Of All

Bus

Walking down the street away from our house with Ash wasn’t that bad. Luckily the weather isn’t too warm or too cold this morning it’s actually kinda perfect so I’m just wearing my light coat today. We have to walk past a few houses on our block and down the small hill to get to the bus pick up and drop off area since we live a bit further into the suburbs. I pray I never wake up late and I’m forced to chase after the bus because that would be humiliating..

Ash and I are talking to each other walking down the hill when we could already see that Sage’s bus was pulling up.

She was standing at the corner of the street talking to a few kids waiting there with her.

I am happy to see she is already in her zone. I know she will do just great.

I see them start moving closer towards the door of the bus now that they are open but before Sage moved any further she turned to us smiling giving a small wave at her side before going on.

She’ll be going to Landon Middle School which is located in the Woodland falls downtown area near their local library I guess. I don’t know for sure all I know is that’s what mom told us.

We finally get over to where our bus stop is and as far as the two of us goes,

Well we will be traveling to the opposite side of town to Richmond Academy.

I know what your thinking because so am I.. How cheesy of this place to name a High School that but as you may have guessed it again it’s a private school and the dress code is automatically uniforms but so isn’t Sage’s school so that doesn’t make me feel too bad about the situation but still UNIFORMS..

How the heck can I branch out of my shell when I can’t express myself through fashion?

Not like I would anyways because I’m too chicken sh.it but maybe I just want to finally fit in somewhere.

Clothes is always a good option for expression and there’s always clicks in school with or without uniforms so either way who knows where I’ll fit in here.

Our bus finally arrives in five minutes of us standing here and it looks like there is already a bunch of people on it,

Great not to mention there’s like probably only one other high schooler that lives on our street who takes the bus besides Asher and I..

There’s no one else standing here. That can mean a few things. They probably have an older sibling or parent that drives..

Ash starts talking to me while we are walking closer to the bus and it pulls me out of my head.

“Alright let’s take whatever seat is available, I will try to see if it’s together so you don’t need to worry about it sis”

He finished saying to me while padding my back a few times before turning around going first onto the bus.

I then follow him up the stairs. I’m wicked nervous and suddenly see eyes all on us.

Yup nothing to see here.. Just a couple of new kids..

I’m thinking to myself looking down before my brother comes to a complete stop few rows in.

Luckily I looked up at the right moment because I would have just humiliated both of us if I crashed into the back of him.

“You can sit on the inside if you want Asp” I see Asher motioning his hand out towards the empty seat next to him in the middle of the bus.

I nod my head and slide in the seat then he sits down next to me.

We have a little way’s to go until we get to the Academy and the bus driver made a few more stops along the way picking more students up.

So I decide it’s the perfect time to throw my headphones in my ears and try to drain out the noise of chatter from everyone around me.

I scramble through my bag and find them then turn my head to see how Ash is doing and of course he’s talking to a few dudes sitting on the opposite side of us.

Good for him I lightly smile turning my head back towards the window and put my headphones in. I started playing some Lana Del Ray songs.

Ah pure relaxation.

Before I know it I feel my brother nudge my side with his elbow.

“This bus got full fast huh, How are you holding up? You’ve been quiet” He says looking at me as the bus stops yet once again. I roll my eyes and turn away from the window to give him a nod then tell him I was relaxing before we got there.

He says good then turns his attention back to his new friends talking some more.

I decided to skim my eyes around this crowded bus quickly just as Asher introduces me to Daniel and Matthew Parker.

They are the guys sitting next to us and they are brothers.

Cute one’s in fact.

Both dirty blonde that almost looks light brown and beautiful blue eyes. Matthew who goes by Matty has light blue and looks more muscular. He is also a Sophomore. Daniel who goes by Danny is a Freshman like us and his eyes are more of a darker blue almost grey. Real pretty.

I guess they live just a few blocks over from our street and live with their uncle Kyle and younger cousin Elle. She’s in the eighth grade. I wonder if Sage will meet her today.

We all chat a bit and they seem like pretty cool people.

That’s always a good sign when your in a new place. But that good sign tends to disappear because nothing good ever lasts for me.. Out of no where I start to get that weird feeling where it feels someone is watching you. I look around slowly to see what it is and my eyes land on a pair of blue eyes staring back at me from the back corner of the bus.

He’s cute. Dark hair. Piercing blue eyes. Definitely the mysterious type. I suppose this is the schools “bad boy” or maybe just one of them he is wearing his hoodie. I roll my eyes.. They tend to travel in packs. I laugh to myself.

Honestly who knows what he’s doing but if he thinks he’s getting a rise out of me.. He’s crazy.. But what I don’t realize is I zoned out and have been staring back at him this whole time..

Awkward and whoever this guy is he likes playing this game because he starts smirking at me then chuckles drawing a few of his friends attention to look between him and I. Well it’s clear he does this often and wanted to put on a little show.

Now not only have I made a fool out of myself for falling into his trap but I can see that Ash had turned his head and saw too. I can also see that he is starting to loose his sh.it next to me..

I quickly put my hand on his shoulder forcing him to look at me and I whispered to him

“Trust me I am annoyed beyond belief right now but we don’t need problems our first day of school. Just calm down.” He nods at me breathing.

I then pull myself together and turn my attention back to the kid giving him side eye with a little smirk and it seemed to work. His jaw is practically on the floor of the bus now.

I smile feeling accomplished as I turn back around in my seat and also because I wanted him to know that I straight up don’t give a sh.it if he thinks he’s funny trying to get a rise out of me because I’m a woman or whatever he thinks he will accomplish from this but I made a point to myself that no one’s messing with me anymore and I’m standing up for myself from now on.

That goes for any guy or girl.

To my surprise I hear his friends start laughing at him and talking crap.

I turn around to take a peek at him and I see he is looking at them speechless.

I just laugh to myself.

Good that should teach you to mess with me ever again.

It looks like no one’s ever actually tried to play him at his own game and it also looks like I’m kicking a.ss and taking names this school year.

I look back over to Asher and he’s facing me smiling before getting all serious again.

“Aspen if you ever need me to knock some sense into that loser you let me know okay.

I don’t want him bothering you and I will hurt him if he hurts you in anyway.”

Ash says and I know he means it from the heart.

“I know and trust me I am fine I can handle most situations by myself.

Sure I will still need you from time to time but just support me in between.”

I reassure him.

The other guys weren’t happy either Danny had told us that the kids name is Carter Hayes.

He is a Sophomore like Matty and apparently a huge a.sshat.

The typical guy who hangs out with all the stoners and dates all of the skatepark chicks.

I can just see Asher tense up which means he’s already growing protective over me and don’t get me wrong I love that my brother is willing to always keep me safe but sometimes you just need to set a bird free.

You know what I mean?

Like how am I suppose to ever date in this lifetime?

They will have to ask him for permission.

Not saying I’m interested in that right now but the guys here are super attractive and I’m a teenage girl. I literally can’t help it. We practically fan girl any hot guy.

“Ash” I say to get my brothers attention.

“I will be okay. It’s Freshman year and we are in a new place remember?

We both need to explore changes from what we were like before.

Those people are gone. I was a caterpillar and now I’m a beautiful butterfly. I want to make the most of it these next four years.

Promise me that no matter what we will get through it together.

You and I”

I give him a side hug.

“I promise and I’m sorry if I come off so strong but I don’t see it that way. I am the man of this family and I will protect you guys besides you are too good for a guy like that”

He says to me and I say I know softly smiling at him.

He turns away and continues talking with Danny about up coming sports and I lean a bit noticing Matty listening to their conversation. He glances my way for a second and I smile at him which makes him smile back.

I start to feel my tummy hurt and I hold it for a second realizing I should have eaten when I was home.