Fundamental Flaws

3. Aleah May Walters, On Every Bestseller List Everywhere

The bus ride back was lonely but quick. I guess I preferred it that way.

Over the past seven months, I'd taken the same musty bus ride home every night. I thought I recognized some of the regulars but I'd spent a lot of my time with my head down, and earphones in so I wasn't sure.

Sitting there one last time, I wished I'd said hello to the blonde girl who sat across the aisle every day. Maybe if I'd just tried a little harder, smiled a little more, we could have been friends. I smiled at her now; giving her my best I-want-to-be-friends grin. She looked up, glanced around to make sure the smile was directed at her, then got that look that people usually get when they watch horror movies.

So much for that idea.

I stood as the bus groaned to a stop. At least the bus driver and I were on smiling terms. Moving to the front and pausing at the door, I thought of something nice to say for my last bus drive with him, possibly ever.

"Hey, kid..." The driver started. I lit up in anticipation - an expectant smile forming on my face. Maybe he had noticed that something was different tonight after all.

"Yeah?" I replied eagerly.

"Are you going to get off the bus or what? You're messing with my schedule."

Oh. My shoulders dropped deflated. I stepped off and the bus drove away.

Dad always said I had a flair for the dramatic, spinning entire worlds that existed outside of limits of reality. I couldn't help it though. I was born to be a writer.

Aleah May Walters.

On every bestseller list everywhere.

As soon as I could write more than 10 pages of an actual book.

We lived in those new developments across town so there was no direct bus route from Al's yet. One day mom would listen to my pleas for a car. Thor forbid a 17-year-old has a quick, reliable mode of transport.

I took the long way home tonight. I passed the little mall strip and reached the outskirts of the high-rise - subconsciously pulling my hoodie up as my soled boots tapped against the tar.

The buildings here leaned a little shabbier, the roads glowed with darker shadows, the lights flickered sporadically - mocking the pitter-patter of my heart.

I shivered as a cop car wailed in the distance.

If you squinted far enough you could see the tents, rows of higgledy-piggledy paper dwellings that sheltered forgotten people.

Mom would kill me if she knew where I was. She'd already threatened to whoop my ass, more than once, for walking this way. But I was too old for that now.

I think.

Besides, I'd walked past here a hundred and one times. Lakefield is no paradise. I could handle myself. Head down, mind your business. You would need to go deeper into the city to find any real trouble anyway.

As a reward for the risk, when you made it through the darkness, you would see the most beautiful place in Lakefield – the bridge. You would see the lights and the stars, and every dream you ever had felt tangible in a land where the world was so beautiful.

It was magical.

That's why I'd walked this way.

I ignored my sweaty palms and decided to keep myself distracted, half practicing the new moves I'd learned at my kickboxing class last week. My imagination blossomed as the bad-ass me, the imaginary me, took on six fully-grown men at once. This made me feel a little better.

My imagination graciously allowed me to ignore the fact that I was at the bottom of the sparing ladder; or that I couldn't execute the 'kick' part of kickboxing to save my life.

There was a reason I was made with two feet. It seemed a little insulting to gravity to have one off the ground.

Something moved and I jumped, glancing behind me as I was torn out of my daydream for a moment. Where did those guys behind me come from? I was suddenly aware of the nervous energy that was making my fingers twitch.

It was dark.

I'm alone.

My daydream crumpled into tiny pieces and my heart began its little hop skip routine again. I cursed and wiped my hands on my trousers. I was a few blocks away from the house. I took a deep breath to calm down.

Relax Aleah.

You went to church last Sunday. You're covered.

I must be imagining their far from subtle looks as their eyes raked across my ass.

I was imagining it.

Just in case, my feet tapped tar a little faster.

"Hey beautiful, wait up!" The hulking one called out to me.

"Yeah, Ma!" The other piped in, "What's the rush?"

I ignored them as they followed me, moving at almost a jog now. The way they talked lifted the hair on my arms. The cold air sliced through my hoodie, burning against my skin. I glanced back, alarmed at how close they were getting.

Fuck

me.

I took a corner and stopped dead. This wasn't the way to my house - I was sure of it. I must have missed a turn in my haste. I was in a blind panic now, heart thumping and feet pounding against the pavement as I tried to figure out the way home. Why the hell wasn't anyone outside? I looked around for anything that would help me figure out where I was and increased my pace.

William's Drive.

Mitchell Street.

I glanced back, and my heart sank as I realized that the men had increased their pace too. I wasn't imagining it then. My pulse roared in my ears. If I was tired, I'm not sure the adrenaline let me feel it. I drank in every breath of air like a shot of energy. My body was alive.

Tellmare! Yes!

I turned and hurried down Tellmare Avenue. It took a while for my brain to catch up with my feet but I knew this road. The kickboxing gym was on this road. If I could just go for a while longer maybe someone would be there.

I thought of another idea and took out my phone. I dialed shakily, cursing when I kept jostling and pressing the wrong buttons. Without realizing it, I had slowed.

"Hey, baby. On your way home?" My mom answered the phone.

I tried to think of what to say but suddenly my tongue felt swollen and heavy. I inhaled, lungs burning for air, trying to control my breathing enough to talk. I stopped and looked around wildly. Where did they go?

"Aleah?" she continued as I gathered my thoughts, "Aly?"

"Corner Tellmare Avenue and 6th street" I started breathlessly. "I'm on the road behind-"

I looked around again. Still, no one in sight. As my breathing steadied, I gave a shaky laugh. I have an overactive imagination; no one was after me.

"Hello? Aly what's wrong?" the concern shrill in her voice, "You're walking through the Rise?"

"Yeah, I-"

The phone went flying out of my hand before I could finish, and I was slammed into the wall behind me. I screamed and a hand clamped over my mouth, muffling my voice.

"I said, what's the rush?"