Tales Untold

Bus Ride

The day was hot and muggy and the last thing that Kai wanted to do was get into the sweltering bus with too many people in it, but it couldn't be avoided. His father had called to tell him that business was going through a rough patch and he needed Kai there by tonight. There had been literally no plane tickets to LA so Kai had decided to take the bus instead.

He didn't realize that he was claustrophobic until he climbed the steps of the dingy bus. It was so crowded and Kai wasn't sure if he would be able to find a seat. Children screamed as parents shushed them. Some people had ear buds in and rested their heads against the window, while others read books. It was a weird collection of people and Kai wasn't sure how he felt.

Finally, Kai found a seat next to a girl with messy brown hair and menacing brown eyes. Kai almost laughed at the scowl on her face as he asked, "Is this seat taken?"

She grunted and turned away from him. Kai smiled and sat down next to the girl. Maybe this bus ride wouldn't be so bad afterall. Kai was curious about this girl. Where was she going? What was her name? Why did she seem to dislike him? Kai's questions were swirling through his head when the girl turned her scowl back to him. "Why are you staring at me?"

Kai blushed and looked down with a muttered apology. Why was he acting like this? Of course she disliked him. He was staring at her like a creep. He needed to stop looking at her. Stars, it was easier said than done. Something about her just made him want to study her features and memorize them. She wasn't exceptionally pretty unless you looked, and that's when Kai realized that he was looking.

"What's your name?" The question slipped out of Kai's mouth after twenty minutes of wondering it and he blushed as she turned to look at him.

"Cinder." Cinder. Kai had never known anyone named Cinder before, but he liked the name. He wanted to say it aloud but thought that it might be weird.

"I'm Kai." He smiled his most charming grin and he wanted to high five himself when he saw that Cinder had stopped scowling and was now looking amused. "Are you from around here, Cinder, or are you just visiting?"

Kai wasn't sure if he was being nosy, but he really wanted to know more about Cinder. Plus he loved saying her name. It felt too perfect as he rolled it off of his tongue and all he wanted to do was say it until he couldn't speak.

Cinder eyed him suspiciously, like she wasn't sure if she wanted give anymore information about herself to Kai. "Not anymore." Cinder answered. Her voice was final, as though she was trying to tell this to herself, just as much as she was trying to convince Kai.

Not anymore? That was not really much of an answer for Kai, but he realized that she didn't want to talk about it. Maybe she was running away or something. Maybe she was just trying to get him to shut up.

Cinder looked away from Kai again and put a set of earbuds into her ears and closed her eyes. Kai continued to look at her. What in the name of all the stars was wrong with him? She had said less than ten words to him, and yet she had him entranced. Kai wanted to know everything about her. He wanted to know what she did to what kind of cereal was her favorite. Stars, he needed to get a grip.

About an hour had passed since Kai had boarded the bus, when Cinder's head slid sideways onto his shoulder. He froze, not sure what to do, and not entirely sure if he wanted to do anything.

Turning his head awkwardly, Kai could tell that Cinder was out cold. Kai hadn't noticed this small detail, while he had been too absorbed in every feature of her face. Her pale lids, the soft slope of her nose, her perfect pale lips.

Kai faced his head forward again, resting his head against the headrest. He felt more relaxed with Cinder next to him, even though he had only just met her. It was strange, but Kai felt an odd connection to her that he had never felt with anyone else. It was like he knew her, but only from a dream, and he was finally waking up to find her a reality.

The bus was still loud as Kai closed his eyes, but he felt as though it were only him and Cinder. He wanted to stay here forever, content on getting to actually know the mystery girl sleeping silently on his shoulder.

Kai's thoughts swirled in his head, until they turned into dreams. His head slid down to rest on Cinder's as he slept.

The next thing Kai knew, Cinder's head snapped out from under his, breaking his peaceful sleep. "Wha-"

"I'm sorry!" Cinder blushed a deep shade of red, and Kai smiled as he looked at her. Cinder stood to get off the bus, and only then did Kai realize that it had stopped. This must be Cinder's stop.

Kai watched as Cinder walked away from him and out into the world beyond. He watched as her messy ponytail swayed as she walked away, leaving Kai.

Kai sat back in his seat again, content on reliving his brief moments with Cinder, not even realizing that they had passed his stop over an hour before.