“Glad to hear that.” He disappears. I know this is all he wants to hear; that I’m fine. If I tell him I’m not, he gets uncomfortable and nervous. I always tell him I’m fine and he believes me. If he doesn’t believe me, he doesn’t show.

The next day, I’m early at the bus stop. The time goes on forever and it seems like life going in slow motion. Even the man walking his dog seems to go slower than normal.

Finally, the bus arrives. I quickly get on it and hesitate. Should I take the same place as yesterday? Would that piss the girl off? But if I sit somewhere else, won’t I piss someone else off? What will they think of me? I can hear them thinking. ‘That new girl thinks she can just get in here and do whatever she likes.’ I don’t want them to think of me like that. I want them to like me. I actually don’t, so I don’t have to make friends.

My dad is doing great with Kirsten… so what if we stick here for once? I am just thinking this all over as the others get on the bus, some annoyed as I’m standing in their ways. I feel nervous as I don’t see the blonde. The bus is about to leave when I see her running around the corner. I quickly go to the front and gather all my guts to talk to the driver.

“I’m sorry, sir, but there is someone not yet there.”

“Girl, if I’d have to wait for all the late ones…”

“She’s just there.” The blonde reached the bus, panting. The driver frowns and opens the doors. She gets in, dragging her sister along. She smiles at the driver, not noticing me.

“Thanks,” she says.

“Thank this young lady. If it weren’t for her, I was gone.”

Tina looks at me now. She’s so cute when she’s all panting. She looks right into my eyes.

“Thank you,” she smiles shyly. She’s completely different than yesterday. Her sister has already ran to the same place as yesterday. I look around and see the empty seat next to the weird man again.

“Want to join us?”

“I’d love to,” I say, a bit relieved.