Honeyed Grin

The bus was packed, as always. Jen’s eyes were flying over the words as her body rocked back and forth with the bus. She knew the line really well after all those years, so she could just stand there and avoid any collisions. And she also knew that she was going to sit at the next stop, because everyone would get off. That’s how well she knew the line. 

But she did not know the people that got on and off the bus. Sure enough, she recognised some faces because she saw them every day, but mostly she didn’t. That’s why she didn’t know the boy that stepped on that Tuesday. She didn’t know him but she knew the book in his hands. It was the same book she had in hers. But she didn’t say anything, because that wasn’t who she was. 

Thing is, he showed up on Wednesday too. And on Thursday. And finally on Friday he notices her reading the book and smiled. And then came the longest weekend of all of her life. A dreadful weekend in which she didn’t even dare read a page so that she didn’t break the connection. Because that boy’s smile had been the most amazing smile Jen had seen in a long time. His teeth weren’t perfect and his lips were a bit too thin, maybe, but the smile had been so warm and kind and beautiful. She couldn’t keep it out of her mind.

So on Monday she had the book in her hands again. And a fear had made its home in her stomach. A fear he wouldn’t show up anymore. A fear she had missed her chance. But that fear only turned into butterflies when a familiar face with a familiar book stepped onto the bus and walked straight to her. 

“Hey!” His voice was husky, but it still sounded so soft. 

“Hi,” she breathed. “Who do you hate the most in the book?” She had spitted it out before she could even stop herself and now she just stood there, looking at her shoes and blushing furiously. 

He chuckled. “I guess that would be the author for making me hurt so much over fictional people.” 

Jen lifted her head and stared at him surprised. Boys weren’t usually like this, at least not at her school. She smirked. “I know, she’s terrible. Have you read anything else of hers?” 

“No, but I surely will now. I’m Gareth.” 

“I’m Jen.” 

“A beautiful name for a beautiful girl then, right?”

And there she was, flushing again while he smiled his honeyed grin.