiery red hair is loosely curled and hanging to her mid back.  She is quite an unusual sight, never have I seen a tan red head with blue eyes.  She is almost looks exotic, even though she is obviously from America, probably Tennessee judging by her accent. 

       “Don’t mind her; she’s just desperate for friends.” A brunette retorted while sneering.  “I’m Clarice, and you are?”

       “Christine Anderson.”

       “Oh!  Are you Aiden’s sister by any chance?”

       “Yes…,” I answered cautiously.

       “Perfect, we can be best friends and I’ll date your brother.  We’ll be sisters in law, amazing right?”

       I don’t know what made me glance over at Esmeralda, but when I looked at her, my heart softened.  She moved to the back of the bus, away from everyone else, and sat with her feet huddled against her chest while she drew on a pad.

       She reminds me of me.  I have five contacts in my phone; my mother and father, Aiden, my grandparent’s house number, and Knollas Pizza takeout.  I’m not socially awkward or anything, just having a friend is stressful.  I can’t tell them my secret, so how do I explain me talking to the air?  Zac doesn’t like to show up in front of people, so I would see less of him which makes my chest tighten. 

       Esmeralda, however, looked like she wanted a friend more than anything.  The sad thing is she already thinks I won’t be her friend and doesn’t even seem surprised at the thought.  Is she so used to rejection that she expects people don’t want to be her friend?  That sounds depressing.

       Making up my mind, I turned towards Clarice.  “Actually I already have a best friend in mind, but thanks for the offer,” I reply politely.

       I can hear her huffing behind me as I pack my stuff up and move towards the back.  I set my stuff in the seat across from her with a hump which causes her to jump up in surprise.

       “Hey, I’m Christine, you’re Esmeralda right?” I smile reassuringly at her. 

       “Yeah,” she smiles back.  “Sorry for eavesdropping, but are you Aiden’s big sister right?”

       “Proudly.”

       “That’s cool, you both seem nice.  If you don’t mind me asking, why are you here?”