Indiana, Invincible: Chapter 3, Part 1

by Maryam in A Land Of Desert And Sun

*** For younger readers, there is a very mild swear word at the bottom that starts with a D, so beware of Liam's POV ;) ****

(Indiana's POV)

I'm tapping my feet impatiently, watching the landscape change outside the window from lush green land and semi-forest to neatly clipped surburban front yards, as has become somewhat familiar. Neither Enoch, nor Jenny, and almost practically none of the people in my class, except for another boy who sits in the far corner and is currently sulking (I know. I checked. Don't ask), comes on the bus.
Ohhh, God, I'm bored.
I know. You know. AUGHH.
I turn once again to the glass (I'm frowning, actually), and very nearly miss having one of my teeth being knocked out or my nose smashed in as the bus grinds to a stop. I do have to sit up after being hurled forward, wincing, nevertheless.
As someone brushes past me, I quickly look, only to look questioningly after the familiar-looking lean figure of Liam Rheston. Oh, he comes on the bus?
He sits into a seat in the front, instead of getting out; oh, I thought he was going to go out. The bus did stop, didn't it?
The metallic squoilch comes again, and the door closes.

YES!!!! THE NEXT STOP IS MY STOP!!!!!!
I fight to keep myself from wriggling around, but allow myself a grin as the bus moves on after dropping off another guy who looks like a hippie (I'm serious. Black hair with red tips, and he's dressed in like a sloppy T-shirt that depicts something that looks like a roaring bear. Blech).
My stop is next, my stop is next...
Seriously, being the tenth one on the bus and having empty seats in the morning is certainly less bearable that being the last on ON it. Well, not the last one. There's still about ten people (again) inside, including Rheston.
Pity.
In any case, I sit up and pick up my bag as the bus - finally, finally, finally - slows, and RIGHT NEXT TO MY HOUSE!!
WHOO-HOO!!! - I get up, leaning one way towards the bag, and make my way towards the front.
As I pass Rheston, the reason I didn't see him before fleetingly crosses my mind - I was busy memorizing the landscape or doing homework the last few times. Thank GOD it's the weekend, I have no homework (a first).
Skirting the steps, I run to the front of my house (who gives anything for how I look?) set down my bag, and ring the doorbell before realizing the door's open, and I push in.
'MO - OM! DA-AD! I'M HO-OME!'

(Liam;s POV)

Yep, there she goes. Just past me, and I notice the stare at the back of my head before she passes me and goes down the stairs somewhat awkwardly. I shift to the other side of the seat and look out of the window as I see her go into her house (which must be presumed).
I allow a small smile onto my face; the one I didn't show when she was telling off Gina. Poor girl. Though she is very annoying (I have, quite frankly, lost count of how many times she's being 'subtle' about the fact that she wants to go out with me. I've learned that the only way to deal with these girls (and believe me, I've dealt with a lot of 'em) is just to treat them coolly but politely. Eventually (though you can never be sure, really) they gradually get the message.

It's a pity, though; I'm going to have to get along to telling off Finnigan soon, after the way she told off Gina. It's going to be a bloodfest, I can feel it.
But as I watch that beige coat disappear into the house, and as the bus starts off again, a smile finds itself onto my face.
A bloodfest, but I get the feeling it's going to be damn fun.