The next morning was a Friday. Liza woke feeling so refreshed and rested. She hadn't felt this good in years. She stretched and yawned languidly, enjoying the sunlight that was playing on her blanket. She sighed contentedly and then realized that the sun was a little brighter than usual. Concerned, but not yet fully aware, she looked at her clock. She was late. Either she didn't set her alarm or she didn't hear it. Either way, she was going to miss her bus if she didn't get a move on. Where was her mom? Usually, when she didn't wake up on time, her mom was yelling at her to wake her.
Liza jumped out of bed and dressed in record time. She barely made it through the door before the bus decided to give up on her and leave. Panting, she crash landed in the back seat. Only then did she notice the person in the other seat. For some reason, she felt like she needed to be careful when she looked at him. She only used the corner of her eye. It was a boy who was probably in her grade and freakish. His black jeans looked ten sizes too large for his legs, the silver bracelets and black jelly bracelets went halfway up his forearms. Silver rings with skulls on them littered every other finger. But the worst of it was how his black hair hung, covering most of his face. A black shirt with the words "Bite Me" over a picture of Dracula biting a girl with blood running down her neck completed the look.
Two stops later, Shara joined her in the seat in front of her. She took in the new guy and gestured at Liza, wondering who he was. Liza shrugged and Shara followed suit, launching into her usual chatter. They needn't have kept so quiet; the boy had his IPOD on pretty loud and wouldn't have heard them anyway. Shortly, Quinn barreled onto the bus, panting. Apparently, he was running late too. Liza shyly smiled at him and he returned a crooked smile back at her as he landed in the seat beside her.
Putting his arm around her, Quinn brought Liza in close, and Liza was more than happy to oblige. She rested her head on his shoulder and her hand on his chest. His cologne was stronger than usual, he must have just put it on, and it caused her head to spin. Not completely a bad experience.
None of this was lost on Shara.
"Ew. Seriously? Can't you guys get a room?"
Liza and Quinn giggled and looked knowingly at each other. Shara's mouth dropped open.
"You didn't..."
"Shara! Why do you always assume we're doing that? That I'm doing that? Jeez!"
"Sorry, sorry. I guess you guys are all kosher with each other now?"
Liza blushed.
"We're great. Just great," Quinn said.
Shara sat staring at them, disbelieving, for a moment before rolling her eyes and slumping down in her own seat, facing the front of the bus.
"Did you get any sleep?" Quinn asked quietly.
Liza nodded. "The best I've ever had."
"Mmm me too." He squeezed Liza and then relaxed and put his chin on the top of her head.
When the bus arrived at the school, Quinn and Shara filed down the aisle first. When Liza stood, the boy in the other seat suddenly found her interesting enough to look at her. But the look was much more intense than Liza would have thought necessary. It made her skin crawl. The boy didn't make a move to stand so Liza scooted into the aisle and trotted to get close to Quinn's back. Glancing behind her, the boy still hadn't moved to exit the bus. But he did continue to stare at her. It wasn't until everyone had gotten off the bus that he finally decided to exit as well. But now, he didn't have interest in looking at Liza anymore.
Liza tried to forget the boy on the bus, and had almost succeeded by third period: World History. Sitting toward the back, as she does in all her classes, she had the world almost to herself. She could think without worrying the teacher would call on her. She had decent grades and mostly didn't need the lectures. So, generally, she zoned out into her own little world. One that was peaceful, serene, and abruptly interrupted. Someone had just slammed books down on the desk next to her. Jumping, Liza looked up at the person. Her heart sank when she saw the boy from the bus. He wasn't bothering to look at her and notice how he had interrupted her thoughts, no; he just sat like he was a king of the room and ignored her.
Liza narrowed her eyes at the offending person and then tried to enter her world again. Just as she was about to be elsewhere, the boy dropped a metal stapler on his desk. This time, Liza wasn't the only one that looked at him. But still, he was oblivious. Liza couldn't believe this guy. Can't he do anything quietly? Calming down, Liza slowed her breathing and tried to think about nicer things; like Quinn. She couldn't help but smile when she thought of Quinn.
"Hey."
Liza crashed back to reality...again.
"Hey."
The guy was whispering at her. She looked at him disbelievingly.
"What?"
"Do you have an extra pencil?"
Is he kidding? Out of sheer annoyance, Liza shook her head no.
"What's that, then?" He was pointing at the pencil bag peeking out from her notebook. The one that happened to be full of pencils.
"I'm using them. All of them."
The guy smiled and sat back in his chair like he'd accomplished something. If it was annoying her, he was very successful. Liza slunk down in her chair and put her hand on the side of her face, hoping to block out most of his annoying qualities. The rest of the class passed by without anything obnoxious coming from her right.
When the bell rang, Liza realized that the only way to get out of her ancient desk was to slide out to the right. Unfortunately, Mr. Annoying was standing with his back to her, blocking the aisle. Liza coughed trying to politely tell him to get a move on, but he ignored her. She sat for a moment as he stuffed books slowly and deliberately into his bag, fuming.
"Excuse me," she tried. When she got no answer other than him continuing to fill his bag, she tried again. "Hey!" Finally the guy turned around and faced her. Suddenly she was very self conscious as his deep brown eyes stared at her. Her mouth was very dry.
"You're in my way," she mumbled.
With an amused smile and a bow, he gestured grandly for her to pass him. Standing, Liza picked up her book bag and started to pass him. Suddenly, he was closer than he should be.
"The name's Andrew."
"I'm late for class."
He didn't move.
"The polite thing to do would be to tell me your name."
Polite? What did this guy know about being polite? Exasperated, Liza sighed.
"Liza. Now, can I get through, please?" She dripped the please with as much sarcasm as she could muster.
Andrew smiled again, unnerving Liza even more, but he also moved out of her way. Liza pushed past him and left the room as fast as she possibly could.
