Jasmin

Chapter 22

Chapter 22

"Do I need anything besides the note to get on the bus?" I have no clue, I have always walked to school, this out of town thing is new. "Do you have assigned seats? Does the bus stop at other schools? How long of a ride until we get to your town?" Standing outside the school where I would sometimes wait with Marcus and Eric for their bus to come. I have always left before they got on the bus though, never really knew about this part. Yes I was on buses before for school field trips and stuff in middle school. I just don't understand this part. I really am nervous for what will happen after the bus stops, that is the whole real unknown thing that is making my stomach ache with worry, but this is something I can talk about. Although I did not realize I was starting to babble.

Marcus holds my hand waiting with a ton of other kids where the bus' come looping through the school ground. He smiles down at me. I smile up at him, forcing my excitement to hide how crazy nervous I am.

He loved the lunch I prepared and ate everything I gave him. His enjoyment made me blush so hard I thought my face would be permanently red for the rest of the day. Yet it is days like this that I dislike his 'strong but silent' bit. I feel powerless on what was going to happen. I don't like not knowing what is going on, or not having control over anything. It was that loss of control that makes my mind start going dark, I felt it last night when I thought of all the things that could happen. I haven't had many black outs lately. They were something I thought I had gotten past.

I pulled myself out last night. I try to be happy and excited. Hoping against anything that I don't loose time. I don't do anything to show Marcus how messed up I really am.

Eric takes over; "We have a note from my mother that we have permission to bring you home, you have a note from your aunt that we asked you to bring that says we are not kidnapping you." He really can be funny sometimes as he looks sideways at me, eyebrows raised. I forged my note last night. "Being the first on, last off the bus we often sit in the back row, yet it is not assigned past the first three rows of little kids. We stop at an Elementary school on our way out of the city, the Middle School kids already on the bus by now. And we are often off the bus by 4:45." He looks down at me with the eyebrow thing again. "Was that everything?" He says with a smile.

"Yes, thank you Eric." I smirk back at him, sarcasm dripping. Yesterday and today at lunch he seems to be acting a bit different to me. I mean he has never been really stiff or rude, but now he seems like he actually wants to talk to me too, that I could be more than just 'Marcus' Girlfriend.' Maybe even friends ourselves. Eric is crazy smart, and I heard he already has been accepted into the University of his choice. He is a nice, all around good person, I just do not know if I want to be friends with him, or just stay acquaintances. Friends are a lot of work.

Marcus squeezes my hand just a touch. I turn from Eric to look up at him. I let go of my nerves, shake off their web, and can feel myself just beam up at him. His eyes dance, I swear thats what it looks like. We move just a bit so Marcus can lean against the wall, he pulls me in front of him and wraps his arms around me as I watch all the kids slowly get onto and off all the different buses. My head just seems to fit on his chest. Even being short, and him so tall, we just fit like two puzzle pieces meant to be.

...

We get off the bus in front of a big building with flag poles in front with four different flags. I recognize the province and country, the other two I cant see clearly from here. The bus pulls away and I am in a small town, a really small town. I hadn't been in a place like this since...not going to think of that.

There is a general store kinda deal across the street, and houses with huge yards. Between each house is enough room for three or four houses in the city. I see long paths leading to the woods everywhere. Another intersection up ahead. All the buildings look in good condition, nothing dilapidated yet not mansions either. One down the road looks a bit taller, and another looks like it may be a duplex or something. Each home individual, no cookie cutter houses like some parts of the city. Its homey, all covered in snow, and even a few snow angels and snow men. Chimneys all puffing smoke. Trees everywhere in the background, half naked and half evergreen and blanketed in white. It looks a peaceful place to live. I flash on a similar road with little crap houses and trailers surrounded by dirt roads. I start to get creeped out, when a hand grabs my mittened hand and pulls me out of my memory.