Indiana, Invincible; Chapter 10, Part 2

by Maryam in A Land Of Desert And Sun

Oh, no.

AUGH. DARNIT.

Don't tell me he's going to take this seriously!

I narrow my eyes and head off after him. After that one glance, he simply moved off, but I can still see his back in the crowd.

But… I thought he didn’t even LIKE Gina. Call me ridiculous, but, inwardly, I have to admit I subconsciously thought I was doing him a favor.

So what’s this?

I’m thinking to myself hard, functioning automatically; I dodge several locker doors, kissing couples, teachers with papers, kids with books, and finally reach the outer door. Rheston’s dark-blue-T-shirted self can still be seen.

I hurry up.

Clambering into the bus, I see Rheston, and freeze.

The inward un-voiced hope that it would just turn out to be some joke is silenced forever, and I steady myself slowly on the floor of the bus that’s beginning to lurch, move aside slightly as more kids emerge into the bus.

He’s leaning against the window, staring out of it, unblinking. The expression on his face is so… Solid, stern, somehow, that it looks like he’s carved out of marble. It’s that frozen into an expression of fury.

Augh.

Inner throes of indecision rock me, until finally I plant my foot firmer.

I’ll do it. He… Well, I don’t know, but my inner self tells me he doesn’t deserve to be let go without a sorry.

Cringing inwardly to myself, I glance up at Rheston’s seat, hoping it’s…

No. Darn it again. It’s empty. I no longer have an excuse.

Inhaling deeply, I step forward.

That empty seat is beckoning.