Chapter 2 – Breakfast
Mark stared at the text for a second. Dissecting it like it was a book on the Napoleonic war. The kiss was a new addition which sighted up feelings he couldn't understand, he put it down to contempt.
Mark was so lost in his thought of Jeremy that he'd Ignored Sophie who just minutes earlier saved his life from a psychotic bus driver. He should have thanked her but he didn't, he didn't want to appear weak to the only female that had directly spoken to him in 2 months. He looked at her and opened his mouth hoping to light up some kind of conversation, anything just so he could see her again on purpose.
The morning winter sun is lit up Sophie mousey shoulder length hair making her look almost angelic next to the unlit passengers. He could imagine staring at that head for the rest of his life.
"Mark is everything ok? You're staring.." she queried visibly uncomfortable.
" Fuck...I mean fine" He babbled coming back in to the reality of the grim Monday morning bus ride with a woman he had barely spoken to other then asking for change on the odd occasion.
"I haven't eaten, so I'm not really here yet." He admitted.
" OH low blood sugar, my Sister's, Brother's, Niece has that" once again her arm was rummaging though her stupidly big bag " that's why I always carry one of these" she passed him a rice crispy square with a wide smile.
Marks hand reached out reluctantly for the old bag food. It had something that looked like cat hair on the corner where the cling film had come off slightly. He forced a smile and thanked her as he tried to force it into his pocket.
"Well aren't you going to eat it? You said you was hungry. You don't need to worry I made it myself and its vegan" Sophie tilted her head. It wasn't a question.
Mark thought about trying to make up an excuse like he was allergic to rice, but he thought that Sophie might be a little too smart for that. On the other hand, he could eat it then compliment her and ask for the recipe, she could offer to show him how to cook and they'd start dating. Then possibly go on a mini break to the Quantocks. He liked that idea. He unwrapped no-longer-treat and took a large bite. The flavour. "Oh my god what is that?" he thought to himself. It tasted dry yet slimy. He smiled at Sophie with a mouth full the worst taste he could of ever imagined. "I guess we could order in for the rest of lives" he mused. As he tried to distract himself from the rising vomit.
"Oh this is the best. You must come round to mine and show me how to make them?" he spat crumbs at her as he spoke. A small burp came up as he tried to stop himself from vomiting.
Mark's eyes met Sophie's. She face was a look of pure terror.
"Mark look down, I'm so sorry"
He looked down at the food, it was now a host to its own eco system.
The bus pulled to a hard stop. Mark ran past Sophie knocking her in the face with his bottom as he left. When he dismounted the bus he vomited in the nearest bin. Through the window of the bus Sophie mouthed the words "I'm sorry" then pulled an oops face. She waved at him as the bus pulled away, Mark continued to vomit in the bin.
A ping from Marks phone brought his attention back to his life at hand.
Cant wait for you to come home, I've got a surprise for you – J