Chapter 1: Daniel

  “Yo Jakey-Wakey”

  “Please don’t moan my name.”

  “What did the bison say to his son when he left the ranch?”

  “What.”

  “Bi-son.”

  “You’re a fucking cornball.”

  “GO FUCK YOURSELF!”

  The bus jolted over a speedbump. My hand clenched hard on the seat in front of me.

  Two exits. Emergency windows. Driver’s on his phone. Jackass. If something happens, the aisle clogs in 4 seconds. Three if someone screams. I could jump out the window, like a maniac, or go through the front exit, like a normal civilian. But diving through a window would be cool as hell.

  School. Another boring day of school. I really don’t know which is worse, the bus driver swerving off the bridge into our doom, or the sheer boredom of having to sit in a plastic chair in a century-old building for seven hours a day learning about the Pythagorean theorem when I already calculate the hypotenuse of every exit route in the cafeteria because while everyone’s worrying their ass off about prom or who’s dating who and whatnot I could be back at the shelter doing stuff that actually matters like fixing the leaky pipe in the guest restroom or organizing the pantry by caloric density so they don’t waste their time looking for food or literally ANYTHING ELSE other than analyzing some poem about a murderer hiding remains in the floor written by some dude who died in a sewer drunk and beaten up 200 years ago. Oh, the misery.

  The bus pulls into the bus circle. Everyone stands up, like a tiger ready to pounce. That was fucking cringe, internal monologue I would shoot you if I could. Anyways, the bus is getting rowdy since the admins are doing roll call. Roll calls usually take about two minutes. Three if the dicks in the back want to cause a scene. This time there’s a new admin on the chopping block. Poor lady. They really had to assign her arguably the worst bus in the school—no, maybe even the county.

  “Kids!” Screeched the administrator. “We’ve been here for five minutes already! Please just listen!”

  “This unc tryna boss us around like she’s shit” Said one of the fuckwits in the back.

  “I WILL write referrals if I have to!”

  “You ain’t finna do shit.”

  As that was said, fuckwit number two decided to throw a crumpled piece of paper, hitting the lady square in the face. That kid could be in baseball.

  She stared at it. Just stared. Her face was beet red, resembling a tomato. It almost looked like smoke was going to pour out of her ears like a cartoon character.

  Then she turned around and walked. Not to the front of the bus. Away. Toward the administrative building. As she was aggressively walking, I had caught a glimpse of her face. She was crying. Tears streaming down her eyes. But by then she was already a tiny dot in the distance, barely recognizable.

  The bus was silent for exactly four seconds.

  “YO DID YOU GUYS SEE THAT?”

  That was the catalyst of the loudest rupture I’ve ever heard in my life. It was deafening, as if they had just witnessed the greatest event of their lives.

  Absolute buffoons. She was just trying to do her job. But whatever. Nothing ever goes as planned.

  But what did go as planned was me exiting first. Always am.

  Chapter 2: Vera

  He walks… wrong.

  Not wrong like something’s broken. Wrong as in… deliberate. He walks as if he already planned his footsteps three minutes ago. Never cuts through groups of people. Always keeps his back to the walls. Never lets anyone walk behind him for more than a few seconds before shifting, adjusting, finding a wall.

  Most people don’t notice. They just see the mask he puts on. Weird. Annoying. Probably autistic.

  But I do.

  The bus had just exploded after the administrator left, and everyone was bursting in laughter, including Daniel. But his laughter felt wrong. His smile was disconnected from his eyes; his laugh was a bit too monotone—oh I could go on about the many things I’ve noticed about him.

  I’ve noticed it for a while now. I remember the day he flinched when Regina brushed his shoulder, plowing her way through the crowd like the detached bitch she is. Everyone else had laughed it off, calling him a pussy and whatnot, but I saw. I saw his hands go in his pockets. Saw him check the exits. Saw him force a grin that screams uncomfortable two seconds later.

  That’s when I started watching.

  Chapter 3: Daniel

  The bell had just rung, and the teacher sat down.

  PRRRRRRRRRRRRR-RRRRR-RUMMMM-PHHH-T-T-T-T-T-SST-Squelch.

  “Okay, very funny.” said Ms. A. “Now who put this whoopee cushion on my seat?”

  “Sorry!” I exclaimed, loud enough for the whole class to hear.

  Two exits. A closet barely big enough to hide in. A fire extinguisher, twelve pounds, blunt force, could work If I’m desperate. Meret in the back sexting other boys. I saw it all.

  Everyone laughed. Well, almost everyone.

  Ms. A gave a long, tiring sigh before saying “Daniel. I know this may be… funny or whatever, but please refrain from doing this again. This is a distraction, and I might have to write you up the next time you pull out a whoopee cushion.”

  "Yes ma'am," I said, mock-serious. Gotta sell it.

  She won't write me up. Never does. Teachers like Ms. A are predictable—warn, warn, warn, maybe a detention if I really push it. I won't push it though. Not today.

  Chapter 4: Vera

  The sound was perfect. Literally straight out of looney tunes. It was loud enough to get everyone’s attention but stupid enough so no one would think twice of it.

  I didn’t laugh.

  Not because it wasn’t funny— I mean a whoopee cushion? Where in the hell do you get that idea? A 1960’s cookbook? —but because I was watching him while everyone was watching Ms. A’s face.

  He hadn’t even looked at her. Not once. His eyes swept the room up, down, left, right, and sideways, looking at all the corners, windows, and doors, before finally landing on Ms. A with a practiced sheepish grin.

  “Fucking cornball!” someone yelled out.

  To be honest, that is indeed what he is, a fucking cornball. But that’s just what the world sees.

  Fidus was basically dying in the back. His laugh sounds like a sheep being skinned alive. “What a dumbass!” Fidus yelled. “Where the hell did you even get a whoopee cushion?”

  Daniel grinned “Amazon, baby! Two-day shipping! I got a whole pack—who wants one for their mom?”

  The class had flared up. Even Ms. A looked like she was fighting a smile.

  But something seemed off. The way he smiles is disturbing. It just doesn’t align with him in a sort of way. His sheepish laughter is a few chords off. The way he looks around, scanning the whole room during a joke—I mean who does that?

  Ms. A finally got control of the class. “Alright, alright. Everyone please take out your copy of 1984 and flip to page—” Ms. A sighed before saying”—sixty-seven.”

  The whole class exploded once again. What is it with this goddamn number? We’re in high school goddamn it.

  Everyone laughed. Well, almost everyone.

  I pulled out my copy of the book, but by the time I looked over, Daniel already had his copy out and I saw him opening his book to page sixty-seven. Exactly sixty-seven HOW? He didn’t even flip through the pages or ANYTHING? Did he just have the whole book memorized by page number? Or maybe he had checked before class had started.

  Either way, that’s fucking weird.

  Chapter 5: Daniel

  Someone bumped my shoulder.

  Not hard. Just a slight brush in the hallway in between classes. Normal. Happens every day.

  So why the hell did my hand go to my pockets? Why did I check the exits before even turning around?

  “Oop—Oh, sorry!”

  A girl. Dark hair. About 5’2. Seems lightweight. A neck snap would—no, what am I thinking. By the time I was done contemplating, she was already way past me. I gotta think of a response.

  “No worries!” I spoke. What else? Oh right, smile. I grinned, but it was a little late. A little wide. Something’s wrong with me. “Traffic, am I right?”

  She glanced back. Just for a second. Something tells me she was checking something.

  Then she was gone.

  I stood there for a while. Three seconds. My shoulder still felt weird. It still hurts from that day.

  Get it together, Daniel.

  Chapter 6: Vera

  He flinched.

  Hands in pockets. Eyes darting around. He looked at me as if I was a danger.

  His eyes showed fear. I could see it in him. But his fear isn’t directed towards me, it was a fear of what I represented; a touch he didn’t expect; a primal fear etched into his mind. What could have possibly happened to him for him to behave this way?

  The mask slid back on, but it was too late. Two seconds. It took him two seconds to return—or try to—to his clown act. His forced grin and fake chuckle, his real self slipping through his mask.

  “Traffic, am I right?”

  Nobody says that. No one. Usually they’d just walk by. Maybe blurt out a ‘sorry’ if they felt bad. But it feels like his mind went to panic mode, forging up that response. That fake smile. That fake chuckle. That fakeness.

  I kept walking by, but my heart felt something strange. Maybe pity? No, not that. Curiosity? Nah, I’ve been curious about him since freshman year, but it’s never felt like this before. Something heavier. Something deeper.

  But it doesn’t matter.

  What matters is his reaction. He’s not weird. He’s scared.

  And I want to know why.

  Chapter 7: Daniel

  Finally, it’s over.

  The bus ride back home was relatively calm. Everyone was burned out by the exhausting seven-hour torture we had to endure.

  Two exits, front and back. Slim windows, easily breakable. Once again, just walking out would be the best option, but jumping out would still be cool. Driver’s still on his phone. Fidus is joking around. That girl staring at me—wait, why is she staring at me?

  Dark hair. Same one from the hallway. I think her name was ‘Vira’ or something? She’s a few rows back, turned slightly in her seat. Watching.

  Our eyes had met for half a second before my body automatically made me look away.

  What does she want? Did she think I was weird? Does she know something?

  Stop it. You’re being paranoid. She probably just zoned out or something. Happens all the time.

  The bus screeched to a stop.

  Three blocks. Turn left at the corner store with the flickering sign, walk past the house with the dog that barks, then arriving at the building next to the abandoned car dealership.

  The shelter. Faded sky blue paint. Momma’s beat up Honda parked in the grass.

  I gently open the door.

  “BUBBY!”

  I was greeted by a little human named Lumen, who lunged at me.

  I caught him midair and swung him around in circles. Six years old. 42 pounds. I sometimes wonder how he’s so happy all the time.

  “Hey little guy.” I set him down and he immediately grabbed my hand.

  “Bubby, look, look! I drew you!” said the little human while shoving a crumpled piece of paper in my hand. It was a crayon stick figure with spiky hair and arms way too long.

  “That’s amazing buddy. I’m putting that on the fridge”

  “Momma said you have to do your chores!”

  Right. Chores. Not like I enjoy them but someone’s gotta do it. Maybe after I could surprise Momma by fixing the pipe.

  “Daniel.” Momma said, while simultaneously scanning me up and down to check for anything wrong. Bruises. Scratches. Ripped clothes. Those sorts of things. It’s an old habit, really.

  “Do you mind washing the dishes for me? I’ve got things I gotta deal with. Oh and also, do mind talking to Echo for me? He’s supposed to be doing his homework but he’s always on that ‘Fartnite’ game.” She gave me the look. Go handle it.

  “Is Major not here to talk to him?”

  “JROTC. He won’t be back until five.”

  I sighed. “Alright, dishes first, then I’ll talk to Echo”

  Lumen was already dragging me to the kitchen. “Bubby’s going to do the dishes! I can help Bubby!”

  He won’t help. He’ll splash water all over me and make it take twice as long.

  I didn’t tell him no.

  Chapter 8: Daniel

  Echo’s door was closed. I could hear the gunshots through his door.

  There was a muffled scream of a pre-adolescent 7th grader, followed by something along the lines of “YOU STUPID FUCKING SWEAT!”

  Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

  Immediately after, I entered the room.

  Echo’s head whipped back faster than the time I surprised him with that PS4 for Christmas.

  “DAN? WAIT I DIDN’T MEAN T—”

  “Echo.”

  “I-I-I-“

  “Echo. You know you’re not supposed to curse. Especially here.”

  “I know, I know. I’m sorry. I just- there was this kid and he was skybasing and-“

  “Echo.”

  He deflated. He went to the lobby in-game. “I’m sorry.”

  I sat on the edge of the bed. The room was the usual disaster. Clothes on the floor. Homework scattered on his desk, untouched. Pristine, at that.

  “Momma said you’ve been on Fort for an hour. You’re never gonna finish your homework at this rate.”

  “I finished it.”

  “Okay then show me.”

  “…I was going to finish it after this match.”

  “Mhm.” I picked up the worksheet that he was assigned. It was blank. Literally, the only thing he had on there was his name.

  He didn’t answer. Just stared at his Fortnite character like it was going to save him. Like Jonesy would climb through the screen, throw a boogie bomb at me and save the day.

  “Echo. I know math sucks, but you’ve got to do your homework first before games. You made Momma ask me to talk to you. You know she’s got enough on her plate, running the shelter and all.”

  That got him. Echo sagged his shoulders, sighed and responded “Yeah, I know.”

  How could I convince him to do his homework? Threaten him? Nah, he’s already in a foster home. I don’t need to torture him anymore. Maybe reward him? But with what? I’m already broke as is. Maybe letting him play games? Could work, but he needs to eat dinner. What if I combine both? Alright, I’ll try it.

  “Alright Echo, here’s the deal. You finish the first 10 question, and I’ll let you play for an hour before dinner. But if you try to bullshit me with wrong answers just to-“

  “I won’t, I swear!”

  I let out a deep sigh. “You better not make me take away your controller.”

  Echo immediately grabbed the handout and worked on it immediately. He started scribbling before getting frustrated, blurting out “HOW THE HELL DO YOU DO THIS?”

  2x+1=5. Basic algebra. It’s not even hard, I mean this is like one of the most simple equations ever.

  “I showed you how to do this last week”

  “I KNOW, I know. But I forgot.”

  I let out another deep sigh before sitting down next to him. “Alright, show me what you’re confused on.”

  Guess I won’t have time to fix the pipes.

  Chapter 9: Daniel

  A cup of rice. 205 calories. Canned carrot, green bean and corn mix. 110 calories. A slice of stale bread topped with whipped cream. 160 calories. 475 calories in total. That’s not enough. Not even for little Lumen. If I give lumen half my rice, he can hit 557. If I skip my bread and give it to Echo, he might be able to finish that assignment. Me? I can just chug 2 cups of tap water. The lead in the pipes is free minerals. Call that a supplement.

  “Daniel.” Momma said. “Are you gonna eat or just sit there staring at who knows what?”

  I slid half my rice onto Lumen’s plate. “Just thinking.”

  “HEY!” Lumen protested. “That’s yours!”

  “Didn’t you want to be a basketball player one day? If so, you need more food. Plus, I already ate lunch at school. I’ll be fine” Lie. I skipped lunch to finish that goddamn history project.

  “Daniel, you-“ Momma started, but the front door opened.

  Heavy footsteps. Calm posture. In walked Major. He dropped his bag by

  “Perfect timing,” Momma said. “Wash up. Dinner’s ready.”

  Major. Seventeen. Six-foot-two. Broad shoulders. His frame reminds me of Captain America, only if he had Batman’s upbringing. Perpetually balancing school, JROTC, and a side gig at a gas station, that man worked harder than anyone ever had to at seventeen.

  Major looked at me before tipping his hat brim down slightly. “Dan.”

  “Major.”

  Major changed and returned in 30 seconds flat. Still the fastest changer I’ve ever seen.

  He sat down next to me and grabbed his plate. Didn’t question the portion. Didn’t question why my portion was smaller. Didn’t question why I had two cups of water beside me. Just ate.

  He had always been this way. Always efficient. Always minded his own business.

  “Hey Echo, how’d the homework go?” Questioned Momma.

  “It’s doing great! I’m almost through the whole worksheet because Dan helped me!” Echo said, mouth stuffed with day-old rice and stale bread.

  “Chew first, talk second.” Reminded Momma.

  “Bubby helped me too!” blurted the little human. “We did the dishes!”

  “We? Are you speaking French or something because I only remember Daniel washing the dishes and you splashing water everywhere.” Momma snarked.

  “It’s true that he made me change twice by getting dirty dish gunk all over me, but who could say no to that little gremlin?” I said, while rubbing my neck.

  “Bubby?” said Lumen while tugging my sleeve. “My friend’s birthday is tomorrow at the park. Can you take me to the park tomorrow?”

  Damn. I was planning to fix that pipe tomorrow

  “Alright, Bubby will take you to the park tomorrow.”

  “YAY!” exclaimed Lumen, his face lighting up the moment those words left my mouth.

  Guess I won’t be fixing that pipe tomorrow as well.

  Chapter 10: Daniel

  6:30 AM.

  It’s usually quiet at this time. Emphasis on ‘usually’. I woke up to a 40 pounds, really hyper chunk of meat lunging at me.

  “BUBBA!”

  “Ow. Please don’t do that again”

  “Sorry… I just didn’t want you to forget taking me-”

  “I won’t.”the

  “Okay…”

  Lumen slid off of my bed and waddled his way out of my room. You could hear his tiny little footsteps running to the kitchen, presumably to tell Momma I was awake.

  Okay, it’s at three o’clock. Don’t forget.

  I got up and went to the restroom, picking up clothes from the floor as I walked by them. I took a quick morning shower to calm my body down. My shoulder usually aches the most in the morning. It’s been aching since that day.

  Right after changing, I went to brush my teeth, but when I reached for the toothbrush, I knocked over the juice cup Lumen forgot in the restroom, making my clothes wet. Fuck.

  Where are my clothes when I need them? Fuck, fuck, fuck. I scoured my room but couldn’t find anything to wear, or at least anything clean to wear.

  “Fuck it.” I grabbed the shirt I wore yesterday from the bin, sprayed some Febreze all over myself, then went to the kitchen.

  Right when I entered the kitchen, I was greeted my Momma.

  “Hey there Daniel.”

  “Hey Momma. Did Major leave yet?”

  “Yeah”

  “What’s for breakfast today?”

  “Just some toast.” Said Momma with a sad expression on her face.

  “Is something wrong, Momma?”

  Lumen jumped in “Yeah Momma, you look sad”

  “I’m sorry guys.”

  “Wha-huh?”

  “It’s just I feel really bad for not even being able to feed you guys nutritious meals. I mean who would serve their kids just a plain slice of bread as breakfast? I mean it’s not even-“

  “It’s alright, Momma.” I cut her off. “We get that you feel bad, but it’s not your fault! We know you work really hard to even put food in our mouths, and that’s all that matters!”

  “Yeah Momma! Bubba’s right!”

  Tears started forming in Momma’s eyes. She’s been under so much stress lately.

  “I appreciate it kids.”

  “Of course! You’re always here for us and that’s all that we need”

  “Bubba’s right!”

  "Thank you so much—" Her voice cracked. She pulled us both into a hug, tight enough I could feel her shaking.

  "I love you kids. So much."

  "We know, Momma," I said quietly. "We love you too."

  Lumen squeezed tighter. "Yeah!"

  We stood there for maybe ten seconds. Then Momma pulled back, wiped her eyes, tried to smile.

  "Alright. Eat your toast before the bus comes.

  I grabbed the slice. 80 calories. Not enough, but it was something.

  7:10. Five minutes until the bus.

  I stood at the bus stop as usual, and sure enough, a large, yellow vehicle pulled up.

  The doors opened and I hopped on. As soon as I did, the bus started driving.

  A few rows back, I caught a glimpse of dark hair. That girl. Vira. Watching again.

  In the front sat Fidus. “Hey, big D!”

  “What’s up man!”

  “Nothin’ much. How ‘bout-“

  As he was saying that, Jake, one seat up, turned around, sniffed the air dramatically, and said “Well, well, well. If it isn’t ‘Dirty Daniel’. You still wearing the same shirt as yesterday bro? I can smell the Febreze from here.”

  A few kids laughed.

  I forced on a grin. “I know you can’t talk with that shitty fit you got on”

  “At least I have clothes to wear, unlike you. Living in that shitty foster home next to the abandoned parking lot must suck, not being able to afford clothes.”

  The laughter intensified.

  My hands went in my pockets. Instinct. Checking for something I don’t have.

  “At least I don’t spend all my money on vapes.” I shot back.

  “At least my real parents wanted me.”

  The bus went quiet.

  My hands moved on instinct. I almost threw a punch when Fidus stepped in

  “Woah man, that’s too far.”

  “And who are you to say so?”

  “I’m the guy telling you to shut the fuck up before you say some shit you’ll regret.”

  Jake stood up. “Oh yeah? What are you gonna do about it?”

  “Jake, sit down.” I said quietly. Don’t do something stupid, Jake. Don’t.

  “Nah, your little boyfriend wants to defend you. Let’s see how he does it”

  Fidus stood up. “What. Did. You. Just. Call. Me?”

  “The way you defend this fucking orphan makes you loo-“

  Fidus shoved him. Hard.

  Jake stumbled back a bit, then swung, clocking Fidus right in the jaw.

  Fuck.

  Fidus’s head snapped to the side. Blood leaked from his nose.

  “FIDUS!” I shouted. I need to do something. But if I do, It will get worse. It always does.

  But he didn’t stop. He kept going, charging directly at Jake. Fidus tackled him. They hit the aisle hard. Fidus on top.

  “HEY! HEY!” The bus driver’s voice rang out. “STOP IT RIGHT NOW, BOTH OF YOU!”

  He started throwing punches, sloppy but vicious. One caught Jake's eye socket. Another split his lip open. Blood on the floor. Blood on the seats.

  Jake tried to block the punches, but they were wailing on him. In desperation, he kicked up, bucking Fidus off him.

  Fidus fell over, but then immediately stood up and tried to stomp out Jake. Fidus’s foot had barely missed Jake’s head, instead landing directly on his hand instead.

  SNAP

  “AUGHH FUCK!” Screamed Jake. His hand looked deformed, bent a little weird.

  “YOU FUCKING PSYCHO!” Jake grabbed the nearest thing, someone's backpack, and swung it like a weapon. It caught Fidus in the temple. Jake rammed his body into Fidus, driving him back.

  Fidus staggered. Jake charged him, drove him backward into the emergency window.

  The glass cracked.

  "BOTH OF YOU SIT DOWN NOW!" The driver turned fully around, both hands off the wheel.

  I saw it happening. The curve ahead. The bus drifting right.

  "WATCH OUT!"

  The driver whipped back around, grabbed the wheel, slammed the brakes.

  Everyone—no, everything lurched forward.

  Jake, off-balance near the cracked window.

  His body hit the glass.

  It shattered.

  And he went through.

  Chapter 11: Vera

  Holy shit.

  Jake had flown out the window, ragdolling on the hard, cold, asphalt.

  Daniel had barely managed to catch Fidus before he met the same fate as Jake.

  Nobody moved for a second. Then everyone rushed to the side of the bus. Screaming. Pulling out their phones.

  I stayed in my seat. The glass shards from him going through the window had flung back and slashed me in the face. That stung.

  I put my hand on the cut. I was bleeding.

  But who cares about a cut when someone flew out the window?

  I didn’t want to look at Jake, so I looked at Daniel instead. He didn’t scream. Didn’t cry. Just stood there, staring at Jake with a blank face. Hands on Fidus’s shoulder. He looked as if he was calculating something. Even now? What could he be thinking?

  Anyways, it couldn’t be that bad if Daniel wasn’t freaking out, right? I stood up, taking in a deep breath, and joined the crowd.

  Blood.

  Spreading slowly across the asphalt.

  Jake was on the asphalt. Not moving.

  -TWITCH-

  His fingers had twitched a little bit. Seems like he’s still alive. His right arm was bent wrong, with even a little bone showing, while his left hand was shattered. Fingers going the wrong way, one was just completely backwards.

  He had glass shards all over his body. On his cheek. On his neck. His so proclaimed ‘designer shirt’ was tattered to pieces.

  Road rash was prevalent all over his body. Raw. Red. Especially on his hand. You could even see the muscle fibers. The white bone peeking through in some places.

  A wet, bubbling rattle tore through his throat, each inhale sounding like thick liquid being drawn through a straw.

  His nose was flat. Twisted. Seems like his broken nose made it hard to breathe.

  Jake tried to lift his head, but ultimately failed.

  I stepped back from the window, away from the crowd. The pain from the cut was basically gone after witnessing what had happened to Jake. I don’t think I could even go in a car without a seatbelt on now. I couldn’t feel anything at all. Only the rapid ‘thud-thud-thud’ coming from deep within.

  That image is never leaving my head.

  Chapter 12: Vera

  “-and then he flew through the window.” I said.

  I was in the School Resource Officer’s office, recalling arguably the craziest day of my life. First, Jake flew out of the bus window. That vivid scene of him half dead is still constantly replaying in my head. And now, I’m being interrogated as if I had something to do with it. Can this day get any worse?

  “And who threw the first punch?”

  “I told you already, I can’t remember.” Lie. I remembered everything. But snitches get stitches.

  “Alright then.” Said the SRO while typing something down. “Well, you’re free to go back to class now.”

  As soon as those words left his mouth, I stood up and left.

  Walking in the halls, everything reminded me of that horrifying image. The red painted lockers resembled his blood. The sounds of the toilets flushing reminded me of that disgusting gargle.

  But that’s not the only thing that’s been on my mind.

  Daniel.

  Why was he just standing there? It was like he knew that it was going to happen. His blank expression honestly scared me more than Jake. Was he calculating something? Like what?

  Wait. Why am I thinking of Daniel? Jake just flew out of the window. So why the hell is Daniel living rent free in my head right now? Am I thinking about his face? His reaction to someone basically dying?

  What’s wrong with me?

  I reached Ms. A’s class. Through the window, I could see the substitute teacher standing there. Right. Ms. A had called in sick today. Of course it had to be today.

  I kinda wished I could have talked about what happened today with her. She seems to understand me more than the other teachers.

  I pushed open the door.

  Usually, Ms. A class was pretty quiet but today was different. The substitute was a young woman in her mid-twenties, meaning she doesn’t have a care about what the class does.

  “Hey there, got a pass?” Exclaimed the sub.

  I gave her the pass and sat down in my seat.

  Across the room sat Regina and her little entourage.

  “My boyfriend bought me a bouquet for couple’s week today! How nice of him!” said Fama.

  “Bitch that’s fucking basic.” scoffed Regina. “My boyfriend took me to the expensive steakhouse nearby! Then he surprised me with a designer bag!”

  “WHAT!!!” exclaimed Fama. “Is your boyfriend made of money or something?”

  “Basically.” Regina confirmed.

  Boyfriends. To these girls, boyfriends are just pocketbooks waiting to be drained. I believe the term for them is ‘gold diggers’.

  But on the topic of relationships, have I ever seen Daniel with anyone? I don’t think so. Daniel doesn’t date. Doesn’t flirt. Hell, he doesn’t even come close to anyone—well he doesn’t come close to girls, but he still flinches when touched.

  I wonder if he’s ever let anyone close.

  Wait a minute, why am I thinking about him?

  “But wait,” said Fama. “wasn’t your boyfriend gay before?”

  “Oh yeah, he was SUPER gay. He used to go around kissing other boys and stuff. Gross.”

  “That’s homophobic”

  “Aren’t you homophobic as well?”

  “Fair enough.”

  “So, I guess I was just that pretty for him to turn straight”

  “On the topic of gays,” Fama said, lowering her voice, “do you think that Daniel’s gay?”

  My ears perked up at the mention of Daniel. Is there something I don’t know?

  “Oh, that bus fight kid? Pretty sure he’s scared of women.” said Regina.

  “Why though?”

  Regina lowers her voice before saying, “My cousin’s friend said that something bad happened to him. Something that rhymes with ‘grape’.”

  My stomach dropped

  Daniel? Really? Him? Theres no way. But the way she said it. She believed it

  Rape.

  Suddenly everything makes so much sense now. The flinching. Exit scanning. The constant awareness of his surroundings. The way he reached in his pockets when I bumped into him, looking for a weapon he doesn’t have.

  Not paranoid. Not weird. Not autistic.

  Traumatized.

  But he still shows up every day. Still jokes. Still laughs. Still acts like nothing happened.

  The bell rang. Class was over. I packed my stuff slowly, still thinking about it.

  About him.

  Chapter 13: Vera

  The bus arrived. I don’t even want to step on after thinking of what happened to Jake. But I have no other choice. How else am I going to get home?

  The doors creaked open.

  I stepped in.

  Immediately, the fear set in. What if something goes wrong? What if the bus explodes? What if the bus crashes? What if… I end up like Jake. No. What am I thinking. That was only one time. It’s never going to happen again. Right?

  “Hey lady, get a move on!” Said the guy behind me.

  “S-Sorry!” I exclaimed, aggressively walking to the row I usually sit at before setting myself down, buckling my seatbelt as tight as I could.

  It’s fine. It’s gonna be fine. I’ll be home soon. There’s nothing to worry about.

  Chapter 14: Daniel - Sweet Dreams.

  That Vira girl isn’t looking at me today.

  Entering the bus, there was a different bus driver. Must be new.

  Two exits. Lots of windows. Walk out or do what Jake did. Maybe jumping out the window isn’t as cool as I thought.

  “Hey lady, get a move on!”

  She must still be shocked by what happened today. Makes sense.

  Still, today had been the longest day ever. The SRO basically arrested me, keeping me at his office until about fifth period when he let me go.

  Major must be confused right now. Usually I’d sit with him at lunch, but I had to eat lunch at the SRO’s because I was a ‘Key Witness’ or something.

  But it’s fine.

  I’d seen him snoop around the SRO’s office, making sure I was fine, before disappearing to wherever the hell he goes. I also saw him at seventh period before he left for JROTC. I’m assuming he saw me as well.

  Anyways, he’s probably gonna make me tell him what happened today. He’s in for a wild ride.

  I sat down near the front. Same seat as always. Too bad Fidus isn’t here.

  The bus was getting ready to pull away, but right before it left, a familiar voice screamed from behind.

  “HEY! WAIT UP!” Screamed Fidus.

  Fidus? He’s here? Why? I thought he got expelled or something.

  The bus screeched to a stop, opening the door and letting my boy on.

  Fidus had limped all the way here, before exclaiming “WAZAPPPP!!!”

  “FIDUS?” I questioned. “Are you good man? What happened back there?”

  Fidus inhaled deeply before saying “Yikes… So I probably WON’T be coming back here. Suspended and recommended for expulsion.”

  Damn. This was all my fault. Fidus would have never been suspended if I had never escalated things with Jake.

  “Hey man, I’m really sorry that happe-“

  “Yo, no worries man. That dick deserved it for calling you an orphan.”

  I would fuck the shit out of Fidus if I was gay.

  On the way home, the bus was relatively quiet. Everyone kept staring at Fidus and me.

  “So how are you still here? I thought you’d be in Juvie or something?”

  “Well, people kept saying that Jake caused the fight because they also hated that guy, so I was barely off the hook. My parents were also too busy to pick me up so I stayed in ISS the whole day.”

  “Damn, really? That’s cra-“

  HISS.

  A thin hissing sound came out of nowhere. What was it? Is it just me? No, I see others looking around too. Maybe the bus was just old. I mean the original bus got damaged from that fight today, so they used the old one they haven’t touched since the nineties.

  I looked down. A heavy, white mist crawled on the floor. It looked like stage fog, only it didn’t stay on the floor. It rose. It was thick and smelled sweet. Like apples in a new car.

  This weird mist thing is making my throat dry. I instinctively swallowed. Why? What is this?

  Fidus, sitting right besides me, had fallen asleep, as well as many other students on the bus.

  What the fuck? Wait a minute… IS THAT FUCKING GAS? AW HELL NAWH IS THIS A JAMES BOND MOVIE OR SOMETHING? —OKAY CALM DOWN, calm down. Don’t breath. I learned this before. I know this. I need a wet cloth. I can use my shirt as the cloth, but where do I get the wet?

  Piss?

  No. Unsanitary and takes too long.

  Think.

  WINDOW! I CAN FUCKING JUMP OUT OF THE WINDOW!

  I lunged at the window, hoping I’d look cool as hell, but all that happened was a soft thud against the glass.

  I stood up, or at least tried to, but my legs felt like millions of needles were poking it. Like my feet were made of bowling ball. Then suddenly, I fell against the window. My cheek pressed up against the cold, hard glass.

  Why are my hands so weak?

  I looked down at my hand, inches away from the latch. Move it. Just open the window.

  Why can’t I do anything?

  My vision went white at the edges. The bus. The students. Fidus slumped next to me. All of it fading to static.

  Why can’t I move? Why can’t I do anything? Why? Why? WHY?

  Oh wait. That’s why.

  Chapter 15: Vera - All I could do.

  I could hear it first. The hissing.

  I could smell it next. Almost like rotten apples

  I could see the mist moving across the floor. White. Thick. Rising.

  I could feel myself pulling the seatbelt so hard it hurt.

  I could watch the other students. Eyes rolled to the back of their heads. Slumped in their seats.

  I could try to stand, but my legs wouldn’t budge.

  I could not stay awake, even if I tried my hardest.

  I could only do one thing now, and that was keeping my eyes open.

  I could see a silhouette of someone. A distant figure, trying their hardest to break out.

  I could only wonder who.

  But the presence of the gas had led me to realize something.

  We were never supposed to make it home.