The Promise Of Tomorrow - 1

Argh! I'm so into manga drawings at the moment! I think they're amazing! This dude is just .... so random. He would be Blaze, if he had shorter hair! Love you guys! Please comment!

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It was a little after midnight. Looking out of the dust streaked window, I could see cars, and people. Normal people.

I watched them for a moment as they walked; fingers and hands entwined, sometimes even arms. They were all so close, so together, with none of the danger that lurked for me there.

These couples practically oozed happiness, and contentment, and love. I could almost see it in the air around them, like an aura. I could almost touch it through the glass.

But I could never allow myself to feel it.

Never that.

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"Ella? Ella, honey, are you ready?" Mum called up the stairs, her usually calm voice unnaturally stressed.

I picked my lucky black leather jacket up and pulled it on.

"Yup, mum. Coming!" I yelled back, slipping my feet into some high tops and jogging down the stairs. Mum was waiting there for me, a brown paper lunch bag in her hands.

"Promise you’ll eat it, sweetie? If you’re feeling sick, tell me now. I’m sure school can wait…" Mum’s face was hopeful, and I smiled, leaning over to kiss the worried wrinkles away.

"Of course I’ll eat it, mum. Why wouldn’t I?" I asked laughingly, slipping my arms around her to give her a big hug. She relaxed bit by bit in my arms, and then pulled away a little.

"Aw, honey. You look fabulous," she said, reaching up to brush a dark brown curl from my forehead, "so beautiful."

I smiled and kissed her cheek. I was wearing some skinny jeans and a green and gold dress top that flattered my curves – under my favourite jacket, of course.

"Thanks mum. Can I go now?"

"You sure you don’t want a lift? It wouldn’t be much trouble…"

"Yes, mum. I’m sure." I sighed, pulling away from her grasping hands and making towards the door. "I’ll take the bus, like everybody else. I’ll be fine."

Her face was still worried, and resentful, and maybe even a little sad.

"Bye, darling. Be careful. And good luck," she called at my back, folding her arms tight across her stomach. I could tell she was trying hard not to cry. I smiled at her silly sentimentality.

"Thanks mum. Bye!" I yelled back, before hearing the front door click behind me. Then there was the blissful solace of a normal world.

The sun was high in the sky, and it spilled across the sapphire blue like warm honey. Everything was cast in a soft glow, as if the light had rounded every edge, heated every cold spot. It was beautiful.

The walk to the bus stop was a short one – the shelter was down the road and around the corner. I was five minutes early and I sat happily on the tiny metal bench, waiting for the big red vehicle to descend. It was nice here – there was the occasional rumble of traffic in the distance, and the carefree laughter or nearby pedestrians, but no really loud noise.

In a short moment, the bus pulled up. The doors hissed as they parted, and then the young driver glanced up disinterestedly at me. Once his eyes were up, they held. I wondered if he recognized me from somewhere.

"Here you go," I smiled cheerfully, slipping a pound coin under the glass and grinning as the receipt was handed back. The bus was already half full of kids, and I felt every eye scrutinize my every movement as I walked to the empty back seat and slipped in next to a window. It was so warm that I felt uncomfortable, and knew I’d have to take my lucky jacket off soon. But I wasn’t ready for that. Not yet.

I could still feel several people watching me and even a few murmured whispers, but I ignored them all and only looked away from the window when the bus rumbled to its last stop. And then everybody looked at me.

Their gazes flickered between the boy boarding the bus, me, boy boarding the bus, and me again. I wondered about their behavior, and looked up to see what was so captivating about both of us.

The new guy that had gotten on the bus had his hood up, and his face was thrown in shadow so I couldn’t see what he looked like. He seemed comfortable in his grey hooded jumper, even though it was hot out. Black music earphones trailed from his combat pocket and into the depths of his hood. He had Converse on beneath his black cut offs.

He paid, and then walked right up to me. I still couldn’t see into the hood – it veiled all of his features. He paused, and looked down at me, whilst I looked up and tried to decipher his face from the shadows. It seemed an impossible task with the sun shining on him on the back of his head, so I gave up, and looked away.

"Blaze, leave it, man." A guy said. I glanced towards him. He had blue eyes and unusually nice white blonde hair. Somehow, it made him very attractive. "She’s new. She doesn’t know."
Instantly, all my limbs tensed up. I wasn’t even in school yet, and already I had committed a social atrocity? Amazing. So me , it was unbelievable.

"I’m sorry, is this your usual seat? I didn’t know…" I began to stand up, gather my bag and notebook, which was in my hands before, and move. He stepped back to allow me into the aisle again, and then sat in the seat that I had vacated without another word.
I frowned.

Great. They were rude, here, too. I had wanted a normal beginning for once, where I just melt in with the crowd and find easy friends. It seemed like that wasn’t going to happen.
And then, to make matters worse, I realized that his was the last stop and that the bus was packed. There wasn’t a spare seat in sight. Sighing, I shoved my notebook back into my bag and slung my bag over my shoulder, before reaching up to grab a handhold. I was the only person standing, and it made me feel awkward and self conscious to already stand out.

Then the guy who had spoken in my defense before stood up, noticing my predicament. I realized that every female eye was fixed on us, enviously. I wondered whether talking to this guy was a good thing or a bad thing. Good thing – I’d have at least one friend. Bad thing – it looked like I’d have a least twenty enemies.

I’d take the friend over the enemies any day.