LOVE IN WAR

Chapter 2

M

y alarm wakes me up suddenly to the sound of thunderstorms and screeching. I slowly crawl out of bed-well, that until I see the clock practically yelling I’m late in my pathetic life.

“Six fifty-four! I’m an hour late! Ugh!” I complain as I trip over my shoes, bags, clothes, chairs, and other junk scattered across my bedroom floor.

How could I be an hour late?! The bus will be here in thirty minutes, which is nowhere near enough time to brush my teeth, shower, plus prepare, and eat breakfast. I’m not superwoman! You know what, never mind; I decide to just brush my teeth, and rub on some nice smelling body lotion, deodorant, as well as Victoria’s Secret perfume. In ten minutes I’m done, with twenty to spare. I assume that’s more than enough time to quickly devour a bowl of cheerios. When I’m halfway through the bowl, I hear the screeching of a…bus!

“Oh! Oh no, no, no! Wait!” Plus it was storming outside, and my jacket was upstairs, Umbrella? Nowhere to be found. My energy? All over the place.

I can’t miss the bus, because Mom isn’t here! Ms. Synthia, the evil witch bus driver, has the one minute rule for late stoppers. I’ve already used about thirty seconds, so there’s no time for jacket searching! I grab my books and binder, then scram the door open, running in the rain with the protection of my books overtop my head. Ms. Synthia honks the horn and I’m sensing the witch is about to make a run for it, even as I‘m waving and crying like a madwoman. This may top even the slapped Jimmy in the face scale she did last month in my book. Right before the turn of the wheels, I slam on the see-through door of the bus.

“Yes! I made it! You crazy driver! You’re early!” Wow. Even I’m surprised at my outburst. The driver only smirks at me, and reminds me of her one- minute late rule. I only smirk at her, and remind her that she’s fifteen minutes earlier than usual, so technically, I wasn’t late.

As I search for an empty seat I notice many opportunities. I guess the unexpected earliness struck most of the other kids too. Only seven kids were there, but most of them were asleep anyway. I chose a seat in the middle row, which shows I’m not lonely but not popular either. I like to display a calm, organized appearance externally, even if internally I’m a huge mess. Luckily my IPod and earplugs didn’t ruin in my binder, so I plugged in my favorite song, and leaned back in the squeaky cheap leather seat. Maybe this will calm down the raging hormones. I might’ve been humming out loud because whoever was in front of me started to turn around.

“Is that Thrift Shop? I love that song.” he said.

“Huh?” I said embarrassed.

“I mean, sorry. It’s just that I heard your humming and all…so…yeah. Is it?” he rushed.

I’m confused, “Is it what?”

“Is it thrift shop?” the boy repeated.

“Oh. Yeah! Yeah, it is. You wanna hear? You can; if we share the plugs.” I offered.

The boy agreed, and he discretely slipped from his seat into mine-right next to me. I wasn’t expecting…that. I assumed I would lean closer to the back of his chair, and he’d stay in his own seat. But, oh well. Now that we sat side by side I could see his face more clearly. Aaah, and was it something.

“So, what are you staring at?” he smiled at me.

I hope I wasn’t blushing.

“What? Oh nothing. Just the weather is super bad and all. Makes me feel gloomy. You?”

“Me? I’m James and me too.” James answered.

“You too what?” again I was confused.

“Me too, as in the weather makes me feel gloomy…like you”