CHAPTER 51

"ALICE!! hurry we have to really go now " Ayra exclaimed losing all hope of catching up with the school bus.

Alice unconcerned turned her body this and that way in front of her vanity checking out her outfit, "Do the calms ayra no matter what happens we will get to San Francisco today " She reasurred.

"But the bus Alice it can leave us,am certain Ella is worried about my whereabouts now " Ayra exclaimed chewing her fingernails she had had great expectations for the day, but unfortunately she was receiving the opposite of her expectation.

"Ayra", Alice called drawling her name "the bus ain't gonna leave with us and if it does we would simply find another way gosh!! Now tell me should I pack my hair into a ponytail or messy bun?

Ayra stared at her in astonishment speechless " Alice your hair is perfect no matter the style you pack it ".

" Yeah I know , but I want to make a statement so I think I would go with a tight ponytail " .

"Which kind of statement do you wanna make? "

Alice shrugged her shoulders before replying "just a known fact but I want to remind some betrayers if you cross me I sink you!!. "

Ayra wasn't in the right frame of mind to analysis her statement, unable to bear being in the house any more she grabbed at Alice 's hands and quickly made her way downstairs dragging alice along with her.

"Hey you can't drag me along like that, I'm not done preparing ayra " Alice screamed in consternation.

"Well I have you are never gonna be ready, plus you can't make " Your statement " If the bus leaves us!! " .

"Alright fine we are downstairs stop holding onto my hands already ".

Ayra stared down at their intwined fingers enjoying the warm feeling emanating from their linked hands " I am afraid if I leave your hands, you would go back to your room can't risk that " .

"I am not a child leave my hands at once!! ".

Ayra ignored her scowling face and called Catherine " Mom mom!! We are ready now please can you take us there we are very late already " She exclaimed.

Catherine removed her gardening gloves and stared at her two daughters with love in her eyes, "my babies are so beautiful " She exclaimed but unfortunately ayra was having none of the compliment.

"Can you take us to school already !! I swear if I miss the school bus I ain't forgiving the both of you " She muttered ferociously.

"Alright let's go " Catherine said praying the bus was waiting for her children.

***

"Everyone buckle up, the bus will move at this moment " The bus driver exclaimed over the speaker.

"Sir please few more minutes, am sure she's on the road by now ".

The bus driver sighed tiredly " I have been waiting over an hour now!! , call her and ask her whereabouts "he ordered.

" I have tried unfortunately her phone is switched off. "

"Then it's not my fault anymore, I have exhusted all my patience son and other appointment need my attention ".

" I know sir but please just last few minutes, am sure she would be here ".Jack persuaded straninig her neck for any signs of ayra ( fuck where the heck was she? ) .

" You said the exact thing the last moment ago, sorry but we can't keep others waiting for the sake of one person dear and by the way we have delayed we would arrive to our destination by nightfall " .

The man turned the ignition of the car and it buzzed to life immediately, it slowly glided through their school lawns and was at the school gate when another car almost bombed into them. "What the heck was that driving for? The bus driver cursed waging his fingers in annoyance at the woman driving the car .

Then suddenly Ella started shouting from the back of the bus " Stop the bus it's ayra she's here!! .

Jack squinted his eyes at the car that almost collided with their and recognized his muffin waveing from the back seat and he quickly chorused Ella's words. "Yeah it's her, she's here " soon the whole bus was thrown into an uproar and the driver had no other choice but to apply the brakes.

Ayra jumped down from her mom's car and ran to the bus grateful it didn't leave without her.

"Hey ain't you gonna wave your poor mom goodbye? " Catherine complained but was ignored as they both quickly were out of the car. Hmm I guess the answer is no she replied herself "stay safe guys " She shouted after their retreating backs.

Ayra ignored the disapproving eyes of the driver and some teachers but lost herself in Jack's eyes who was waiting for her at the entrance of the bus.

"You gave me a scare muffin, I have been waiting for you ".

" I'm really sorry but am here now " .

A teacher cleared her throat gingerly interupting their moment , "you two stop standing there like two morons and sit down!! ".

Jack ushered her inside away from the peering eyes of the teachers and the bus driver, " C'mon I saved you a seat let's go " He said taking her small hands into his.

"Ayra Thompson I am so angry at you right now, was this what we planned the previous night? Ella questioned ferociously.

" Oh my love cross my heart, it wasn't my intention something happened "she said mouthing alice's name.

" Don't mind her rant she was worried sick about going on the road trip without you " kachi voiced smiling.

"Yeah I know she would be worried, so sorry guys ".

" It's fine the most important thing is you are here now "kachi declared .

" Muffin let's sit down my feet hurts " Jack said still holding her hands tightly.

"Uhm ayra please tell him you are sitting with me, we always sit together right?

Ayra bit her tongue and stared from Ella's hopefully face to Jack's hands wrapped around hers, she wanted to sit with jack but didn't want to seem clingy or anything plus what if she bores him to death? Coupled with the fact she didn't want to disappoint Ella.

"You guys please don't make me choose she pleaded looking over to check if alive had a seat, turns out someone had stood up so she could sit down. Ayra chuckled internally that was alive for you, she had everyone wrapped around her manicured hands.

" We ain't making you choose, just tell Jack you are sitting with me simply " Ella said bringing her out of her thoughts.

"Jack thanks for the seat but I will sit with Ella and kachi, am sure the boys from your team needs your attention more. "

Ella gave a joyful yelp and made room for ayra making sure to wisper in his ears "she choose me over you ".

Jack felt like his heart was breaking into tiny little pieces, but he composed himself and silently sat down in his seat closed his eyes inhaling her lingering scents.

Ella brought out snacks and they munched on as the journey progressed. " Ayra you should be really thankful to jack, if not for his pleadings with the bus driver we would have left a long time ago. - kachi.

"Yeah he absolutely delayed the bus all by himself, he even offered to go to your house but was stopped " Ella seconded.

Ayra's heart shifted from its position at their words and butterflies fluttered at the pit of her tummy, she stared at Jack to thank him and smile at him but unfortunately his eyes was closed and faceing the other direction.

Ayra swallowed hard now she regretted her decision not to seat with him.