Jack tried to look anywhere else. He looked out windows, each covered in fingerprints from people who'd pressed their hands against the class, he looked to the the wet floor covered in mud and candy wrappers. He turned to the empty seats he should have sat in, full seats with people he'd never seen before, the top of the bus even, and yet, his eyes went back to her.
She sat with her hands in her lap, a shy expression on her cheeks and lips, but wide eyes that made her look curious, always curious. He thought that was odd. She didn't look like a wide eyed dear, no, she looked like a person who was always interested in learning more. Jack smiled to himself, that was the trademark of someone who was bound to discover something wonderful.
He crossed his arms and turned, he'd let go of the pole and steadied himself. He moved his body with the jumps of the bus by leaning back on his heels. His body moved from side to side to match the bus' movements, all the while he refused to grab the pole again; it was too close to her. He should have realized it would have been easier to grab the pole opposite of her but Jack wasn't thinking straight, he had too many emotions, unfamiliar emotions that frightened him.
"Are you okay?" She sounded curious and concerned all at the same time.
"Just in a friendly competition with the bus," He smiled at her, "I think I'm winning." He pushed his left foot down when the bus took a sudden turn. Rapunzel titled to the side but Jack barely moved.
"That's impressive!" She said earnestly. Jack shrugged his shoulders but the pride on his face was evident by his sly grin.
That was until the bus took another sharp turn and he found himself tumbling to the side, right in her direction.
Jack was now on Rapunzel's lap, his face was red, his heart had stopped, and all he could hear was the laughter from a nearby passenger who thought his boldness was annoying.
"Are you okay?" She asked again, this time her voice was much more gentle.
"Fine." He said with barely any breath, he started to move off her lap when the bus hit a bump. Rapunzel squeaked and tumbled down with Jack in tow. They both had their bellies against the bus floor and could see just how dirty it was.
"Oh dear." Rapunzel pushed herself up and held out a hand to Jack who took it without thinking; "Maybe it'd be better for both our sakes if you sat down?"
Jack was too petrified to speak; he took a seat next to her and looked down at his feet. He didn't know what was worse, falling into her lap and having their faces an inch apart, or falling to the floor and bruising his ribcage. He was also sure there was mud on his hair now.
"I have stain remover for that," She gestured to his jacket, "If you need it."
"I don't." Jack said briskly, "But thanks anyway"
He glanced at her; she was smiling. Somehow, it made the whole ordeal a lot better.
The bus finally came to a stop, not Jack's, hers. His wouldn't come for another 5 minutes or so, probably longer given the rain. He watched her get up to go, he watched as she took the steps down the bus and only looked back to wave at him. He waved back, too quickly, he thought.
Once she was at the steps to her apartment Jack turned around and faced the window. He had expected her to fumble with her keys, to go right through the door, to fiddle with her umbrella. She did none of those things; to his surprise, she looked back at him.
He saw her mouth out, "I didn't mind."
Just as the bus pulled out Jack grinned and mouthed back, "Neither did I."