Chapter 44: On the Bus Home

[Surprised_by_Witches]

Connor was glad to see Tristan wasn't waiting for him after school. Probably in detention again. Connor climbed onto the bus and sat down in his usual seat, next to the broken window. He noticed his brother, still on the sidewalk, talking with Corinna Monty.

"See you at the dance," she said, and kissed Aidan's cheek. He looked uncomfortable and shrugged, then turned to get onto the bus. He slumped down into his usual seat, next to Connor.

"You're taking Breathless to the dance?" Connor said, unable to believe it.

"Shut it," Aidan said, slumping down still further.

"Do you think she'll let you get a word in edgewise?" Connor teased as the bus pulled away from the school.

"I said, shut your gob," Aidan said. "I don't want to talk about it."

"There must have been someone else you could have--"

"Shut your goddamn mouth about the stupid shitty dance, Connor, or I'll shut it for you!" Aidan shouted.

"Hey, watch your language," the bus driver called. Most of the kids on the bus were staring at the two of them.

"I don't understand why you're being so touchy," Connor said. "I was only teasing."

"I hate you," Aidan said.

"What? What did I do? Just because you have to go to the dance with Motorm--"

He didn't get to finish. Aidan punched him in the mouth and then pounced on him. Connor's head hit the bus window, making him dizzy. He kicked his brother in the stomach, trying to push him off. Aidan was yelling and swearing. The bus screeched to a halt.

"Off the bus, right now, you hooligans," said the bus driver, a burly man who grabbed Aidan by the back of the neck and tossed him and his backpack down the bus steps, then turned to glare at Connor.

"I'm going, I'm going," Connor said. He walked past Cecily, who stared at him with huge eyes.

"Should I come too?"

"No, Cec, stay on the bus," Connor said.

"But then I'll get home first and I'll be there all alone," she said, grabbing her backpack. "I'm coming with you."

"Hurry up about it," said the driver. "You two are off the bus for a week, you hear? And if you ever fight again it'll be a permanent thing."

"Come on, then, Cecily, hurry up," Connor said, and the two of them got off the bus.

Aidan was already several meters down the road, shrugging on his backpack, walking in the direction of home.

"Why did he punch you?" Cecily asked.

"I don't know."

"You must have said something really bad."

"I don't know."

"Does he hate you? Are you guys going to have to divide your room in half? Are you going to be grounded again? Does this mean you can't go to the dance?"

"I DON'T KNOW!" Connor roared. "God, Cec, shut up!"

Cecily stared at him with huge watery eyes, lip trembling.

"Oh, Lord, don't cry," he said.

Too late. She burst into tears and stormed off ahead of him.

Connor walked home at the end of their little procession, Aidan in a black mood, Cecily bawling. He wasn't feeling that great, himself.

Just watch. Somehow his parents would find a way to make this all his fault.

Next Chapter

[yetyak]

Sounds like it is time for Connor to learn about 'when it rains it pours'.... That's too bad, but he did seem to have too good a life going!

[Sacharissa]

Ah - Sibling rivalry at it best! Poor Connor! And poor Aiden! Hope they work it out!