With a smile, Aspen climbed the steps until she was level with the older lady. “Thanks, Mamma Megs,” she whispered, then strode to the back of the vehicle.
There weren’t many kids on the bus, so she chose an empty bench seat. The bus was her only form of transportation to school since her family didn’t have a car. Stephan rode the bike to work and back. He could only carry one passenger—Miriam—which didn’t really surprise Aspen. This was because he was saving gas, or so he said, but she knew that he was too cheap to buy a car.
She didn’t really mind riding the bus. It was quiet and gave her a chance to think before she got to school in the morning. Besides, she wouldn’t be able to sit on the back of Stephan’s bike; she’d be too scared of doing something wrong.
Mamma Megs turned the vehicle into the school grounds just as his motorcycle growled away down the street, and she was glad that she wouldn’t be forced to greet her stepdad at school.
Her stepsister strolled toward her latest boyfriend, Justin, and Aspen watched her walk past the bus through the dusty window. Miriam smoothed out her tangled curls and threw her backpack at him. He hoisted it over his shoulders and pulled her toward his chest.
Justin was a quarterback on the football team and was always surrounded by people. Today was no different; half a dozen kids hovered around him. Miriam spat her pink bubblegum out onto the grass and slid her hands around Justin’s neck.
Aspen cringed and looked away as her stepsister kissed him eagerly. After a few seconds, she risked another glance and saw the group moving toward the school building. Justin had wrapped his arm around her stepsister’s shoulder, and she had her thumb tucked into a loop on his waistband. When they disappeared into the building, Aspen sighed in relief.
The bus came to a halt in the parking lot. Inside, the air was hot and smelled of diesel fumes and spray deodorant, and she waited until the last person was gone before exiting the bus. She hurried to reach her first class of the day as the morning bell clanged loudly.
English was one of her favorite subjects, and she thumped her backpack on the desk and removed a pen and book before sitting down. The class was rowdy as the students waited for the teacher to arrive. Someone shot a spitball past her head, and she ducked just in time.
“Nope, that was definitely not me.” Aspen shook her head vigorously as a girl with short black hair in front of her whirled around with accusing eyes. Her cheek was pink and sticky from the soggy ball.
Miriam sat at the other side of the room and popped bubbles with a new piece of gum. When she’d failed her grade the previous year, Stephan had blamed her teachers, and now she shared many of her stepsister’s classes as she repeated the year.
Aspen fanned her face quietly. The day had only just begun, but she could already feel the humidity of the Indian summer day.
Her fellow students were so noisy, talking loudly and laughing, they barely noticed when their teacher lumbered into the room.
Mr. Wright was enormous. He was bald, his nose and cheeks rosy, and his chin was rounded with folds of skin. He always wore baggy pants, which made his oversized shoes appear clown-like, but he was her all-time favorite teacher. Because of his size, she didn’t see the person trailing behind him at first.
“Settle down now, students,” Mr. Wright called out, his voice booming against the classroom walls. Everyone stopped talking and rushed to take their seats.
When they had settled down somewhat, he stepped aside and said, “We have a new student. This is Dylan Powers.”
Aspen sucked in a sharp breath and whispered, “Oh my word.” As soon as the teacher had moved, she exhaled and stared at the handsome boy standing behind him. His looks were so striking that she blinked twice and focused all her attention on him.
Mr. Wright clapped the boy on the shoulder, then said, “Take a seat in the third row,” while pointing to the empty desk behind her.
Miriam’s eyes widened with pleasure as the good-looking boy walked slowly down the aisle.
He was tall and slim and wore khaki cargo pants, a white T-shirt, and thick-soled boots. A half-filled school bag was slung over his left shoulder, and she noticed a dream weaver charm attached to a suede cord around his neck. His black hair was cropped short at the back and longer in the front, and stray strands partially obscured his sapphire-blue eyes.
Aspen caught his gaze as he walked down the aisle. Suddenly his face lit up, and he smiled at her as if he’d just seen his best friend for the first time in years.
She dropped her gaze instantly and stared at her desktop, feeling her cheeks flame with embarrassment. After hearing the scrape of his bag on the floor, a clean, soapy smell enveloped her, and she leaned back to breathe it in.
Something sharp, possibly a pen, jabbed her in the arm, and she stiffened and tilted her head sideways.