Cope

Chapter 2

     Shina trudged along the dirt path along the road surrounded by conifers. Glancing around to make sure no one was looking, she pulled out a cigarette, slipped it between her lips, struck a light, and took a tentative puff.

Shina had been keeping her smoking a secret from her family for a year. It had begun in eighth grade: a group of "friends" introduced her to smoking, saying it was relaxing and would make her look more cool and sophisticated. Shina had hated it at first, but, goaded on by her friends, she soon got the hang of it. By the end of the day she was addicted to them. Parliaments, usually.

It did feel relaxing usually, but it gave her a chronic smoker's cough. Sometimes Shina would begin hacking. This caused her muscles to tense up and her chest to tighten. But, she would always come back for another smoke.

Fifteen minutes and two cigarettes later, Shina arrived at the bus stop. It had no shelter from the weather and the bench itself was old and decrepit. Shina sat down on the bench, feeling its weathered boards bend alarmingly under her weight.

     "It seems that this bench gets worse for wear every year," Shina muttered to herself. "Or am I gaining weight? Doubt it."

Shina's family could not afford much. They lived comfortably enough, but not with much extra food. Everyone ate even portions. Working on the farm and selling goods was the only source of money available.

Shina lit another cigarette, waiting for the bus. Wanting an extra jolt of nicotine and knowing the bus would arrive at any moment, she took an extra deep drag — which got that hacking cough started. She bent over double, clutching her chest and gasping for air. Then she threw the package of Parliaments into the mud at her feet and stomped on it again and again.

     "Damn it!" she raged. "Why do I do this to myself?"

Then a rumbling sound grew at the end of the road, and the bus appeared around the bend. Shina stood up and collected herself, trying to look like nothing had happened as the bus pulled up and stopped. The door opened, revealing an older man with a flat expression. He said nothing, just stared at Shina blankly.

     "Good morning," Shina said, trying to sound cheerful.

     "Good morning," he mumbled emotionlessly. "You getting on?"

Shina jumped up the steps and scanned the seats. Every seat was occupied with one or two people. Shina shrugged and, turning to a nearby seat with a girl sitting close to the window, seated herself. The bus lurched and started on its way.

Shina couldn't help look to her left at the girl sitting next to her. She was wearing a green, plaid vest with a white, collared shirt underneath that supported a black tie. She wore a green skirt that flowed like hills. Her shoes were black with a strap and golden buckle and white, knee-high socks. Her hair was a red-orange and covered her head evenly. She couldn't tell with her sitting down, but it looked like she was a little on the short side and a little plump.

The girl was studiously typing on her laptop until she noticed Shina staring at her.

     "Hi." The girl smiled as she spoke, in a syrupy voice. Shina thought that she noticed an accent, but wasn't sure what it was.

     "H-hi," Shina replied shyly.

     "What's your name?" the girl continued.

Shina swallowed hard. "My name is Shina," she answered. "Um, yours?"

     "Shina, huh?" the girl said, letting the name sink in. "That's a cute name. My name is Nancy."

     "Heh, a girl flirting with another girl?" a boy's voice commented callously. Other voices chuckled. Shina covered her face, embarrassed.

     "Oh, be quiet," Nancy retorted. "I'm sorry, don't pay attention to those blokes. They're just —"

Shina turned away, feeling her face get red.

     "Shina?"

Shina did not respond. Nancy frowned and returned to her work.

The bus pulled in front of the school. It was ten minutes to the start of classes. The students on the bus got off, single file. Shina pulled out her class schedule and started walking.

     "Let's see ..." Shina murmured, walking toward the school. Then suddenly she bumped into someone, almost causing her to fall.

     "Hey, watch where you're —" a male voice began. Shina looked up and felt her face flush deep red. A tall, young man clad in a red polo shirt and dark blue jeans was standing before her. He had short, brown hair and piercing blue eyes. She saw those eyes change from irritation to a shocked recognition.

     "Shina! Is that-?"

Before he could finish Shina made a run for the school interior.

    "Wait!" he shouted after her. "Where do you think you're going?!"

Shina kept on running.

Once she felt safe and far away, Shina stopped to catch her breath. She was sweating and her heart was beating fearfully.

     "I wasn't expecting Hancock to be here!" she panted. "I thought that I'd be done with him after the seventh grade. After he... No! Best not to think about it."

Shina looked at her schedule again. Her homeroom class was room 204; Algebra 101. "Math first thing. Great." Shina looked around her and saw that she was in the 100 wing of the school. The 200 wing was far north of her.

Suddenly, the bell rang. The students began moving towards their first classes. "I'd better get moving," she muttered.