Just for You

Chapter 6 - Connie

I sit down in my usual seat up the front of the bus Monday morning. It's a long bus ride into town, about an hour because we have to stop at so many farms at pick up kids. I pull out a book, one of my last and lean against the window, ready to tune out.

The bus jerk to a halt and a few more kids clamber on. I hardly notice. Suddenly, I hear someone sitting down beside me. I glance up to see that it is a girl I've never seen before. Just ignore her.

“Hi. Are you new?”

I look up, surprised. “Me?”

The girl smiles and nods.

“Yeah, I arrived last week.”

The smiles again. “Cool. I've been away for a couple of weeks. On holiday. I just got back.”

I nod and suddenly really appreciate this girl. She is the first friendly person I've met. Really the first person I've met. I spin around in my seat and face her properly. “I'm Phoebe.”

“Connie. I'm in 9th grade. You too?”

“Yeah. You're really the first person I've met.”

Connie made a face. “Some people can be so snooty. They think they can turn their noses up at anyone. Urgh!”

For the rest of the bus trip we chat about anything and everything. We learn about each other's lives and Connie tells me about the popular hangout spots around town and the stuff that we can do. As the bus pulls up in front of the school I feel like I've known Connie my whole life.

I grab my bookmark from inside my bag as kids start to unload. Connie looks down at it, a photo of my brumby that I printed off the camera. “You got horses too?”

I look up at her as I shove the book in my bag. I'm not sure how much to tell her. “Ummm, yeah, kind of.”

Her eyes shine and I can tell this is a topic she enjoys. “How long have you been riding?”

“Not long.”

Connie nods and then gasps,”Are you doing anything this afternoon?”

I frown and shake my head. We stand up and head down the aisle as Connie clasps her hands together.

“Perfect! You can come to my place after school and we can ride! I can introduce you to my parents. Wadaya think?”

I think about this for a second. I don't really know how to ride and if I can learn then it will be easier to work with my brumby. And I will get to spend time with Connie. I slowly nod.

“Great! I'll tell Violet to drop by too.”

“Violet?”

“She's my best friend. She decided to take the day off after our holiday. We went on it together with our families. But she while never be to tired for riding!”

I nod and smile. Suddenly I'm feeling like a third wheel, and yet all day at school Connie sticks by me, introducing me to some of her other friends and eating lunch with me. I'm starting to really look forward to this afternoon even though I have no idea what I might be getting myself into.

When school is finally out, Connie drags me to the bus and plunks me down on a seat. She pulls out her phone and hands it to me. “Call your Dad and ask.”

So I do. Dad is fine with it, almost seems relieved that I finally have a friend, as long as I am home for dinner, which makes me realise something.

“How am I gonna get home?”

“Oh, my parents can drive you home.” Connie says with a wave of her hand.

It turns out no one is driving me home because when the bus stops a few farms down from mine, Connie stands up and motions to me. “This is it!”