AUTHOR: gemmawolf

17th of November, 2014 - Bus Stop

"Where's that bloody bus?"

Arthur was soaked through. It was nearing five o'clock, the peak of the evening rush hour, and not one but two buses had failed to show up. He'd been standing at the bus stop, unfortunately without a shelter, for nearing an hour now; forty minutes ago the previously blue sky clouded over with clouds, turning almost black, and it started raining. It didn't let off; the drops grew bigger and faster and sharper.

He'd left his coat at home that morning, opting for a light jacket which he now pulled tighter around his shoulders. It did nothing but absorb more water, his clothes already wet to his skin. There was nothing to do but watch the stream of headlights coming towards him from the distance, crawling through the darkness and rain, tyres sticking against the wet tarmac.

It took him a good few seconds to notice when an umbrella appeared over him. He turned to see another man wrapped up in a snug leather coat, holding the handle of said umbrella. The stranger smiled shyly. "Guess it won't do much good, huh. You're gonna catch your death like that," he said.

Arthur ran a hand through his hair, wiping out as much water as he could, sending droplets flying in the process. "Thanks anyway," he sighed. "I've been here almost an hour."

"An hour?" the other man said, eyes wide. They were blue. "You must be freezing!"

Arthur shrugged. "Sod's law: the one day I forget my coat, the heavens open." He spotted a set of familiar headlights coming their way. "But its here now, at last." He stuck his hand out to flag the bus down, fishing his pass from his pocket; thankfully the company had the good sense to laminate them.

But the bus didn't slow down. It rolled past like the rest of the cars, the driver shaking his head apologetically. It was packed from front to back, people crammed in the isle together and pressed against windows, leaving no room for any more passengers. Once he realised what had just happened, and that he'd have to wait out in the pouring rain for at least another twenty minutes, he lost it.

"For fuck sake!" he shouted, kicking the pole that held the sign for the bus stop. He could cry, he really could, but that wouldn't solve anything. He'd walked home before, but not in weather like this, and not while drenched from head to toe. If anything he was simply angry that he'd wasted so much time waiting about for nothing when he could have started walking an hour ago.

"Hey."

He looked back to the stranger; he was removing his heavy coat and handing it to him.

Arthur vigorously shook his head. "No, no I can't," he said, refusing to take it.

"We're heading the same way. Besides, I've got an umbrella. This'll keep you warm. Please."

He could feel himself shivering. It was too late really; he'd started coughing a while ago and knew he'd be coming down with something the next day. But it would still be a relief to feel somewhat warm, or at least block out the wind. Hesitant, he took hold of the coat, more of a jacket really, and shrugged it onto his shoulders. It was still warm from the other's body heat. "Thank you," he said. "Guess we'd better start walking."