Kate and I go to the bus station and I’m thinking about Ken. I love my brother really much, but he gets at my nerves with his laziness. You wouldn’t believe he’s in the army, I can’t imagine him following any orders. I wonder if he knows the meaning of the word discipline, he sure as hell doesn’t have a lot of that at home.

He’s very charming. He can always look very innocent and he knows how to play my mom. She is very easily fooled by him and I can’t believe that she doesn’t know her own son better.

“Tina! The bus is there, get in already!” Kate is pulling at my arm and I get in. I go to the back automatically to take my regular seat when I see that it’s taken by a brunette. There would be a place left next to her if it wasn’t occupied by her bag. I get really edgy on these things – everybody knows it’s my place. It are always the same people taking this bus and we have our seats. It’s an unspoken agreement that you never take anyone’s place.

The girl is probably new, so she doesn’t know about this. Still I have the feeling that she’s just supposed to know. I take Kate by the hand and walk over to her.

“Move,” I say. The brunette looks up at me and it feels like I’m getting an electric shock. She has the most beautiful dark eyes. She smiles nervously and grabs her bag. She stands up and looks around for another seat, but it’s all taken.

Well, not all. The only empty seat is next to old Steve, a creep that everybody avoids. I know that half of the rumours going on about him can’t be true, but he’s still creepy.

The girl realises she has to sit next to him and she looks like she’d rather walk. I suddenly feel overwhelmed by pity. This girl is so helpless and on what seems her first day, she has to sit next to old Steve.

“Sit on my lap,” I whisper in Kates ear. She looks like she’s going to protest, but I give her a very determined look. I go sit in the seat at the window and she sits on my lap.