The Bus

When they first got on the bus was crowded with other concert goers on their way home. Luckily their city invested pretty heavily in public transportation so while the bus was dated it was fairly clean and most importantly didn’t smell. They’d snagged two seats at the back and continued talking about the show. It quickly morphed into getting to know each other better.

“And they locked you in the holding cell naked?!?” Nikki said in shock. Blake had just finished telling her the story of his fraternity hazing in college.

“Yup. That was the campus rule. I guess they figured it was the best deterrent to people doing it without actually charging them with a crime.”

“That’s insane! I’m sure it worked.”

“Not as much as you’d think. Streaking the quad was a huge tradition so people still wanted to do it. The campus police thing only made it so anyone who actually managed to do it without getting caught got so much cred.”

“How many people actually got away?” Nikki asked.

“In the four years I was on campus? Maybe five people that I know of.”

“That’s insane.”

“I mean it’s not that crazy.”

“Streaking is fairly crazy on its own. When you do it and the most likely outcome is ending up in handcuffs and spending the night in jail…”

“Ok when you put it that way yeah it is kinda crazy.” Blake and Nikki both laughed. He liked the way her nose crinkled every time she did.

“What about you?” He asked.

“What about me what?” She replied. As she turned to look at him she brushed her shoulder length light brown hair back. It had streaks of different shades of blue all throughout it.

“What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done?”

“Oh no. I’m not telling you that.”

“Nope! Fair is fair. I just told you about mine.”

“Uhh I think this is my stop! Gotta go.” Nikki faked standing up to get off the bus. Blake playfully pushed her back down.

“You’re not getting off that easy.”

“I know I know.” Nikki said as she glanced out the window. The bus was now almost empty except for the driver one other person and them.

“Jokes aside… where is my stop?”

“Don’t change the subject.” Blake teased.

“No I'm serious. This isn’t my neighborhood. We’re down by the waterfront.”

“That can’t be true.” Blake joined her in looking out the window. Sure enough he saw the business that bordered the boardwalk and the beach instead of their neighborhood.

They both got off at the next stop too embarrassed to ask the bus driver how they’d been so mistaken. As Blake consulted the map in the plexi glass hut of the bus station Nikki checked her phone.

“It doesn’t make sense. This bus line doesn’t go anywhere near the venue. The only bus that ran thru our stop should’ve taken us straight to your front door.”

“Nope. Here it is.” Nikki said reading the bus website. “After concerts or events buses from multiple lines will service the station by the venue. We didn’t pay any attention and just hopped on the first bus we saw assuming it was a green line bus when instead it was an orange line bus running special to pick up concert attendees.”

“Oh shit. I’m sorry. That’s my fault.” Blake said now reading the same thing in the small print of the map in front of him. “I should’ve caught that.”

“Hey just as much my fault as yours.” Nikki shrugged. “I was sitting by the window I should’ve noticed we weren’t anywhere near where we were supposed to be.”

“Well… when’s the next bus in the opposite direction?” Blake laughed. Nikki checked the inline tracker on her phone.

“Well if this is to be believed… which it probably isn’t. The next bus back towards where we can make a connection to the green line is in 30 minutes.”

“Fuck. I guess we’re gonna need to call that cab huh?”

“I mean maybe. But why not wander around? I’m never get the chance to make it down here. We should go stick our feet in the water.”