Chapter 871

chapter871

The next morning, they were on the first run of the 516 bus. But it was not what they expected.

The bus was absolutely packed with people, most of them elderly. Wicker baskets and hampers filled with freshly picked vegetables and other local goods were piled everywhere.

Mamie was dumbfounded. "Why... why are there so many people?"

The three of them were squeezed into the middle of the bus as soon as they

boarded, surrounded by baskets at their feet and standing shoulder-to-shoulder with old men and women who hadn't gotten seats. It was so crowded you could practically tell what the person next to you had eaten for breakfast when they yawned.

"Roseanne, I'm scared..." Mamie whispered, turning to look for her friend with tears welling in her eyes.

Instead, her gaze met Scales's. Roseanne had been pushed further back into the bus.

Their eyes locked-one on the verge of tears, the other frozen in surprise.

"You..."

"Caley, I'm scared..." Mamie repeated, her voice trembling.

Something in Scales's heart gave way. "Here... move closer to me," he said, trying to shuffle aside to make a little more space for her. Mamie immediately leaned into the small pocket of safety he'd created.

"Why are all these people crowding onto the bus so early in the morning?" she whimpered.

"It's probably market day," Scales guessed, nodding toward the baskets of produce.

Suddenly, someone jostled Mamie from behind, sending her stumbling forward. Scales reacted instantly, catching her with his chest and shielding her from hitting her head on the back of a seat. "Are you okay?" he asked, steadying her with a worried look.

Mamie's face was beet red. "Caley, I... I can't breathe..."

Without a second thought, Scales slid open the window next to them, letting a rush of fresh air into the stuffy bus.

"Hey! What are you doing? It's freezing! Close that window!" someone shouted.

"Yeah! That wind is giving me a headache!"

"Close it! Close it now!"

Scales's voice dropped, firm and low. "My friend is having trouble

breathing and needs some frenet

ble Tate your understanding."

I'd appreciate your understa

air.

"What do you mean, fresh air? How come she's the only one who can't breathe and the rest of us are fine?"

"If you're that big, you shouldn't be squeezing onto a bus. You take up more space than everyone else and then you make demands..."

"Exactly! It's freezing! What if all us old folks catch a cold? Are you going to pay our medical bills?"

As the insults flew, Mamie's cheeks burned with shame, and she couldn't bring herself to look up. Scales gently patted her arm, silently telling

her not to worry, then raised his voice to address the bus.

"Whether you're fine has nothing to do with us. My friend needs the window open. Is that a problem? And who says someone can't take the bus because of their size? We paid for our tickets. What about all of you? Your baskets and Hampers are taking up half the floor. Did you buy tickets for them?"

Silence fell. Even the driver glanced at Scales in the rearview mirror.

Someone muttered under their breath, "Wow, kids these days have such sharp tongues..."

Scales heard it but remained unfazed.

As the fresh air filled her lungs, Mamie felt like she could breathe again. Once she

had recovered, she looked at Scales with pure admiration.

"Oh my god, Caley! That was amazing! You were so cool just now!"

Scales, who hadn't blushed once during the argument, felt his face flush a bright pink. It was... unexpectedly embarrassing.