Um. I think this is just going to be a two, maybe three-shot. It's kind of weird, but I really, really like it so I hope you enjoy it. (:
What Does Your Cage Look Like?
"Eli." Just the way his name falls from her full lips is enough to make his heart leap into his throat and his stomach churn in the most delightful way. She keeps speaking, but he can no longer hear what she's saying. Her pale eyebrows crease in frustration and her big blue eyes widen, pleading with him to understand. He feels helpless, but just when he's about to say something in return he's jolted awake from his dream about the pretty auburn haired girl in his English class. He glances to the right and sees Imogen still resting peacefully on his shoulder. He tries to shake her awake gently, but she grumbles and settles herself back into her previous position. He sighs and shifts out from under her just as the bus they're in lurches again, slamming them into the hard metal seat, covered in a thin lining and even thinner faux leather, in front of them. Eli groans and Imogen curses under her breath, rubbing an already forming lump on her forehead.
"Are you okay?" He asks the dark-haired girl, genuinely concerned for her well-being. She nods, but he looks her over to make sure. Aside from the goose egg on her head she seems fine. "What the hell just happened?" He wonders aloud and Imogen shrugs her slender shoulders, still rubbing her forehead.
"Okay, kids just… just keep calm and stay inside." Ms. Oh's voice rings out in the small bus cabin. Eli frowns and looks around him. Bianca DeSousa is looking at her nails in a manor that tells him she couldn't be the slightest less interested in what caused the bus's sudden halt and beside her Owen is more worried about the sports magazine in his hands than anything else. He looks further behind him and sees Jake Martin and Kate Matlin. Or rather the back of Jake Martin's head which is currently moving in synchronization with what he can only assume to be Katie Matlin's face. He rolls his eyes at the two and continues past them. His heart skips when his gaze falls over her. She's enthralled by her copy of Pride and Prejudice, unaware of the commotion around her. Her lips tug up into a smile at a passage in the text and Eli finds himself wondering what those lips would feel like on his. He forces himself to look past her at Adam who is also head deep in a book, but unlike Clare's classic taste he's opted for a comic book instead. He continues to the back of the bus where Fiona is sitting in a seat by herself, staring out the window with a blank look on her face. He makes a face and reminds himself to talk to her later before his attention is pulled back to the front of the bus when Ms. Oh clears her throat and starts talking again.
"Listen up, we're going to be here a while." She says and is met with a collective groan which she ignores and continues. "The tire is flat and since there's damage to the rim there's no way for them to fix it right now. We have to wait for a tow."
"Are you kidding me?" Bianca snaps, her waves bouncing with her bopping head. Ms. Oh sighs and shrugs.
"I wish I was, Bianca. Trust me, I'm as happy with it as you are, but we just have to deal with it. For right now, why don't you guys step outside and get some fresh air, stretch out a little. Don't go too far, though please."
Each of the students grumble under their breath as they move off the bus into the muggy summer afternoon. Eli feels his skin become sticky as soon as the moist air hits him, like the heat is trying to become part of him, but his body isn't having it. He slips off his leather jacket and walks over to the only shade tree in sight, tossing the jacket on the ground and sitting on top of it Indian style. The remaining students follow suit, all trying to squeeze beneath the tree's meager offering, willing to stand closer than normal to catch some relief from the sun's harsh rays. Imogen sits closer than necessary to Eli even with the limited room and he resists the urge to tell her to back off a little. He likes Imogen, but she can be a little… intense sometimes and she certainly isn't shy about letting what she wants be known. For right now that's Eli and she's made sure he knows it.
"It's hot out here." She whines for the fifth time and for the fifth time Eli makes a non-committal noise and tries to subtly move away from her. She notices though and frowns. "Where are you going?"
"Hot." He grumbles. She pouts, but he ignores it.
"I'm so bored!" Adam complains, and leans his head against the trunk of the tree. Clare and the rest of the group nod in agreement. Eli only notices Clare. He racks his brain for suggestions to alleviate the boredom they're all suffering from, but before he can speak up Bianca butts in and offers up a solution.
"What does your cage look like?" She says and all the other students look at her in confusion. "It's a game, you idiots. It's to prove that people notice more than you think."
"How do you mean?" Fiona asks, her perfectly sculpted eyebrows raised in interest. Bianca rolls her eyes and looks around at all of them as if they're ridiculous.
"You're seriously telling me none of you have played this before?" She asks incredulously. When she's met with a combined nod from the rest of the group she lets out a puff of air and begins explaining. "It's what someone thinks tortures you the most. For example, this is obviously not it, but it should be; Owen, I think your cage looks like you having to look into the mirror every morning." She says with a hint of teasing in her tone. Owen scowls, but quickly grins and nudges her with his shoulder.
"Bitch." He grunts and she laughs.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Clare asks nervously. "It sounds kind of… personal."
Bianca scoffs and Adam pats Clare's knee comfortingly.
"C'mon, Clare, it'll be fun." He promises. Clare hesitates, but nods anyway.
Eli feels his stomach tie in knots when she agrees. He can only hope his class mates aren't as observant as he is.
Um, review? What do you think their cages look like? (: