A smirk etched across his face. Sat at the back of the bus, Kieran slumped back in his seat, as he ran his hand across the back of his head. The soft texture of his tiny afro tickled the tips of his fingers. His school bag, a bright cyan sports store shopping bag, on a pull-string, lay at the ground, between his feet. A few flakes of cyan fluttered to the floor, as the paint chipped from the glossy texture of the bag. Girlish giggles and chatter sounded around him, as the bus began to fill with secondary school aged pupils from various local schools. An array of light grey with marl speckles, slate grey, navy and jet-black uniforms bustled up the aisle and into seats. His eyes began to wander from girl to girl, as they each dropped into one of the many seats in front of him.
The bus jerked. Kieran’s eyes shot forward. A seeping hiss sounded, as the bus opened its doors, at the next bus stop. A familiar, stocky girl caught his attention. At average height, for a year seven pupil, the girl’s uniform matched his own. Jet-black, with the turret embossing on the upper left blazer pocket. With her hair cut in a short, dark bob, her fringe hung over her brass-coloured spectacles. Her eyes darted across the sea of students before her. Then she spotted him. A small snarl curled into the corner of her nose. As Kieran gave the girl a slight nod, the brunette lowered her head and scarpered into a nearby seat, at the front of the bus.
Several bus stops passed, before Kieran rose from his seat. Grabbing the cord of his bag, Kieran swung it over his head, as he began to swagger down the bus. Unaware that he was behind her, the brunette rose from her seat too and edged towards the front of the bus. The pair stumbled forward, as the driver came to an abrupt halt. The doors opened. Hopping off the bus, the brunette waved to the boy waiting at a nearby tree. As Kieran plonked onto the pavement, his line of sight shifted towards the tree. “Jay, mate, how yer doin’?” Kieran asked, as he strode towards the boy. The slim, tall boy, with a nest of dark hair took a step forward. The two boys clapped their hands together, before shaking hands and tapping each other on the back, in a bear-like quick embrace. The brunette, stood beside them, pinched her lips in and pressed her hand to her mouth, as she compressed a giggle. “What yer laughin’ at?” Kieran growled, as he turned towards the brunette.
“You two were hugging,” she giggled, with blushing cheeks.
“Shut it,” growled Kieran, as he snarled his nose at her.
“Calm down,” Jay warned his friend. “Darcia means no harm. Girls don’t shake hands, like guys do.”
At the mention of plural girls, the snarl dropped from Kieran’s face. His lips parted. A gazed stare froze across his face. As he stared deep in thought, his brows slanted together. “Where’s Caitlyn?”
“She’s coming,” Jay replied, in an upbeat, confirming tone. Darcia turned towards him, with a puckered brow. “She said she’ll catch up.” Distant movement caught Jay’s attention, and he turned to his left, as the red head bounced towards them.
“Sorry I’m late,” apologised Caitlyn, with a weak smile, as she appeared between Jay and Darcia.
“Don’t worry about it. You’re not late,” Jay reassured her, as he prodded the right corner of his mouth up into a gentle smile. Darcia placed a hand on her friend’s shoulder and gave it a very soft squeeze.
During this interaction, Kieran’s pupils widened. His heart hammered against its imprisonment. Sweat clamed his palms. “Mornin’ Caitlyn!” Kieran blurted out.
Then I woke up.
- Josie -
