Blackest Hearts

Buses and Strangers

the man stopped his typing and looked at the time. it was only 2 o clock and there was still enough time to do things. he stood and pulled on his suit's jacket before walking over to Janice in the main lobby of the floor, who had a confused look.

"I'm going to be taking the rest of the day off, would you mind canceling anything i have on for today and moving it to tomorrow?" he asked.

she smiled and nodded, typing wildly away.

"Alright Mr. Garcia, enjoy you're day off. do you want me to send you a text of the party next week?" she asked looking up.

"Yes, please, will you and you're boyfriend be attending?" he asked.

"My fiance, he proposed just yesterday! i still can hardly believe it but yes we will both be there." she answered, unable to contain her grin.

"Oh! congratulations then! send the text and thank you, have a wonderful day." he said before leaving.

he walked out, his satchel around his shoulder and stopped once he exited the tall building. he looked around and wondered what his father would be doing, he pulled out his phone and dialed the number.

ring, ring, ring,

"Hello?" his father's old voice asked.

"Dad?"

"Jimmy, my boy! what makes you call today?" his father asked cheerfully.

"Just wondering what you are doing, is all. do you want to get a snack later, i took the day off today." he asked.

"Of course! i will meet you in the Italian place, i am heading out already." his father said with a laugh.

"Perfect i'll head over too, i will see you in a little bit." he promised before saying goodbye and hanging up.

the Italian place was a code word, a word that he had once described a small coffee and desert shop. he didn't really know if it was Italian or not but they sold Gelato. he walked to the bus stop and waited, he knew he could take his fancy car to Old Roswell but for once he wanted to do it the non-expensive way.

the bus arrived a few minutes after he had and he quickly secured a place, standing near the back. he looked out the window and had a small conversation with an elderly woman who then told him he was going to have a good life with God's blessing. he thanked her and helped her off, before going back to his spot and pulling his phone out. the home screen was an old picture of him and his brother Rigo, who had gone and joined the Marines only to get himself sent to Afghanistan and blown up. but that had happened years ago, it didn't mean he didn't miss his brother. in this photo his brother had been 18, barely joining and he had been only 15. it was the year he hated and loved.

it was the year his parents got better jobs and moved into a better house. it was the year where he aced all his classes and got into all Advanced Placement. it was the year that secured his school path to one of studding and glory. it was also the year his brother signed up for the War, and when his brother's then girlfriend Abby had told him about the Shadow world. she had been a Shadowhunter, half-angel half human, people who hunt the creatures of the night. but she had her own secrets to add to his, like her love for him. at 15 he was raped by her, soon after he had a son. but the child did not live past a day.

he turned off his phone and looked back out the window, waiting for the familiar signs of Old Roswell to point out where he needed to get off. they stopped at one other stop in Atlanta before traveling out to Roswell. passengers got on and off but he payed no mind to them, it was like he was in his own little world.

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Jenna jumped onto the train and sat down in the nearest empty seat to the door. thankfully there were two other seats next to her that Cole and Charlie took. the bus was stationed for another minute as the bus driver got off and began to talk to someone. Charlie looked around the bus, the people here were mainly poor people. people who had cigar and alcohol stale breath. there were a few business men and women but all seemed to focused on their phones.

"That guy, he looks an a lot like you." Cole whispered.

Charlie followed his parabatai's gaze which led to an older Hispanic man. he was one of the businessmen, but unlike the others he wasn't attached to his phone. he looked out the window.

"No he doesn't" Charlie replied.

"Uh, yes he does!" Jenna stated.

Charlie looked back up to see the man look to the front of the bus. He froze, the man hadn't noticed him and looked back to the window. there was something about the man, perhaps it was the way they had the same dark curly hair that wasn't really curly but wasn't really straight. or the fact that they were both built well, or the fact that his eyes were a darker shade of brown than his. Jenna looked back to the man with curiosity.

the bus came to a stop and more people got on and off, not a lot of people rode the bus so there was room to sit and move but the man didn't. Jenna got up and pretended to be one of the people that just got on. Cole hissed for her to get back to them but she ignored him, Charlie watched as she sat next to the standing man and flashed him one of her dazzling smiles.

the man politely smiled and nodded back. her lips began to move but he couldn't hear her, the man to his side had his rap blasting so high that he couldn't hear Jenna. he watched her lips move, forming words and he tried hard to read them, but she spoke to fast and he soon got lost.

the bus screeched to a stop, their stop. the man politely nodded goodbye and left. she walked back to them and motioned for them to follow. once they got off Charlie's eyes followed the man who disappeared down the street and into a corner.

"So?" Cole asked.

"I'll tell you later. do you want to go to Land of a Thousand Hills?" she asked.

Charlie rolled his eyes and nodded. they walked out of the old style town and past the small shops. they walked to the small coffee shop and found a small table outside where they could sit alone. Cole went in and ordered them all hot chocolates except for Jenna who wanted a Dark Hot chocolate. when he got back Jenna began to spill.

"His name is Jimmy, some high up business men. he doesn't have kids and seems kind of far away. kind of sexy." she said.

"Ew, he is like double you're age." Cole replied.

"So? a man with secrets, i like that." she answered.