Glitches in My Code

Dirt roads

As we drive down the old road, I gaze out the window. Trees line the dirt road. Reaching up towards the sky, they look like worshippers. The woods beyond the trees brings a smile to my face.

"What's with the look?" I look at the driver's seat and see Ryan glance at me.

"What, my smile? Never seen it before?" He rolls his eyes, and I do the same, sticking my tongue out at him. "I'm happy to be back, that's all."

"Good to know," Ryan says, but I turn my focus back to the firey trees. I watch as the leaves drift down from the branches arching over the road. Fall is the best of all seasons... Flaming leaves are better than any flower. The cool air moves strands of hair into and out of my face, and I tie it back.

He turns on the radio, and the music coming from the speakers becomes the soundtrack. A few songs play, but when the next song starts to play, I gasp and my face cracks into a grin.

"I love this song! I haven't heard it in years!" I exclaim, and I start singing. It's a song about someone reminiscing about the important things in life, especially people and food. It's a pretty generic song, to say the least, but I know the words better than I would if they had been carved into the back of my hand for my entire life. 

The song ends, and I'm back on the school bus. The song plays as I stare out the window, watching the raindrops roll down the other side of the glass. I feel someone bump my shoulder and glance over to see my brother looking at me, head tilted, eyebrow cocked.

"What?" I ask, glancing around at the other kids on the bus. For a second, they seem to freeze, and I shake my head slightly, closing my eyes, trying to clear my vision.

I'm back in the truck. Ryan glances at me every few seconds, as though he's not sure if I'm alright or not.

"I'm fine, alright? You don't have to watch me like I'm going to break into pieces at any moment," I sigh, returning my gaze to the window.

"Alright."