How Not To Be A Groupie

Chapter Fifty Nine: Talking It Over

"Nice," Bon said. "That the whole flat or jus' your room?"

"It's my whole floor," Malcolm said. "I hear the neighbors up at all hours knockin' on doors an' askin' what the hell's goin' on." I heard him sigh and laugh a little. "Needless to say I might be movin' out soon."

Just as I was about to fall asleep, Bon and Malcolm having quieted down for a few minutes, I felt Bon shift in his seat and the blanket fell a bit, exposing my face. I mourned the loss of the warmth and kept my eyes shut tight. The blanket provided me with a comfort of not being seen. If they couldn't see me, they wouldn't think to talk about me. Now here I was, reminding both of them of various encounters. 

"How's she doin'?" Malcolm asked, keeping his voice low. I felt Bon move a stray lock of hair away from my face. "She okay?"

"Yeah," Bon said after a minute. "Probably exhausted. Been a long day."

"Don't I fuckin' know it," Malcolm said. I could smell the smoke better now. The entire bus started to reek with it. How I managed to go this entire time without once getting sick from the cigarette smoke I'll never know. At least one thing was on my side. "She's stayin' with you, right?"

"Uh, yeah," Bon said. "Got all her stuff in a laundry bag in my room."

"Ya' better get her back quick as ya' can," Malcolm said. "Give her a real bed or somethin'."

"Course, Mal, anyone knows I can be a gentleman if I want to," Bon said and I could hear the smile in his voice. 

"Mhm," Malcolm said. "That's you, Prince Charmin'." I could feel both of them staring at me and I really wanted to hide under the blanket again. "She's a good kid."

"Yeah," Bon said. He playfully messed my hair up. "Not bad at all."

After a hundred years the bus stopped with a screech and the doors slid open. Hustle and bustle hurried around us but Bon didn't move from his spot. I pretended to be asleep for just a few more minutes. The smell of diesel and smoke cleared out through the open doors and a draft came in. I shivered and felt Bon pull the blanket up to my chin. 

He adjusted my position so I was leaning on the seat and he stood up. I heard footsteps come closer and Bon muttered for them to go ahead. After the footsteps faded away, Bon nudged my shoulder. "Hey, tiny dancer," he said. I pulled the blanket back over my head. "Come on, don't ya' want a real bed?"

I sure did. Relenting with a sigh, I pulled the blanket back down and made an attempt to stand. I was wobbly, as if the bus were still moving. Long trips always made me feel this way. Hence why I avoided them. 

"Can ya' walk?" I nodded but tripped over the ridges on the bus floor and fell into Bon, the man stumbling backward and catching himself. I pulled away a bit, feeling my face flush. "Ya' better get your sea legs," he said. "Or bus legs." Supporting me with his arm he led me down the stairs of the bus, finally leaving these damn things behind. As much fun as I had with Bon and Angus the previous night, I wanted off this ride. "Thanks for the lift," he called to the driver and off we went. 

It was warm outside. And still I shivered. I managed to smuggle the bus blanket with me without anyone noticing and I felt bad for having stolen two of these things. Anyone sleeping on these buses would have to pack their own or freeze. The soft glow of the streetlights kept me warm whenever we passed under one and I kept hoping another one would show up. Eventually there weren't any more. "Almost there," Bon said, opening the doors to the dimly lit lobby. Silver Bells was playing on the radio and faded away as Bon led me to the stairs. I glanced up at Bon who pointed at a sign hanging by the elevators. "Lift's out of service," he said. "Rotten luck, eh?" I wasn't sure how much fun Bon's one sided conversation was to him but figured he was only trying to keep me awake. "One step at a time."