Terror By Night

Chapter 17

It should take 5580 seconds to reach Tallahassee from Two Egg. If that's where this bus is going. Twenty minutes into the trip, I'm calm enough for my appetite to return. I eat my breakfast sandwich and watch the world pass by outside the window. The scenery hasn't changed. This part of Florida all pretty much looks the same. I see Nolan's gone back to sleep. Zoe's thinking about it. She's been pretty quiet the last few minutes. Chatter still fills the bus. Everyone's speculating where we're headed. I check to my left. Nolan's scribbling in his notebook. Xavier's looking for all the world like he's on just another school trip. His head is resting on the back of the seat, eyes closed and earbuds in his ears.

I'm wide awake.

I can't talk to Sarah from back here. I'm not even sure if she's awake. I can't see around Amber. That one's playing a game on her phone. I have nothing to do. I let out a sigh.

"What was that for?" Xavier's voice is gravely as though he's just woken up.

Worried I bothered him, I ask, "Did I wake you up?" Although, if he's listening to something, how in the world did he hear me?

"Nope. Can't sleep. Are we there yet?" He peeks at me from the side of his eye through hooded lids, then yawns.

I moan. "No. But if we're going to..." I glance around then lower my voice, "to you know where, then it won't be much longer. Maybe an hour."

He nods once. "So what's wrong?" His head is still back, eyes closed once again.

I sigh again. "I'm bored. What're you listening to?"

"Classical."

For some reason, this is the last thing I expected to hear him say. "Seriously?"

His head lolls over so he can look directly at me. "Why does that surprise you?"

I have to consider this. "I don't know," I tell him truthfully. "I guess I thought you would be all emo or indie or something I've never heard of."

This gets his attention. "Do I look emo to you?"

"Maybe a little," I tease.

He snorts. "Not hardly. I like a variety of music. Some indie, but I go for whatever I'm in the mood for. Right now, that's Mozart. What's your jam?"

"I'm like that too. Whatever I'm in the mood for. I like classical and even some opera. Most of the time though, it's contemporary or worship. I've been known to even listen to rock. Usually. within the framework of 'whatever I'm in the mood for', it'll be Christian/inspirational themed. Music's my personal soundtrack. It's the heartbeat of my life. It matters to me what my music is saying."

He gives me a strange look, brows furrowed. "What does your music say?"

I think for moment on how to answer. "Well, it speaks most to hope and love."

He turns away from me, but his eyes are still open. I guess he's thinking about what've I said. It wasn't some life shattering revelation. He glances back to me. "I'm learning some interesting things about you Layken."

This causes me to snort, which in turn, draws a curious look form Xavier. "What?" he asks.

"I couldn't help but think how funny that is for you to say."

He seems confused. "Why is it funny?"

"I would think you're learning great deal about me because you really didn't know me before. It wasn't like we were friends Xavier. We competed against each other and we had some classes together. We didn't hang out."

For a split second a pained look crosses his face but he hides it quickly. His quirky smile takes it's place. "Looks like I get to make up for lost time. It's just you and me and about 2,000 other teenagers all together in one place, with no where to go."