3.2 Silent rides

Waiting curbside for the bus to arrive he couldn't help but think about what he had told his parents. He knew gaming was taking up far too much time but what would he do to fill that gap? He had to do something during that time and studying was not something he could do more of. Raymond was already a straight a student with the exception of gym classes and history. He had never been a very athletic kid, shorter than most of his classmates and his pudgy body type didn't aid his athleticism in the slightest. He also had no interest in history, never had. As a child he knew it wasn't his subject. Raymond always had his eyes set on the future, not the past, the past was just something he hadn't see a relevance in. "I've got to find something to fill that gap aside from gaming, maybe I'll take up a hobby. Reading, writing, an instrument perhaps?" he thought to himself as the bus pulled up. The screeching sound of the brakes cut his train of thought and brought it to a completely different place, why he always felt so alone on the bus.

The bus for Raymond was among the worst places to be. Raymond was never a popular kid with his classmates and this made the bus rides to school daunting. He was never bullied but he was also never noticed in any capacity. Sometimes he wished he were bullied, at least someone would acknowledge his existence that way. All the surrounding kids were talking about what they did over the weekend and sharing stories while Raymond sat at the front of the bus with his music at the highest volume. He always had his music at full volume on the bus so he could drown out the voices of those around him. The only person who said hello to Raymond on the bus ride was the driver and that was his job. At least it means someone can actually see him, he really did exist outside of his house and his computer.

The bus tires shriek loudly as they go from stop light to stop sign on the way through the town. Raymond didn't live in a big city, more of a small town. The kind where almost everyone knew each other, almost everyone. The bus would stop at individual homes on the way to school picking up all the kids on its way, each kid that got on would walk straight past the empty seat next to Raymond. He would watch as they got on and would often have his bookbag in the spot to his side to stop people from the awkward ride beside him. He felt they would be better in another seat with someone who was more popular or something. Today was different though, Raymond left the seat to his side open, welcoming the company of another rider.

Today the bus took a different route through town, Raymond realized right away as he spent most of the rides looking out the window in silence. "A left at Howes street instead of passing by?" Raymond thought as he looked up at the bus driver confused. It passed through the small winding street and nearing the end of the last bend it stopped in front of a big house. "Three garages? Nice cars out front? What's a rich kid doing taking the bus to school?" Raymond said quietly under his breath as not to attract attention. The front door swung open, slamming against the wall of the house as a guy walked out. He was wearing a leather jacket, sunglasses and a sex pistols tee. His jeans had rips and patches all over them and he had no book bag. The kid lit a cigarette and walked toward the bus, taking two puffs before he snuffed it out on the window of the bus and flicked it at the ground. He took one step in the bus and immediately looked at Raymond, saying something before grabbing the pole and swinging into the seat beside him. The kid looked over at Raymond and said something again with a stern look on his face. Of course Raymond couldn't hear what he had said due to his headphones being on full blast. Raymond took the earphone out of his left ear "pardon?" he said with a puzzled look on his face. The new kid looked Raymond up and down, as if he was studying him. "Couldn't hear me or something? I said nice shirt. Jimi is one of my favorites, names Michael but call me Mike" he said to Raymond. Raymond was baffled that someone was taking to him, taken back at the fact the new kid sat beside him. "Yeah, me too" Raymond said back.