No Strings Attached

Chapter 35: Bus Lullaby

I secretly prayed for the bus to move, but the traffic is slowing it down. And the worst part is, the driver is watching Netflix on his cellphone.

Oh, for the love of God. I think, staring at the lazy bus driver.

I get we are stuck in traffic, but can't this heap of shit move any faster?

Meanwhile, James is broadcasting our first kiss in a public bus.

"What inspired you to kiss me?" he asks curiously.

I stare at my dirty sneakers.

"Allergies," I respond weakly.

James chuckled, "allergies, huh? Don't they occur in Spring?"

"I don't know, " I said quickly."It's Manhattan, weird shit happens every day. Now can you please forget about it?"

James stubbornly shook his head.

"Please?"

"No, " he teased. "I would like to know why you kissed me back there."

"Yeah, Nadine." Aria agreed, joining in the conversation.

"Don't deny your true feelings."

"Yeah, " Marco repeated, smiling. "After all, we are in a safe place."

"We're on a bus, " I reminded him.

Aria shrugs her shoulders. "So? The bus driver is watching Netflix."

James chortled, "Listen, I won't be mad or upset, okay? Just tell me how you feel about me."

Ugh, I want to, but this is stupid.

Telling the boy of my dreams how I feel in a public setting is cliché. But when I notice James gawking at me, my cheeks started to burn.

"What?" I ask. "Is there something on my face?"

"You look beautiful." James complimented.

I toyed with my hair. "What?"

"I said you look beautiful," James answered.

"Oh." I bob my head slowly.

Soft red glowed on my cheeks as twiddled my fingers very nervously.

James leaned close to my face. "Are you blushing?"

"No, " I lie weakly.

"You are, " he teased. "Am I making you uncomfortable?"

"I am not, " I started to say sheepishly.

"Okay, " James laughed.

"But can we just change the subject of the kiss?"

"Okay then, " James smirked, leaning his head against the chair. "So how are you?"

I smile. "Other than the fact I hate my powers, I am doing fine."

James frowned at me. "Why?"

"Because I nearly killed everyone on that train," I whisper, rolling my eyes.

But James shakes his head. "You didn't kill anyone."

I sigh. "I know, but I wish I have could have done more. But instead, I get blackouts and nosebleeds."

James gives me a patient smile. "Maybe I can help you with that."

I gaze at him doubtfully. "How?"

"I'm a great inventor," he pointed out.

As the cars began to shift, the bus driver puts down the phone then tightened his hands around the steering wheel.