Behind The Name.

Chapter 1- Teas and Public Transport

I'm very routine based. I wake up, wake Alfie up, go down stairs, make Alfie his toast that has to be cut diagonally, butter evenly, place on a purple plate on to the dining room table and then go back into the kitchen make a cup of tea, sit on the table and watch the steam from the mug drift into the atmosphere. I'm very routine based. I hate tea. But still, I proceed to make it everyday despite the fact, I hate tea.

Once my tea is suitably cold, I pour it down the sink and slump upstairs in my half-awake state and take a shower. This time, like every single time I've had a shower, I forgot to bring my towel and so I had to run from bathroom to bedroom being shielded with a jumble of pyjamas I'd worn the previous night.

I never shower in the mornings, but last night we had a bit of a situation with Alfie's dinner and so I didn't get time. In case you weren't aware, I'm very routine based. I hate this. So does Alfie. If you ask any and I mean any  7 (almost 8) year old whether they enjoy getting up an hour early I'd expect the answer to be a scoff and 'no.'

But here I am, wet hair and all on the bus with a very stroppy 7 year old journeying to his new primary school. Once off, very almost at the wrong stop, Alfie and I walk down to reception. After having minor issues with the 'automatic door' we finally work out the way in and are sitting on those comfy  blue chairs. Whilst on my phone trying to work out how to get to my school after this I'm awoken back to planet earth by a quiet lady delicately whispering to the empty (bar us) waiting room with love and-

"Alfie Ering!" This slightly chubby  (and aggressive) lady shouts.

"Jesus Christ..." I mutter after jumping quite literally out of my skin.

After signing a few forms and kissing Alfie on his forehead, I whisper to him to be good but he avoids my eyes and I sigh quietly and thank the lady on the desk.

Upon leaving I open my phone back up and scour google maps for any shortcuts to this school which is 5 miles from here. Spoiler alert, there aren't any. So I walk back to the bus stop and await the very much delayed 5 bus. Also at the stop is a boy. About 16-ish who looks way too awake to be at a bus stop this early. I check my phone for the time. Shit. It's not that  early. I'm pretty late. I quickly google the number of the school and ring to say I'm stuck in traffic. Well done Maya. First day and you're already going to be late. As it's ringing, I'm making a mental reminder to write up a dinner schedule for Alfie as he very much didn't like the spontaneous nature of fish fingers and chips on a Sunday night. To make things better my phone chooses that precise moment to die. Convenient. I subconsciously let out a pretty  loud groan.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see the fairly attractive guy glance in my direction as I slam my phone into my pocket. I hate life.

"Are you okay?" I whip my head round to see the, screw fairly, majorly attractive brunette looking cautiously at me. I nod silently and there's an awkward silence surrounding us. After about 10 seconds I reply honestly.

"No." He looks in my direction once again and I feel a rant coming on. "I'm late to school on my first day, and my phones dead so I can't ring them. I needed to get directions to the nearest shop and I've already forgotten the way home and to my brother's school. And I definitely can't be late picking him up. He's already stroppy with me because I bought steak cut chips and not curly fries." I breathe a breath I didn't know I was holding and look in his direction. He looks very amused. It's at this moment I realise he's also in the same school uniform. Unfortunately, he looks a lot cooler in his. 

"Don't worry about being late. It'll be fine.There's a Tescos about five minutes away from the school and I lost you after that." I start laughing under my breath and am suddenly very nervous about Alfie. I nod in thanks.

To pre-occupy myself, I start rocking forwards and backward on the pads of my feet. Bored. I start humming a song. Bored. This bus is really going to make me late. I hope I don't get a detention. What would happen to Alfie? No, I can't let that happen.

Finally, the bus decides to show up. I follow the brunette guy who seems as unfamiliar to this as I am. He sits on one double seat and I decide to give him his space and sit on the opposite double. As the bus sets off I notice him getting up and moving. Oh God, did I creep him out? As the bus turns, he loses his balance and falls smack bang into a pole. I snort. He looks. I should not have snorted.

He plops himself next to me and puts his hand to his forehead. I'm still trying to tame my laughs to stay inside. He dumps his bag under his seat and puts a hand in front of me. "Cooper Brady. Pleased to meet you."

"Maya Anker. You too."