Things to include:
-tiger
-frozen
-fire
-blueberries
-roses
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I fidgeted in my seat on the bus, as classmates chatted excitably behind me, and teachers screamed at kids who were smoking on the bus.
My partner, that is, the person it had been assigned to sit next to and sit with, had been talking to his friend behind him for most of the ride so far, and had been playing on his phone since, having long since forgotten about me. I shoot quick glances at him, trying not to let him catch me and think I'm a creep.
His,eyes, from what I can make out, are blue, like blueberries, but I can't see clearly. He's wearing glasses, and his eyes are squinted as he scans his phone screen. He has blond hair, sticking up in tufts here and there, and he's wearing our normal, nondescript uniform. He doesn't look very friendly, but maybe it's because he's grimacing, for whatever reason. Maybe at me. Maybe he thinks I'm ugly.
I shake my head, turning to the window. He doesn't know me. Why would he think that? As I stare out the window, I realize I don't know where we were going. I'm pretty sure I had been listening to the Frozen soundtrack the entire time the teacher was explaining the trip, then had just brought it home, handed it to my mom, and brought it back to school the next day.
I glance over at my seat mate again, and realized he's put away his phone, and said something to me. I stare at him in disbelief over him actually bothering to speak to me, and he repeats it, his face looking uncertain, like he's wondering if I'm stupid. I shake my head, clearing my thoughts.
"Sorry, what?" I ask, attempting a smile.
He looks at me, giving me another uncertain glance, before he says it again. "I asked if you were excited. For the trip?"
I just nodded slowly, attempting another smile that probably just turned into an awkward grimace, hoping that he would start talking about the trip, giving me a clue to what it actually was.
"I, personally, am excited to see a tiger." He said with a tiny grin. "I mean, assuming it comes near the bus."
I stare at him blankly. "Near... the bus?"
He gives me another exasperated 'are you dumb?' look, and then explains it slowly. "Yeah. You know, we're going to one of those drive through safari things?"
"Oh," I say, and we fall into another one of those awkward silences where I'm mentally punching myself for killing to conversation, and wondering why I was doomed to a life of solitary.
---------
[1 hour later]
"We're here!" One of the many teachers announces after they pay, and everyone cheers, scrambling to look out the windows.
My partner doesn't, looking at me awkwardly, obviously not wanting to have to lean over me. "Uh, we can switch seats, if you want," I offer, and his face brightens.
"Really? I mean, I wouldn't want to take it if you wanted to look out it!"
"Oh, no, it's fine." I say, and he grins, getting up and switching places with me so I'm on the edge. He looks out eagerly, and then cheers.
"YES! I saw a tiger! Achievement unlocked!" He yells, and multiple teachers shush him, as well as the other kids that are shouting and yelling.
"Oops, sorry!" He stage whispers, and some of the kids around us roll their eyes. I sink low into my seat, embarrassed at all the attention he's attracting.
All of a sudden, the bus lets out a huge creaking sound, then shudders, then stops. Everyone's head turn to the front of the bus, the safari forgotten, as a teacher and the driver have a hushed conversation. The teacher nods grimly, then stands up, walking to the middle of the bus isle.
"Attention, Everyone!" She says loudly, and everyone continues to stare at her. I wonder why she yelled when everyone is already looking at her and completely silent. "I am afraid," She says calmly, though with a slightly worried tone in her voice "That the bus has broken down." Everyone begins to talk at once, a stream of worried chatter, scared expressions on their faces.
"But do not panic!" The teacher yells, and the bus quiets down as people begin to pay attention to her again. "Help is on the way. Just please do not open any windows or doors, as that could cause an animal to come in. And it won't be to give you some nice roses." Everyone's mouths gape at the implication she made, and she backtracks. "I mean, just remember that these are wild animals."
"But, why don't you use this time to get to know your partners? It always pays to make friends! Oh, and no phones allowed at this time!" Some people groan in the front, since they're by the teachers and will be caught straight away. The teacher gives us one last smile, then sits down, opening a book. I groan. Could this be any worse?
"Yeah, it could." I sit up, and look at my partner with wide eyes. Did I say that aloud? "I mean, the bus could be on fire, or something. I'm Justin, by the way." He introduces himself, extending his hand.
"I, uh, I'm Aliyah. I suppose it's good it didn't, considering the amount of tigers out there..." I stutter slightly, tucking a lock of my brown hair behind my ear.
"Oh, you're that girl!"
"That girl....?" I ask, beginning to be terrified. What does he mean? That girl? Why has he heard of me? Does he hate me?
He starts to laugh. "I'm kidding, I'm kidding! You should have seen your face!"
I smile weakly. "Ha, ha... yeah..."
He opens his mouth to say something, but then we hear a piercing scream from behind us. I whip around, and see the back emergency entrance of the bus open. A girl sitting next to it is screaming about how the tigers are going to get in, and we're going to die, but then the same teacher stands up again.
"Calm down everyone!" She says cheerfully. "It's just the firemen! They're here to save us!" Everyone begins to cheer again, and I sigh in relief. Justin laughs again, then turns to me.
"I feel like after that, we can't not be friends. So what do you say? Friends?" He asks with a smile.
I smile back, genuinely. "Sure."
