"Dan! Wait up!"536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXdKuUvOGR
I overheard a voice behind me. I turned my head to see someone coming up. It was from Chris. We've been good friends since we were kids. He had ginger hair and always wore hoodies to school. He even introduced me to anime, which is something I didn't expect I would love. I'm pretty thankful for that.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELDVCFH6o7
"Yo. You seem pretty upbeat," I noticed he had this positive aura around him.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1dUcF0fPDg
"I always keep myself upbeat. You look like you don't, though. Why the long face, man?"536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfm0q5sk4Qy
"It's nothing, really. Today just seemed exhausting and awful."536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCxvunaJvw
"Ah, I see. Well, there's no use crying over spilled milk. You just need to relax and recharge, that's all. School is on break, so you got plenty of time for yourself."536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgU8Hsauwl7
He patted my back, thinking it would be helpful.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynuNPa8tis
"Maybe you're right."536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3r7ljcA3i
"By the way, did Claire give you the umbrella? Since we have different schedules, I didn't think I could give it to you around today. Claire said she could give it to you around 4, so I just asked her to do it."536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdqWmf4ApF
"Yeah, I have it right here," I pulled out the umbrella from my bag so he could see.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDy9UtY98iO
"Are you coming with me on the bus?" I asked him in my fatiguing voice. Since only a few courses still go on after 4, I felt like there was no reason to stay after hours. School break is starting tomorrow as well, so mostly everyone's going home for the week.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHRR9nX9HGo
"Sorry dude, my girl and I are going to the park to hang out."536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKNavyd6Du
"Oh, alright then. I hope the date goes well."536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELzhEbeqQy
"I hope so too. Anyway, I'll see you later!" He walked off across the street and went to Starbucks a block over. I assumed he was waiting for his girlfriend there. She must like coffee or something because Chris doesn't drink caffeine.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSN5L7ND4F9
Outside the campus was the road. Cars and motorbikes were driving by and were speeding off into the distance. Students stand by here every day, waiting for their ride home. I was waiting for the bus, which was my usual transit from my house and the campus. I already got my license when I was 16, but my parents didn't think I was ready for a car. So, I'm pretty much stuck with commuting for now. Nothing really stopped by after a few minutes of standing there, though. There were just some SUVs and taxis driving around.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2sUOWSkK5N
I grabbed my phone while I had time to kill. The school had free Wi-Fi, so I had no problem connecting to the web. I went on Instagram and scrolled around a bit. The usual stuff you'd see is always there. The only thing different about mine was that I followed photographers, writers, and my friends. I felt a bit drowsy while scrolling, but I managed to keep myself through.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcED6Mkc3If
It took around 15 minutes before the bus arrived, which gave me enough time to immerse myself. I didn't realize the bus stopped in front of me until everyone started to move in. I jolted up and slipped my phone back in my pocket. I walked up to the line and slipped in slowly, waiting for everyone to get in. The bus was bright white, like those regular transit buses you'd see. A large gray line ran in the middle of the bus and in bright colors wrote: "BusNet OR" which was shining in the light.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGAeC2NFne
I hopped on the bus and had my bus card ready. I was about to scan in my card when I saw the note taped on the panel, which read "Out of Order" in bold red capitals. I was a bit confused about what to do, so I asked the driver for instructions.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXkbbxvUJH
"Uh-how do I-" I stuttered a bit while asking. He noticed me holding the card and just cuts me mind sentence.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhBg4Z2WVi
"You can just take a seat, kid. A guy will just come on over and ask."536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4eOpU4YeFv
"Oh, alright then," I placed the card back in my wallet and proceeded to the back.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLDjJe1w3D
I immediately sat near the window around 4 rows back on the left side. I propped my bag on my lap and looked outside. Oregon always seemed nice around this time. The sun was just on the right angle that gave a nice facade towards the apartments and storefronts. If I had my camera on me, I would have taken a photo right then and there.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFK0sAY3Yrs
"Excuse me, is this seat taken?" A voice behind me spoke out. I didn't pay attention to it then since the scene was so breathtaking. I assumed she meant me and the seat beside me. I was hypnotized by the gazing moment that I didn't even bother to turn my head.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rtU64NpGU
"No, you can go ahead," the scene was just so calming and wonderful that I couldn't even stop looking at it. But, I still manage to respond in my trance and soon enough, she sat next to me. After that, I heard the engine rev up and the bus started moving again.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BJwuBw2hq
I finally woke myself up from my hypnosis after it started to catch speed. Looking around, there was quite a diverse group of passengers. Some were bringing grocery bags, probably coming from the mall just a few blocks from here. There was a family at the back with a kid frantically playing with a stuffed toy. The mother was annoyed and tried to calm down the child while the dad was sleeping in the back corner. Pretty much what I usually see when I go home. I was observing all the people around the bus so much; I didn't realize that she's sitting right next to me.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnlDwD0qmI
I didn't know what to do. I was just staring at this cute little girl right next to me. She was reading a book and it looked familiar to me. I managed to peek a bit of the cover, which had a bluish-green tint to it. I knew I've seen it somewhere, but I made sure by looking for a certain name on the book. It was tough since the words were small, but I found the name I was looking for: Percy. She was reading Percy Jackson. A book series I loved as a kid, even to this day.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1RcMWvNYE
Well, what are you waiting for? Talk to her!536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡslCYOyWZvC
I felt chills down my spine. My skin was cold and I even stuffed up in place. I didn't know what to say. I've never really talked to a lot of girls in my life other than my friends. But, this can't be hard though, right?536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWwdG6WawO
"Is that Percy Jackson?" I managed to strike up a question. I said it in a faltered voice, but I assumed she heard it. I was slowly sweating out of my mind, but I kept it through.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADK1I0ILEs
"Hmm?" She looked at me puzzled. Even when she was confused, she looked adorable. I think she didn't catch me the first time since she was reading. I repeated what I said.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRttcwdj1u
"The book you're reading. It's Percy Jackson, right?" I elaborated on my question a bit in a moderate tone.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WxPCKh5Zz
"Uh-yeah. The Lightning Thief. I just started reading the first book," She replied in a sweet tone and held the book up to emphasize it. She smiled at me with delight, which warmed my heart like a mother's hug.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRC3RHjrUqq
"Cool! Are you planning on reading the entire series?" I gave her a smirk to return the gesture. She giggled in response, which felt nice to see.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZF46TMCii
"Well, if this book pleases me, I will. The story so far seems interesting and I want to see where it goes from here. Have you read it, though?"536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21XwnfqPQR
"Back when I was a kid, I did. I even finished all 5 of them. Currently, I'm reading on Magnus Chase, one of Riordan's recent books."536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPTAI5rDUpT
It seemed nice to talk to a fellow bookworm. I usually meet people like that at libraries and at my book club that I meet on Saturdays. They're very introverted and usually keep to themselves. Seeing a reader talk somewhere other than a living room felt amazing. She was amazing.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajy5RCf9Rp
"Interesting. Do you read any other novels?" She asked with an intrigued look.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCiiV10CQ0
"Well, I'm most invested in the Fantasy genre, but there are a few that stick out of my preferences."536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqa1YzqTyUL
Since I read Harry Potter and stories that are far from what reality is, I figured that I was a fantasy nerd. I guess magic and mythical worlds seem appealing to me. The idea of a world where you can fight creatures, gods, and things that don't even exist was just fascinating to me.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlbbJIrY1Ji
"Cool, have you read—" She cuts herself as someone from behind comes up to us.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEjWr0tXlv
"So, where can I take you guys?" A man in a dark blue uniform addressed us. I assumed this man was the substitute conductor for the day.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZfgL14tyQ
"The bus stop near Hawthorne and 32nd," We both say at the same time to the guy. That gave shocked me for a second. Does this girl stop at the same stop as yours? How come you haven't seen her before? I noticed she chuckled the coincidence we had. It was pretty cute to see.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6mJkStLlH
"So, that's 2 tickets? That'll be $1.50 each," The conductor seemed to have been a bit confused, but once he knew, he just went with it.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLOHPyQxKS
I searched into my wallet to find a few dollars and a bit of change in it. I grabbed a bill and two quarters and placed it into the conductor's palm.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ugzP7tYpv
"Crap! I only got a 5," She searched into her bag to see if there was any spare change, but to no avail.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7s7gJ53P9p
"I knew I had some change in here somewhere—" After a few minutes, she gave up and sighed in despair.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHOFlrKKNZ
"Well that's okay," I felt like I needed to do something to keep her hopes up. I grabbed the 2 extra dollar bills I had and said to the man, "Here, that's for her."536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVpnwztL6u
"Oh, you don't have to do that. I'm sure I have something here—"536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbW8PPc3lX
"It's fine, don't worry about it," the conductor managed to give us 2 tickets and walked off.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CCLm4Ga2Y
"Well, thanks for that, I guess."536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWO6D8rEoK
"Nah, you shouldn't be. It's always nice to help people out, right?" I smiled at her to cheer her up a bit. She seemed bummed out about something. I hope I didn't do anything stupid to cause it.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FDSa6DJQX
"Yeah. Sorry if I look unhappy, I just had a rough day. Nothing too personal, just some school stuff I had to deal with," She reasoned out at me with a faint voice.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXt5RsMb3Es
"Ah, I know how that feels. Don't put yourself down. A friend once told me that "there's no use crying over spilled milk." At least this day can't get any worse," Her tired face looked at me in the eye and gave me a smirk. She was about to say something before she turned her attention to the window.536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPSjEONaam
"Damn it! Are you kidding me?!"536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBHb0jOfNq
Curious, I looked outside to see what she was ranting about. I didn't notice it at first, but there were tiny little droplets on the window. Outside, the road looked wet and it was already drizzling. After a few seconds, the sound of water pouring started to grow louder. The window was beginning to fog. I then realize she was talking about the rain. 536Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYiQSCv5qeS
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