Chapter 8: The Ride.

returned and continued my work. Thankfully the rest of the day went without any drama expect a few not so kind glares from Jane, but that is what glares are right, they not kind stares. I don't know what her deal with me is and I would be lying if I said I didn't care but really if she doesn't straighten it out with me it's only going to eat her alive not me.

Also surprisingly, (Note the sarcasm) Anne did not return to the office, I assume she got 'busy'. However, she is really a hardworking person so she just needs a few hours overtime and probably a few cups of coffee to complete her work, unlike someone namely me. Although I am quite diligent, I tend to procrastinate a lot, like a lot, which explains the cleaning I had to do yesterday and resulted in my being late today.

Immediately the day was over, I flew out of the lab, eager to get away from Jane and her glares. I walked to the bus stop waiting for the next bus. Thankfully, one came along in approximately five minutes; I hurried into it and sat at the seat directly behind the driver praying no one would sit beside me. Not that I was snobbish or anything, I just do not want any unneeded interactions with people for the rest of the day. I just want to catch some sleep until it is my turn to alight, not after, it has happened before and I did not want such to repeat itself.

After everyone had entered (none sitting next to me thankfully), the bus started moving. Suddenly someone started beating the side of the bus, with shouts of stop. I was sitting at the other side so I could not look out to check the cause of the commotion. The bus stopped and since it was none of my business, I adjusted in my seat to feel comfortable, closed my eyes and shut out all sounds. I opened my eyes for no reason and decided to look out of the window instead, staring at absolutely nothing. Judging by the sounds I could not successfully shut out, the person alighted and he passed me going down the aisle. I breathed in relief grateful the person did not sit with me. I closed my eyes again and breathed in. I felt a presence beside me so I opened my eyes hoping to scare the person that sat beside away with my glare. I stopped shut when I saw who it was. It was the guy from lunch, I looked at him surprised.

He had not seen me yet because he was still adjusting in his seat. I think he felt my stare because he looked up and the same expression of surprise washed over his features.

"Oh hi girl from lunch," he said excitedly.

"Hi," I responded.

He does not say anything and starts staring at me intently if he was trying to remember something.

Finally, he said

"You look very familiar." tilting his head to the side.

"Of course I'm familiar, you just said I am the girl from lunch," I scrunch up my eyebrows. Does he have like a ten-second remembrance or something I reasoned. Of course that is impossible he remembered me from lunch that is definitely more than ten seconds right I questioned stupidly. Sometimes I'm quite surprised--".

My train of thoughts was suddenly broken, rather rudely, when he claps. I was about to throw an insult at him for interrupting my thoughts and startling me when he turns to me and says,

"Oh I remember now, you are lady from the taxi this morning!” I look at him confused at first. What is he saying? I raise an eyebrow at him in question

"This morning a lady pushed me out of the cab I was about to enter and that lady being you ". I look at him confused at first. What is he talking about? I raise an eyebrow at him in question.

The next second, I blanched when I remembered the events of this morning, I guess it was true when people said that karma would come back to haunt you for every bad thing you have done. I came back to myself and immediately began apologizing profusely

I am so sorry, oh my God, I am sorry I did not know it was you, not that it justifies my actions-" he cut me off

"Yeah it doesn't." he said tone serious.

I almost broke down in tears, instead I continued throat tight

"I'm.... I am so.... I am so sorry.... Is there- Is there anything I can do-"

I rambled, bowing my head, about to start crying. I am a very emotional person. I was cut off by deep-throated laughter. When I looked up, confused I saw he was laughing, bending over, hitting his palm on his chest, tears were even dropping from his shuteyes. Okay why is he laughing?

I look around and I see the eyes of everyone in the bus on us (except the driver of course) but I notice the driver sneak a peek in the mirror to check out the cause of the ruckus namely the guy sitting next to me. He continued laughing and it was really starting to get on my nerves. How long can a person laugh so much and it was not as if a comedian was sitting beside him making unlimited jokes, it was just plain me.

Five Minutes Later.

Okay, I was fully irritated now, I turned and faced the window since he continued his maniacal laughter, other passengers had also looked away by now uninterested.

Another Five Minutes Later

Finally, he stopped laughing. I turned to him and saw him wiping at his tears with Hus thumb still snickering.

"Are you done?" I demanded. He nodded and broke into a fit of giggles. He just said he was done. I looked at him bewildered, how could he even do that? I swear he could giggle more than a teenage girl her crush was winking at. Maybe I could ask him to give me lessons on giggling, I mentally face palmed at that ridiculous that.

The giggles reduced to a tolerable amount and I paid attention to him again, banishing images of this guy teaching how to giggle from my brain.

"Are you done now?" I asked and raised an eyebrow at him, he nodded again. He looked like he was about to laugh again but he instead coughed seeing the warning look I shot at him. He made a sign of him zipping his mouth and throwing the lock away. I am not sure zips have locks but I dismissed the thought and brought my attention to the matter at hand.

"So, what was that about?" I demanded

"Your face,"

Taken aback, I stared at him, and willed the hurt away from my face.

"No, no, not your face." he said waving him hands wildly in front of my face.

"You are obviously very beautiful."

I blushed. What? If someone complimented you, surely you cannot retain a straight face.

He continued, paying no attention to my reddened cheeks,

"I meant your expression."

I look at him in confusion again

"What about it?"

"Your expression looked funny,"

Oh, that makes sense.

"But, I am still very sorry about this morning,"

"Nah, it's okay. It was obvious that you needed the cab more than I did." He brushed it off, rather coolly.

Silence settled between us for a few minutes before he said,

"So lunch girl,"

I raised my hand in a small wave

"That's me."

Okay, that sounded like I was really a lunch lady, serving food for kids in middle school, middle aged, robust, with a huge mole at the corner of her lips and another at the edge of her eyelid (not insulting those with moles, you are all beautiful). That image was really going to scar me forever so I washed my brain with holy water before facing him.

I see you've also had a change if clothing," he observed

"Right back at ya," I responded

"Yeah fourth shirt today." he said nonchalantly

My jaw hit the floor and my eyeballs fell to my mouth in shock.

"What!" I half exclaimed, half questioned,

"My fourth shirt today," he repeated with that same nonchalance.

"I heard the first time. You mean you gave changed your shirt three times today?"

"Yep." He nodded. My mouth, still opened in shock, he continued,

"The first shirt of the day got dirty when someone pushed me to the side walk, because she was in a hurry to enter a cab.” He stated, looking pointedly at me. I bowed my head in shame.

He continued,

At least that one late till lunch," he said thoughtfully

"The second shirt had to be changed because someone poured coffee on it,"

More looks from him and more bowing for me accompanied with cringing this time around.

"The third had to be changed because it was wet due to the rain."

I nodded at this and lifted my head up since it was not really my fault.

I am not in control of the weather.

"And this is the fourth shirt and second pants." he concluded.

I looked down instinctively and he indeed had on, a different pair of pants.

"So you not only have spare shirts, but also pants?"

"Not only that I also have a pair of suit." he added.

That made me start wondering what kind of work he did. My thoughts paused again, this time by a ring a very familiar one, which I recognized as my own. I look into my bag and dig out my phone from it. A picture of Anne filled the screen with the caller ID as "sexy bf", something she must have done without me noticing; I shake my head and pickup.