Final Summer. [Short Novel]

The bus door slammed open, startling even the driver. Jennie stood at the entrance for a long second, unmoving. Her soaked dress clung to her pale skin. Her eyes were shadowed, her expression blank.

Then she stepped in.

The bus went dead silent. You could hear every soft, wet footstep she took down the aisle.

Malcolm's hand grabbed my arm again.

Jennie didn't look like Jennie.

Water and dirt dripped from her as she passed us, leaving a trail along the vinyl floor. She stopped beside Chad, the obnoxiously loud himbo, and sat. He didn't say a word. He didn't even move.

The air turned colder, heavier. It felt wrong.

The bus jolted forward. The driver turned up the volume on his radio like nothing had happened.

Jennie's school dress was torn at the hem, her socks mismatched and soaked. Her skin was nearly colorless, lips pale and eyes sunken in dark hollows.

"What the hell happened to her?" Gwen hissed.

"Who the fuck knows? And honestly, it's probably none of our business," Malcolm muttered, hugging his backpack like a support animal.

"Word is she was sick or something-but that doesn't explain why she looks like she crawled out of a sewer." I said. "We should ask her at break."

"Alright then, the tea should be interesting," Gwen smirked.

"This is what you always do," Malcolm puffed his cheeks. "You poke your nose in places it doesn't belong and drag us down with you."

"Why are you being so annoying?" I snapped. "She's our friend. It's normal to check up on her."

"Fine. Just ask simple questions, alright?"

"That's the plan, duvas," Gwen said with an exaggerated sigh.