"Thank God, we got the seats. I just wasn't able to stand anymore". He said after sitting on the seat and stifling a yawn. "are you hungry?"
Hearing his voice, she tried to bring her focus back to him, but it was difficult as she was busy looking at the big moving red box, which had soft seats. And things were passing in speed like she was running.
She was sitting comfortably touching and staring at everything. She touched and squeezed her seats. It was softer than the bench she slept on.
When she didn't reply he forced his eyes to open and once again was surprised to see how curious she was about the bus. Like it is magical.
He was amused at the way she was moving her head here and there as if she would lose an important detail if she wouldn't look carefully.
He coughed to gain her attention but she was still looking and touching the seats, poles and windows. He had to pull her hand back when she had taken it out. Finally, this gained her attention and she looked at him as if asking why did you do that?
"It is dangerous to do that," he said, explaining looking at her eyes.
"Is there a beast out there?" She asked tilting her head then concentrating out like she was trying to look at hidden things.
"Huh, what beast?" He asked, burrowing his brows.
"How would I know You are the one who said it is dangerous. Tell me is it Baatezu or Abishai?" She asked and took her head out this time.
"Hey what are you doing, are you mad?" He asked, dragging her back. Then standing up and moving her away from the window seat and sitting there closing the window. 'Phew, she's just like a baby?'
"Hey, I can't call you her every time. So let's discuss your name first. Okay." He said putting his hands on both sides of her head and forcing her to look at him.
She was still looking out to find the monsters but when he touched her face and pointed it at him, she reluctantly tore her eyes from the passing by the scenery and looked into his eyes and then blinked and nodded.
"Good now choose one from Isabella and Grace," he said scratching his chin. But when she just started without replying he thought she was still fixed on Anna.
So he sheepishly told her, "Actually Anna is my little sister's name. She is in high school. If you both will be Anna, then I will be confused who I am calling. So is Bella ok?"
She gazed at him and blinked then nodded. At which he smiled instantly. "Good so now Bella are you hungry?"
She looked horrified at his question, her face turned ashen and eyes widened opening her mouth in an 'O'. This is the second time emotions can be seen on her stoic and blank face. She shook her head so strongly like her life depended on it.
It confused him, wasn't she happy eating the pancakes why was she reacting like this. It had been more than eight hours to that pancake and he was sure that wasn't enough to fill the stomach.
As if on cue, his stomach grumbled to support his answer. "Uh, but I am very hungry. Why are you not hungry?"
Once hearing he was hungry her eyes widened more and she stood up from the seat. Taking steps backwards and covering her neck with her both hands.
Looking at her being afraid of him, made him more baffled. His brows furrowed and he looked around to find the reason for her distress but nothing was there. He stood up to follow her but she moved back almost touching the last seats of the bus. Still hiding the neck.
"Hey, are you okay?" He asked sitting back afraid that he would trigger more panic into her.
She shook her head and glared at him and said in a determined voice, "I wouldn't give my blood to you." And to make her point strong she shook her head again strongly.
Her words gained the attention of people already looking at their direction since she took her head out. They all gave him strange gazes.
One or two even looked with disgust thinking she was bullying a teenager. He was so embarrassed he just wanted to dig a hole and hide in it for the rest of the ride. His face turned red and he laughed sheepishly.
"Misunderstanding it's all a misunderstanding," he said waving his hands in the air.
They all looked at him with scepticism and then at the horrified girl whose face was still ashen and she was still hiding her neck with all her might. He glared at the girl who was the reason for this embarrassing situation. This triggered the doubts of the fellow passenger more.
An elder lady even shouted "if you bully the girl again, I will call the police"
'Oh, God! What have I done to let this happen with me? He was only helping her. Okay! was it possible to go back in time and leave her at the cafe.' He face palmed himself at his kindness which was sending him to jail.
He coughed to gain the attention of everyone. And then asked the girl, "Bella what have I said to you a few moments ago?"
There was a pleading in his voice. He was begging her to tell people the truth before they actually sent him to jail. His face turned ugly.
The girl blinked and stared at his face, then looked around to see everyone's eyes were on her waiting for his response. A man even said "you don't need to be afraid of him, child tell us the truth and we will take care of him."