Welcome home

Chapter 3 – The Bus Ride Oct. 12-13, 2005

Suddenly Veron went back to the ticket booth. He had forgotten to call Kyle. He was supposed to pick them up in Brandon. That’s were they’d be staying, at least for a couple days, until Veron had enough money saved up to head to Bangor, where the would then fly to Halifax.

“What if…” Rene started, and then she paused, looked up at her brother’s even solid expression, and stopped. She didn’t like the idea of sitting out there in the cold. He fingers were going numb, and it wasn’t even winter yet. ‘Stupid brother,’ she thought, pouting. ‘This just isn’t fair. Why should I have to be here? I didn’t do anything wrong. It’s all Veron’s fault. He scared Dad away ‘cuz he kissed those boys!’ bitterly she sat back and glared at the older boy sitting beside her before guilt welled up inside her. He was saving her. She was just scared. ’Oh! I didn’t mean that!! I didn’t!’ Silently she prayed that God would forgive her for thinking such mean things about her brother.

Veron looked at her, wondering if she would ever finish her sentence. Everything seemed to start with ‘what if’ when his sister thought something bad would happen. Everything that was good started with ‘when’ like it would happen, no matter what. Bad things couldn’t happen to good people. That’s what she decided a long time ago. That’s why they were still alive. That’s why mom sometimes didn’t drink as much when she had to go see the men in suits. It’s because we were ‘good people.’ ‘Good people my ass! Veron thought angrily. ‘The reason we’re stuck here is because ‘Mom’ is an evil bitch, dad isn’t man enough to even take care of his own fucking kids!’ unlike his sister, he didn’t look for the good in everything. He saw nothing but the bad, and he defiantly did not feel guilt for thinking what he believed was right. His fists clenched tightly at his sides, as he thought. Anger was never far out of reach, but he held it in, at least until Rene was either out of hearing range, or seeing range. She didn’t need to know what he did on his own time.

About twenty minutes later the bus pulled up, it was extremely loud compared to the quietness of the night that had become accustom to. It was also very bright, lights reflecting of the dust particles on the air. “Last bus to Brandon!” Called the driver when he opened the doors.

Rene stepped up first and handed the huge man her ticket. She instinctively leaned back against her brother when he reached out a huge paw to give her ticket stub back, and help her up the stair. They were quite large compared to her tiny body. Veron laughed and leaned forward, grabbing the stub and slipping it into her hand, “go sit down,” he whispered as he lifted her onto the top stair. Then he handed his ticked to the driver.

“Cute kid,” He commented, “Is she yours?” He asked with mild interest. As he tore the ticket in half. Dark green eyes traveling over him in an unwanted gesture of something close to lust.

“She’s my little sister.” Veron replied, quickly looking over the bus driver before glancing to where his sister was sitting near the back. His eyes traveled back to the rugged looking bus driver and did a quick once over; blond hair, green eyes, muscular. Not his type, though that didn’t mean much, he thought bitterly. For a brief moment he wondered if the bus driver was willing to get them back their money; or his at least, before remembering he was in fact the bus driver, and his little sister was on the bus. He sighed and took the ticket stub that was handed to him. Eyes once again meeting briefly before Veron slowly walked to the set of seats his sister had gotten for them.

“Tired?” he asked when he saw Rene’s eyes flickering shut. She nodded and he put his arm around her. “Go to sleep, we’ll be there in a bit.” He whispered kissing the top of her head softly. He placed his bag on the ground near his feet and closed his eyes. Not really planning to go to sleep, just hoping to rest his eyes for a few minutes. ‘Home,’ he thought, ‘we’re going home.’ It was that last thought he had before disappearing into the darkness that so badly wanted to surround him, even if only for a few minutes. Sleep had never come as easily as it did that night.

**+**+**+**+**+**

He awoke about five and a half hours later, a bright light shining in his eyes, that wouldn’t seen to disappear no matter what way he turned his head, maybe it became a bit dimmer, but it never truly went away, and he silently wondered why his little sister would be shining a flashlight on him. That’s when his memory came crashing back. They were on a bus, headed for Brandon, headed for a new life. He smiled but kept his eyes closed, trying to get used to the invasion of light that seemed to try to creep through every crack in his eyelids.

“Veron! Wake up! We’re almost there, its morning!” A voice whispered excitedly. Small hands shook him as best they could; trying desperately to wake the sleeping boy. “C’mon!” she whispered, adding a forceful punch into the mixture. “Wake up!” she said louder. Not noticing the small smile that was playing on her brothers lips. “Fine then!” she stated bitterly, “Just sleep there! I’ll get off without you!” She decided that would work. It always worked on her after all.

“And how on earth would you manage that, little sister?” Veron jokingly replied as he opened his eyes; the light still hurting them, but not so badly. His smile was genuine, for once. He was actually amused by his little sister’s try on reverse Psychology. He did it to her all the time; he had been wondering when she would start to use it. He laughed when she started to pout, “You’re cute when you’re angry.” He said rubbing her messy hair.

She stuck her tongue out at him, and then laughed as he began tickling her. “S-Stop,” She stuttered between fits of laughter, “It t-tickles.” She giggled trying to squirm away from him. Only relaxing when he finally did stop a couple minutes later. She could never stay mad at him for long, they both knew it.

The rest of the ride into the city was quiet, and Veron checked his ticket stub to see which bus stop there were supposed to get off at. The ticket said MAIN DOWNTOWN TERMINAL, so Veron relaxed again. The first stop was the Eastside Terminal, theirs was next. He hoped Kyle would be at the bus stop on time. He usually was good with time, but this had been planned on the spot, with almost no warning. Veron sighed and looked at Rene, happily staring out the window at waving to people in the small cars next to us. Not really realizing that they couldn’t see her due to the windows being tinted, but he smiled lazily at his energetic sister. She had no idea what life would be like now. Neither did he really. But staying with Kyle would be good for them both. He too had a little sister. She was 8 but that didn’t make much of a difference, he also has a little brother who is 12, and an older one who is 19. Kyle was 17, not to mention extremely attractive.

Veron smiled as he remembered their last encounter last year. Though there was no sex, they did make out a couple times, and that was good enough. He was happy to have somebody hold him. Someone tell him that he’d make it out of that hell whole called a house. He also remembered the beating he got when his brother found out he was a faggot. Marek even blamed his ‘deviancy’ on the reason that their father left. He wondered if Rene believed it.

The bus stopped, and a few people got off, though most of them were waiting to get off at the MAIN DOWNTOWN TERMINAL. Then, a few more people got on; one girl in particular sparked his interest. She was very dark, very gothic, and she winked at him when she sat down in the seat next to theirs beside an older looking man with the same fashion of clothes and makeup on. Veron decided they were probably lovers.

“Hey.” She said, sticking her hand out, “Where did you crawl out of?” She smiled as Veron shook her hand. “Creatures like you ought to be caged up; only let out at night.”

He looked at her wondering if it was an insult or complement. After all, she looked like the vampire. “Umm…” he said, not really sure what else to say. She winked again and took her hand back, laying it neatly on her lap.

“So what’s your name?” she asked. “I’m Angel.” She added. Veron scoffed at that ‘Yeah, one that fell from heaven and straight into hell.’

“Veron” he replied, “And this is my little sister Rene.” he said pointing to the small creature that continued to make faces out the window at anyone who dared look her way.

Angel smiled, “Bet you got quite the night life. You ever go to any of those gothic clubs, doll? I bet you’d be a real treat.” She said licking her lips seductively. “You look like you’d fit in.” She reached out, looping one long red fingernail through the mesh of his shirt and gently pulling on the hoop through his left nipple, making him bite back a groan as she continued to torment it.

Veron closed his eyes ‘I have NEVER been seduced on a bus.’ Then suddenly wondered why not. It felt good. Unfortunately he had a little sister who innocently asked ‘why that strange lady wanted his nipple ring?’ he smiled and she pulled back, both of them blushing, Rene looking confused. “It’s nothing.” he replied smiling at her.
A look of recognition crossed her face, “Oh!” she replied suddenly, “You mean like when Kyle was biting it? And it was nothing?” She asked. “Why do they want it anyway? It looks painful and ugly.” She nodded defiantly as he silently hid his face in his hands. A bright red blush heating up his entire body. ‘I don’t need this.’ Veron decided silently. ‘Why did she have to come in, in that moment?’

He only looked up when the bus started to slow down. Angel had retreated back to her seat, a small smile on her lips. She grabbed his hand and leaned in closer whispering in his ear, “Ya know, it’s not a problem. And, umm, I think it’s hot.” She said once again pinching the already sensitive nub. “Being Bi isn’t like, a sin or anything.” She smiled and looked back to the man sitting beside her and let go of Veron’s hand.

The bus finally stopped and He grabbed his bag, along with Rene’s and headed off the bus. Rene following closely behind holding onto the hem of his shirt as she stepped down the large stairs, jumping to the ground from the last one. She looked up and smiled. Her eyes twinkling with joy as they neared the large building where they would wait for Kyle to arrive.

The building was surprisingly empty, and Veron noticed Kyle almost instantly as he and Rene stepped though the double glass doors. Adorned in his favorite black leather trench coat and velvet top hat, sunglasses being a constant, even at night in winter. Sometimes Veron wondered how he managed to see through them. They weren’t dark, in-fact; they were merely glasses with a bluish grey tint, and they looked hot, especially on him. They added to the already bright blue of his eyes.

Veron couldn’t help but run to him dropping the bags at his feet and enveloping him in a warm hug. His head resting on Kyle’s chest, arms around his thin waist. He felt more than heard Rene walk up beside us. He didn’t care at that moment. He knew they were safe, at least for a bit.

Veron’s eyes met Kyle’s, their faces not even a full inch apart, warm breath mingling together as Kyle leaned in the rest of the way. His soft lips brushing against Veron’s in a butterfly kiss, making his lips part in anticipation of what was to come. Kyle’s hand moved up Veron’s back and rested on the back of his neck. He leaned down again, brushing his tongue against the younger boy’s warm lips before exploring deep within the warm cavity. A Warm sight came from both boy’s as they parted for air.

“I missed you.” Veron stated quietly as he clung to Kyle’s jacket. Eyes closed in the realization that they were still in the bus stop, and people were probably looking at them.

“C’mon,” Kyle finally said, breaking out of the embrace and grabbing their bags. “The car is Just outside” he said, smiling and patting Rene on the top of the head. “Let’s go home. Maybe have some pancakes, eh Rene?”

Rene jumped up happily and ran a few paces in from of us squealing with glee at the thought of having pancakes. Veron’s own thoughts drifting toward the idea of having a home. He smiled as Kyle put his arm around his waist. As they walked in silence to the black car that waited for them.