Dawn

Chapter Five: Michael

This time, another boy steps on. He has blonde hair that is parted to the left and it's kind of messy. The boy has light blue eyes and his lips are pursed. He has a grey T-shirt on and black jeans. He is lugging a plain, black suitcase. His face is full of confusion like he doesn't know what is going on. His big black glasses frame his face perfectly. He starts to walk down the bus aisle and Jessie is looking at him with a faint smile on her face. The boy looks back at her and walks faster toward us.

"Who is that? Do you know him?" I ask

"No", says Jessie. She looks out of the window on the other side of the bus and it looks like she's looking at all of the lights flashing through it. The boy comes and sits down next to Ashton.

"Hey!" he says to all of us, "My name is Michael. Yours?"

We all say our names and wave. Well, he seems pretty fun and optimistic, I think. "So, where are you from? I'm from Houston".

"Vegas, baby!" Michael exclaims, "What about the rest of you guys?"

Ashton and Jessie state the cities they're from. "Okay, do you know where we're going I really don't know."

All of us shake our heads. "I don't think anybody knows." I say. Ashton and Jessie shrug their shoulders.

"Yeah, okay", says Michael, "How long have you guys been on here?"

Jessie purses her lips, "About four hours".

"I've been here for about an hour", I say.

"Thirty minutes", states Ashton.

"So, what's your favorite T.V. show?" Michael asks while looking more towards Ashton than anybody else.

"Doctor Who", Ashton says in a British accent, "Why?" His accent goes away.

Michael's lips curve into a smile, "That's also my favorite show". Michael pats himself on the chest.

"Oh yeah!" Ashton exclaims and gives Michael a high-five. They start talking about the characters and plot et cetera. After about three minutes of listening, the show actually started to sound interesting. I want to join the conversation, but I have never actually seen the show. My friends Crystal and Luke have mentioned it, but they're complete nerds too.

I look at Jessie and smile a bit. She knows how nerdy they sound talking about heroes and villains saving the universe. The boys are practically in their own little world. Jessie looks back at me and smiles too. I suddenly get the urge to laugh. I bite my bottom lip and try to hold back a laugh. Jessie's lips are pursed trying to accomplish the same mission as mine. We look at each other and laugh. I don't know exactly why we're laughing, but we keep on laughing. We laugh for another good two minutes and then we realize that the Ashton and Michael are looking at us like we're crazy.

I let out one last chuckle, "S-sorry, guys".

Jessie looks past me and to the guys. She smiles at Michael. He smiles back and turns away quickly and brushes his fingers through his hair.

Ashton has his legs crossed and his hands in his hoodie pocket. He takes one hand out and sets it on his crossed leg. His fingers are drumming in a recognisable rhythm; I just can't place it.

The intercom/speaker on the bus comes on but his time, the person on the speaker has a thick French accent, "Students, we are going to be arriving at Camp Animus in about ten minutes. Be prepared for a sudden halt in the bus' movement". The speaker comes off with a loud beep. I think that's what the person said. It's hard to tell what he was saying with the bad quality and fuzziness of the bus-intercom-thing and his accent

"Ten minutes", I say, "That's not that long".

Michael looks at me with surprise, "Ten minutes? What? How close is this camp place?"

"That's not the question, Michael". Ashton looks at both of us, "It's how far is the", he makes quotation marks with his fingers, "'camp place'"

I snap my fingers and point at Ashton, "He has a point. I've only been here for about an hour-and-a-half and I have traveled to Denver and Vegas. It's 'how far'".

Michael looks at us with pursed lips and annoyance, "Fine, it's how far. I just want to get there, you know?"

Jessie nods her head, "Yeah, I have to put all of this stuff up". Jessie pulls out two handbags and one extra-extra-large suitcase. I feel kind of bad for her. She has to lug all of that stuff to her room or whatever is provided for us there, and unpack it, put it away, and so-on.

"I just have one suitcase", I say.

"Well, I have extra needs. I guess", Jessie looks around the bus. She fixes her eyes on the scenery outside of the window. It is crowded with trees and tall grass.

The bus comes to a halt and the doors open. The creepy bus/limo driver comes out of his seat and gestures the people out of the vehicle. He finally "tells" us to go and Jessie, Ashton, Michael, and I grab our stuff and walk out of the doors.

"Dawn, Jessie, Michael", Ashton says with a smile on his face, "Destination, arrived".