I found myself dozing off for a few hours before I felt the bus jerk, slamming my face into the seat in front of me. "Ouch" I rubbed my head where it was hit why did we stop? I looked ahead and saw that people began to get off; I walked towards the front tapping the bus driver on the shoulder. "Sorry sir but why did we stop? Where not there yet are we?" he was a heavy set man, a blue baseball cap sat on his head, the logo of the bus company proudly sewn on.
"You haven't ridden the bus before have you?" he chuckled to himself after I nodded my head no. "Well we have to make a few pit stops before we can make it to Nevada, have to fill up the gas and give people the chance to relieve themselves" I stared at him for a moment before he continued. "You have about 15 minutes to go and do whatever you like, stretch your legs, go to the bathroom, maybe get a snack, and then the bus takes off again. We don't do a head count or wait for people so you have to make sure to be on the bus on time." I nodded again and thanked him before heading out. Over at the rest stop I saw different people flow in and out through the double doors, either walking back to their own car or getting on a bus themselves. The sun was bright, shining down through the clouds and boiling the people below it. I had, for some odd reason, no problem wearing a sweater during this weather. Wearing sweaters helped to cover my scars and bruises, I guess over the years I got used to the heat that the sweater brought with it. Plus Muriel made it for me and it helped me feel less alone.
After making a quick trip to the bathroom I headed back to the bus and took my seat again. I was the first one to make it back and since I didn't have the fear of Eustace breathing down on me I had time to watch the people who were riding the bus with me. Six people other than myself were on the bus. There was an old couple sitting two seats ahead of me, a fairly young woman ahead of them, a very tall burly man across from her, and two middle aged men in front of him. They were all mostly silent, the old couple only spoke every once in awhile and it was usually in hushed tones. We stopped a few hours later at another rest stop; I did the usual stretch and quick trip to the bathroom, and even was able to grab a small candy bar from a vending machine. After finishing the candy bar I noticed the sun was beginning to set. My eyes started to droop; I grabbed my extra jacket out of my backpack and threw it over me. I got as comfortable as I could in the lumpy bus seat, before quietly dozing off.
The speaker crackled to life, "Excuse me passengers we are about to make our final stop in Wells, as you exit please pick up any trash you have left here and remember to grab all of your items. Thank you for riding with us and have a great day". I rubbed my eyes and for a moment almost forgetting where I was. Peering out the window I saw that it was morning, the sun had already risen. People were walking along the streets, stores had begun to open and you could hear the sound of birds singing. Wow this looks like a pretty town, kind of small too. Suddenly the bus station appeared and the bus stopped with a gentle jerk. People began filing out of the bus and I quickly got up grabbing my bag. The bus driver waved goodbye and gave thanks to the people for choosing this company of buses. As I stepped off of the bus I thought for a moment of what I should do next. Stepping into a nearby store I caught the attention of the cashier "Um excuse me sir but how far is California from where we are now?"
The cashier looked down at me "Your in wells, California is still a little bit away in that direction" he pointed on boney finger to west. I thanked him before leaving the store. Let's see if I walk all night I can probably make it to California, hopefully Eustace is still far enough behind. I glanced behind me out of instinct and almost began to run after seeing a man in a similar hat, but luckily it was just another citizen of this town. My stomach made a low rumble; I searched thru my bag for money. The bus ride had taken a large sum of my funds so I could only buy something small to nibble on. After walking a few blocks I spotted a convenience store and decided to purchase my snack there. I left with a granola bar and a small bar of chocolate. Eustace never let me have chocolate; he would usually steal it from me if Muriel gave me some and if he knew I had sneaked some by him I would get a beating.
I continued to walk throughout the day slowly eating my granola bar. It began to get dark around 8-ish and I realized how cold it had gotten since the sun had waved its last goodbye. Maybe I should stay some place that can protect me from this wind. I searched for some time with no luck until I stumbled upon a park. There was a jungle gym painted in bright colors with all kinds of obstacles attached to it. Connected to the jungle gym was a fairly large yellow tube, it was probably there for kids to climb thru but for now it would be a good shelter.
As I approached the tube I thought I heard some noise from behind me so I quickly ducked inside; my fears getting the best of me. But just as I began to relax I heard an 'umf' coming from next to me. I turned to see that I had run into some boy. He was rubbing his head- possibly from the pain of hitting it on the top of this tube-and grasping onto a small knapsack. I first noticed his eyes; they were a jade green, cloudy but very sharp and distinct. I stood frozen for a moment and as I was about to run he spoke up. "You might want to look before you go jumping into random playground tubes."
I looked down embarrassed and also a little frightened by the boys appearance, "sorry" I mumbled under my breath. I began to back up out of the tube but then he grabbed my arm. I flinched from the human contact and yanked my arm back. The force of pulling my arm sent me to the ground and I fell with a simple 'thud'.
"Whoa dude! Sorry about that" The strange boy jumped from the tube and began to try and help me up. "I didn't mean to scare you there. Or to snap at you and I surely didn't mean to cause you to fall." I allowed him to help me up but I still kept my guard up. He must have sensed the tension because he tried to smooth it out. He extended his hand "My name is Isaac." Looking him up and down him I didn't see a threat but still shook his hand with slight hesitation. "Listen I really didn't mean to scare you or anything you can stay in that tube if you want I can go find another."
He began to walk away and at first I was relieved but then I remembered how long it took me to find this playground and how cold it was. "Wait!" Isaac turned around looking at me with slight confusion. "You don't have to go, if you want me can share it" the end of my sentence came out as more of a soft whisper than a question but Isaac seemed to hear and smiled broadly.
He entered the tube first and quickly got settled removing the knapsack from his back and placing it in his lap. I sat diagonally from him, my arms hugging my knees, covering most of my face. Isaac looked up from his bag and smiled again "You don't talk much do you?" I only looked at him as he continued. "It's ok I usually don't talk much either but you seemed like an ok guy and not from around here either." He stopped speaking to remove a few things from his bag; I watched his hands while he continued. "This is a pretty small town so everyone knows everyone here, it's annoying at times but what can you do? Most of the people in this town I don't really like all that much. Especially kids around my age, they are either major jerks or stupid, or stupid jerks." He chuckled a little and I smiled at the comment. "You know I don't even know your name." He stared at me waiting for a reply.
"Oh…it's courage…my names courage." I averted my eyes from him, older people usually didn't question my name and some thought it was nice but usually people my age think its weird, some even go out of their way to make fun of it.
"That's such a cool name! Where did you get it from? I was named after my great grandfather. Yeah not very interesting, but Courage sounds like such a cool name." He gave a big smile and I couldn't help but return it.
"Well my mother, Muriel, had found me after I was abandoned by a dumpster. She said I had so much courage for being there that she decided to name me that." I gently smiled to myself thinking of that day.
"Your parents abandoned you by a dumpster? Wow that's….intense. I mean I know my parents hate me but wow." He looked at the ground trying not to catch my gaze.
"Well I guessed I shouldn't have used abandoned, they didn't really abandon me, they sort of got kidnapped and disappeared." At this Isaac looked up in shock, his face seemed to darken a little. "It wasn't too bad though, I do remember them a little bit. They were very kind parents, I forget what they looked like but I remember my mother's kisses and my father playing ball with me. And anyway I managed to get Muriel who was a wonderful mother to me." I smiled back up at Isaac trying to return the smile to his face.
He seemed to return it and this is when I began to note his other features. Isaac's hair was a dark chestnut color; in the wrong lighting you could confuse it for black. He had a few freckles around his face and I noticed a small scare -barely noticeable- on this cheek. The moon showed that he had a light tan but nothing that you could brag much about. A black shirt with a logo I couldn't recognize hung around his slightly muscular frame while blue jeans hung loose around his hips. His knapsack, which he had returned looking into, was a bright red with small doodles adorned around it. His voice startled me from my observations "So what brings you to this fine tube." Isaac chuckled at his own comment and smiled at me.
"Oh I'm just heading out to California to visit my aunt." He looked at me a little confused, probably wondering why I hadn't decided to fly or drive there.
"Wait why are you traveling this way? Didn't you say you had a very nice mom?" I flinched at the questions. I knew they would be coming but I didn't really want to answer them.
I opened my mouth to answer them but the only thing that came out was me stuttering badly. "I-I…yo-you se-ugh I just-I…" I began to grip my backpack; I didn't know what to say. I've only know this boy for maybe half an hour and I've already told him so much. I do this with everyone, I let them know everything and they just end up using it against me.
"I'll tell you why I'm here" Isaac's voice startled me but when I looked up I could see an almost sad smile on his face. He would tell me such personal information? But why he doesn't really know me too well? Instead of arguing with myself more I decided to listen to what Isaac was saying. "I'm a little different from other kids here. Almost every guy in my grade has a girlfriend or at least is trying to get one. But I don't know…that's not what I'm really looking for. I had gotten beat up for it a few times and don't have many friends because of it. When I told my parents they were angry with me, well at least my dad was, my mom just sat there and cried. My father told me he was going to send me to some special camp and I just couldn't go…I feel like if I did that would be the end of me. So I ran away, I don't know where I'm going but if people don't understand me here than maybe some other place will." He ended his long speech and looked towards me, his face a little red.
I took in all he had told me a little confused at what he was saying but understanding the basics. Isaac was bullied and didn't have many friends when his parents wanted to send him to a 'special camp' he had to run away. I looked at him for some time registering what he had done and what that meant. I slowly put down my bag and crawled over to him. He gave me a confused look but I continued to crawl towards him until I was close enough to lean over and give him a hug. He hesitated not sure how to react but soon began to hug back. We sat there for awhile, no words were exchanged, only a gentle hug. I sat back down after a bit and looked at Isaac; he gave me sort of a 'don't-worry-too-much-about-me' smile. I sighed and began my story, "I loved Muriel, she was a wonderful person, very kind and gentle. This is why I never understood how she could end up with a guy like Eustace. Throughout my life Eustace has been very…mean I guess. He would pour boiling soup on me if he didn't like the taste or beat me if I disobeyed him. Of course Muriel never knew, and I didn't have the guts to tell her…I regret not telling her, but I thought maybe Eustace would die early and it would be just me and her. Unfortunately the opposite happened. She passed away and left all her belongings and wealth to me. Eustace was infuriated by this, and swore he would end my life so he could have the riches. I decided to go to California because that's where Muriel's sister is, Muriel left me a letter to give to her sister and I need to deliver it." I took a large breath realizing I hadn't taken one since I began talking. I looked over to Isaac who looked dumfounded. I stared out the tube looking at the moon outside, "he's following me too, and he is going to kill me. There's no doubt in my mind he will but before he does I want to deliver this letter, my one last favor to Muriel." I closed my eyes for a moment; I just told this boy almost everything secretive about me….what now? Before I could answer Isaac snaked his arms around my waist and gave me a firm hug.
"Muriel was right…you have a lot or Courage." He patted my back soothingly and his words melted my heart. I felt safe for once, and forgot about everything happening outside of this tube. Isaac continued this embrace and started rubbing circles into my back. I began to doze off and soon I realized I was dreaming.
(AN: I am super sorry for the delay I had a lot of home trouble and exams and all that. But I hope to finish this story in the next two chapters or so. There are probably a ton of grammar/spelling mistakes but it's like 2:30 at night and I'm too tired to check at the moment so I might edit it later. A special thanks to everyone who still reads this story. Even if you don't review I still appreciate you reading it and it means a lot to me. Thanks again I hope you enjoyed this chapter there is more to come. :] )