He blows out a breath, like he's annoyed with me, as he sits up straighter and pulls his leg in.
"Thanks," I say, scooting over on the seat. I'm still not all the way on it but Dean's such a big guy that he takes up most of the seat. He's so tall, his legs are jammed against the seat in front of him.
"Do you want to switch places?" I ask. "So you could stretch out in the aisle?"
He folds his arms over his chest and pulls his cap over his eyes, which I'm assuming means he wants me to leave him alone.
I face forward and get out my phone, checking to see if Chad texted me. He didn't, but I didn't think he would. He doesn't like to text, and almost never did when we went to the same school and saw each other all the time. Now that we're apart, I kind of wish he'd text more.
"Why were you late?" Dean asks in a low deep voice.
"For the bus?" I ask, glancing at him.
He doesn't answer. He's looking straight ahead, his eyes still shaded by the hat.
"I was talking to Eve," I say. "I said something to her earlier that I regretted and I wanted to apologize."
"What'd you say?"
I hesitate, ashamed to admit it, but Dean already hates me so it's not like telling him this will make it any worse. "I told her we can't be friends."
"Why?"
"Because." I take a breath. "Because she's not like my other friends."
"At your old school."
"Yeah. Eve is pretty much the opposite of them. She's loud and says stuff she shouldn't say."
"Like what?"
I shrug. "I don't know. Just stuff most people wouldn't say out loud. They might think it but they wouldn't say it."
"You don't like her because she tells the truth," he says, matter-of-factly.
"No. I mean, yeah, I guess. I'm not used to people being that honest. Most people tell you what you want to hear." I smile to myself. "But not Eve. She says whatever pops in her head. I've never met anyone like her. Anyway, I apologized and I think we're friends again, although she could change her mind by tomorrow."
The bus stops and someone gets off. It usually doesn't stop this much. At this rate, it'll take forever to get home.
"Bus almost left," Dean says. "It was taking off but I stopped it."
"You did?" I turn to him, surprised.
He lifts his hat just enough for his eyes to meet up with mine. "I didn't know it was you." He lowers his hat and leans back.
I stare at him. "Why do you hate me so much?"
He doesn't answer.
"Is it because I'm new? Because I sat on your stupid desk? Or are you just a jerk to everyone?"
He remains silent.
I turn forward and check my phone again. I text Chad.Can't wait to talk tonight. Love you!
As I wait for a text back, I search online for jobs. I wasn't planning to get one but now I'm thinking I might. My classes are a lot easier than the ones at my prep school, which means I won't need to study as much and will have more free time. And I could use the money to help my mom with expenses.
My phone rings. I assume it's Chad but then see it's from a number I don't recognize.
