Starkid One-shots

Bus Banter

This seems to have taken me ages to write, but oh well, enjoy the Breredith!

Brian hadn't had the best start to his Thursday morning. First, his car decided that today, the day of Brian's very important meeting, was the day to break down with no hope of being fixed then and there. Which meant he would have to take the bus to work, which was where he was now. This was the second thing on the list of 'The Unfortunate Thursday Events'. And Brian was hoping that that was where the list would end.

Buildings and trees zoomed past in a blur as the bus made it's way from stop to stop. Picking up passengers, dropping them off, allowing them to continue with their day. However, Brian was stuck watching out of the bus window, waiting for the bus to make it's final stop in the centre of town, allowing him to continue his day and prepare for the presentation he would be making in that afternoon's meeting. The presentation that could decide whether he would go up in the world, or fall flat on his face...

The businessman was pulled out of his thoughts as the bus made the next stop. One that was on the edge of a small housing complex. Many apartment buildings filled the area, being balanced out by an equal amount of green space; the perfect place for kids to play.

That looks like a friendly neighbourhood to live in. Brian thought. So much character and life to the place. This was a great contrast to the boring and plain apartment block that Brian took resistance in. Barely any families lived there and there wasn't a colourful plant in sight. How Brian wished for a change of scenery.

Brian then took notice of a young woman who had step foot onto the bus, holding the hand of a small child, a girl who could be no more than the age of three. The woman paid for her ticket and picked the child up into her arms. She made her way to an empty seat and sat down with the child on her lap. Brian then gave up interest in the newest passengers and set back to staring out if the bus window; although something in the back of his mind told Brian that he had seen this woman before.

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Brian had been sat on this bus for a while now, watching the world go by, passengers coming and going. While he was sat on the same uncomfortable seat he had chosen the moment he stepped on the bus. Everyone on the bus before him had seemed to have already gotten off at their stops, similar to those who had gotten on after him. Except one (well two) but Brian couldn't quite put his finger on them...

But all of a sudden, it hit him. Straight in the ear. Great, unfortunate event number 3.

A loud squeal echoed through the bus, though the bus driver seemed un phased by the outburst. How can they not hear this racket? It's deafening!

The mother of the problem was hushing and whispering for the child to calm down. No such luck. The little girl continued to cry in her mother's lap.

Brian finally had it and turned round to the source of the noise, anger boiling up inside him. At first he saw the blotchy face of the younger brunette, tears pouring from her small eyes, a brilliant blue in colour. They somehow seemed familiar. Then he looked up to the older brunette. Her curly hair all over the place and her chocolate brown eyes, filled with worry and panic. Brian's anger disappeared and was replaced with, was that, confusion?

Okay I have definitely seen her somewhere before. But where? And what was her name again? Maddie? Megan? Mere... that was her. Oh...

It was as if Brian was hit in the face by a tonne of bricks as his brilliant blue eyes widened in realisation.

As the bus slowed down to the next bus stop to allow a few new passengers on, Brian took note of where they were. Only a few more stops until the final destination. When the bus came to a firm halt, Brian got out of his seat to sit in one opposite to the single mother and her child. Next thing you know, the bus was on the move again.

All anger from before had disappeared when Brian looked into the woman's eyes. How could he be. The woman was staring right back at him, while simultaneously bouncing the little girl on her lap as a way to calm her, and was trying to read what he was thinking at the same time. Before he could say anything, the mother beat him to it.

"I'm so so sorry for all the fuss. She's not in the best mood today and wasn't really up for going out. But I needed to today because I have some family birthdays coming up soon that I need to go shopping for and won't have time any other day so I had to..."

Brian cut her rambling off, placing a hand on her upper arm. The little girl seemed to stop crying now and just stared up at the man. It was as if she knew something the adults didn't.

"It's fine, so don't worry about it. We all have those days and I guess today is just one of hers. What's her name by the way?"

Both adults looked to the small child for an answer, the little girl looking to her mother for confirmation. With a small nod of the head from her mum, the little girl turned back to the man.

"I'm Isabella." she said with a smile. The tears from before long gone. By the looks of things, Bella had started to take a liking to the stranger. Brian held out his hand to hers, shaking it.

"Well it's nice meet you Isabella, I'm Brian. And what might your mommy's name be?"

Bella looked up to her mum's face with a cheeky grin before looking back over at Brian. "MEREDIF" she said with as much enthusiasm as she could.

"Well it's a pleasure to meet you too Meredith" Brian then lowered his voice so only the woman in question could hear him "but I feel that we have already met before."

Brian's realisation from before was now mirrored in Meredith's eyes, but before she could say anything an announcement interrupted.

'We have now reached our final stop, City Centre.'

The passengers all started to disembark the vehicle, Brian helping little Bella down from her mother's lap as the three of them then left the bus. Meredith picked up her daughter and balanced her on her hip.

"Thank you Brian. Your presence back there seemed to calm this little munchkin down from her tantrum. I don't know how you did it."

"No sweat. I must have this power to calm the small humans down from toddler tantrums" he said while ruffling Bella's hair. "How about we go out for coffee some time; I'd like to get to know you better."

"Me too. Sounds like a plan."

The pair somehow managed to swap numbers (as Meredith still had Isabella in her arms) and then promised to catch up soon. As they went their separate ways into town, Brian looked over his shoulder and saw little Bella waving at him over Meredith's shoulder. A "Bye bye Brian" was heard before the man in question set off towards his office block. Somewhat feeling calmer for his presentation in the coming hours.

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Brian was sat at his desk in his office. It was around 4pm and he should have been making his way home by now. But he was taking a moment to look back at the days events.

So what if his car broke down that morning and he had to take the bus into work. His presentation that afternoon had gone so much better than he could have ever thought it would. But most importantly, he had met the daughter he never knew he had. He couldn't believe it.

I guess something has gone right today!

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Woah, dropped a bombshell on you there. I hope you guys liked this story as I really liked the prompt I found for it. Please vote and comment, I love seeing what you have to say.
Much love,
~Lauren 💜