Chapter Four

That was the weirdest thing that has ever happened to him. He had felt eyes on him and when he looked a strange girl dressed in all white just stood there by the door staring at him. At first he thought maybe she knew him, or he knew her but every time he looked he couldn’t place her face in any of his memories. She didn’t come up to him either. She didn’t smile, didn’t really have an expression other than tilting her head when he gave an uncertain smile in return.

One thing for sure was that she completely distracted him from the humiliating burn that the girl in front of him made him experience. She was rude that was for sure. Maybe she had a boyfriend and didn’t want to give him any encouragement. Which was fine but she didn’t have to completely ignore his existence. He let her cut in front of him anyways however, giving the excuse that he wasn’t ready yet to order.

But now this new stranger wouldn’t stop looking at him and she never went up to the counter to order for herself. In fact she didn’t order at all and even followed him outside and watched him get on the bus. For a moment there he was afraid she was even going to follow him on that, but when she stood there on the other side not moving he was relieved.

Until he sat down and looked out at her one last time. It was highly unnerving to see her there, standing still, staring right at him. But as creepy as it all was as soon as their eyes locked a strange overwhelming sensation entered his body. His heart started racing and it was like destiny just called and knocked on his door.

Weird. He never thought like that before and never much thought about destiny and fate to begin with. But that’s where his mind went, and the feeling was so strong that it stayed with him for the rest of the day. It didn’t lessen when he finally got off the bus, or walked to the church where his interview was being held. It didn’t even lessen when he walked through those big wooden doors or when he sat down at the Preacher’s desk.

Throughout their whole conversation the feeling stayed quiet in the back of his mind, never leaving him, never going away. He couldn’t even remember the answers he gave or what their conversation had been about. But the Preacher smiled at him, shook his hand and asked for him to start right away. Strange as it was he was numb to everything else but for what he felt at that bus stop staring across the street at a girl who looked roughly around his own age, dark auburn hair wearing tight jeans, skintight long sleeve shirt, with white loafers.

All white. As pristine and untouched from any dirt. She had glowed in the sunlight, an oddity since no one would wear pure white like that and yet people walked by like she wasn’t a beacon for their attention. He had noticed her right away, but then again she had been staring at him, so it was kind of hard not noticing her.

After the interview he decided to walk around for a bit trying to understand this feeling that refused to go away. It left him unsettled. The weather wasn’t too bad and there was plenty of shade from the abundance of trees throughout the neighborhood. A nearby park was too his left and he decided to sit on one of the benches for a little while before taking the bus back home.

While sitting there his phone rings to show his dad’s picture on the screen. He hadn’t called either of his parents afterwards he had been too absorbed with it all. Answering on the third ring he says,

“Hey dad.”

“Hey, kiddo. So, how did everything go?” His tone was on the nervous side.

Ry smiles. “I got the job.”

“Alright! Haha!” His dad exclaims happily and then calls out to his coworkers, “He got the job!” and a horde of whoops were heard in the background.

Shaking his head at their overexcitement his smile slips when the girl pops back into his mind. Looking around the park no one was paying attention to him.

“So when do you start?” His dad asks next.

“Monday.” Suddenly a strange feeling sweeps through him, and he looks around once more.

Frowning he couldn’t help the anxiety that overcame his chest with his heart pounding and panic slightly creeping in. But nothing was out of the ordinary. Swallowing hard, he tries to calm his racing heart and building panic.

“Ry? Everything okay son?” His father asks sounding a little concerned.

“Y-Yeah, everything is fine dad. I think I’m just tired.” His voice shook a little.

“It’s another attack isn’t it? I’ll come pick you up, where are you?”

“No, really I’m okay. I want to walk. It’ll do some good.” He pressed.

Silence meets him on the other side, and he knew his dad was fighting his fatherly instinct to protect his only child.

“Dad, I’m twenty-three now. You don’t always have to protect me.”

A deep sigh sounded on the other line. “It doesn’t matter how old you get, kiddo. Once you have a child of your own you’ll understand. Are you sure you’ll be fine?”

“Promise. If I feel like I’m getting worse I’ll call you.”

“I mean it Ry, if you don’t I’ll start calling you by your given name.” He threatens with not a hint of seriousness to his tone.

But he groans in dismay anyways. “Anything but that.”

He chuckles. “Don’t let your mom hear you say that. She named you after all.”

Feeling slightly better they say their goodbyes and hang up. Standing from the bench he starts walking from the park and back onto the sidewalk. Along the way he starts picking up whatever trash was left by people who didn’t care for the environment. But he did and even if he was the only person on the planet who did, he’ll still pick up whatever trash was lying there.

Finding a nearby trashcan he dumps the trash inside and keeps going. Heading to the nearest bus stop he slows down when that feeling came back again. Whatever it was it kept pulling out his anxiety and he didn’t like it. There was no cause to go into panic so why was it happening now?

Reaching the bus stop he sits on the bench and waits. A young teenage boy on a bike stops near him and gets off standing there waiting, looking down at his phone. The bus was due any minute and he was ready to go home and rest. His anxiety hadn’t fully went away and being around strangers wasn’t making it any better. A group of kids start heading his way and he noticed the boy with the bike tense up, slightly looking at the group and then back to his phone hoping to draw less attention to himself.

“Hey man, nice bike!” One of the boys call out to him.

“Thanks.” The kid mumbles and goes back to his phone.

They all come to a stop next to him and Ry could tell the kid didn’t know who these people were. He stares at them watching their interaction.

“What type is it?” The same boy asks, taking the handles from the kid looking at it as if he was just curious, but Ry knew better.

“Please don’t touch my bike.” He tries to take it back, but the boy shoves him giving him a frown.

“I’m just looking at it chill bro.”

“He asked you nicely not to touch it so give it back.” His tone was sharp, and they all turned to look at him.

He knew the odds were against him if they chose to harass him instead, but he would rather have that than them picking on this one small kid that looked no older than fourteen. The one thing he couldn’t abide is being bullied. And that’s what they were doing. They were trying to bully this kid into stealing his bike.

“Who the hell are you? Mind your own damn business.” One of the others talks back.

“Maybe you should mind yours. Do you even know him? Because judging by his manner and the way he’s talking to you I would say that’s a hard no.” He stands up facing them.

The boy releases the bike, and they all face him, except the kid who takes it and watches with slight terrified fascination. He was glad his dad made him take all those defense lessons when he was in middle school because he had been constantly bullied as a kid himself. He may not be able to take them all on, but he’ll at least get one or two of them down.

“Hey fuck face. Why don’t you take your happy little ass down the street before you get yourself hurt. You shouldn’t go around playing hero all by yourself.”

He must be the ringleader of this sad little group since he was doing most of the talking. They looked like a couple of thugs that were trying to act like gangster wannabes. Ry crosses his arms not giving in. But sad to say his panic and anxiety had already started before this group even showed up and now with added adrenaline with a possible upcoming brawl it was getting worse.

They get right into his face, surrounding him but he doesn’t back down. As long as they stay away from the kid he’ll take the beating. No one ever stood up for him and he knew how that felt all too well. He didn’t want this kid feeling like he didn’t have anybody in his corner. Even with a complete stranger.

But before they could do a thing the bus pulls up right next to them making them jump back from the curb in fright from the sudden massive vehicle appearing. The doors open and the man in the seat stares at them all.

“Is there a problem here?” He asks harshly, probably was seeing what was happening as he approached. “You boys getting on or what? But just so you know I don’t tolerate fights on my bus.”

Relief flows through him as the kid with the bike quickly heads to the front and places his bike on the rack. He looks at Ry for just a second before heading onto the bus. Looking to the group one last time they all start walking away mumbling to themselves and giving death glares. Whatever, like he cared what they thought or how they looked at him anyways. He was just happy the bus driver showed up when he did.

Getting on the bus he pays for the fare and finds the nearest empty seat. His heart was pounding faster, and his hands were shaking. Closing his eyes he take a deep breath.

“Thanks. You didn’t have to do that for me.” A small voice says behind him.

Turning to the kid he smiles. “It’s no biggie. They were trying to steal your bike. I’ve seen the tactic before. I wasn’t just going to sit there and watch it happen.”

“Its four of them against just you. You were pretty brave there.” He looked sheepish as he didn’t mention himself in that equation.

“Maybe, but better me than you.”

He gives another smile and sits back into his seat looking out the window. Turning in his own seat he jerks in shock to see the girl in white sitting right in front of him in one of the side chairs in the front of the bus.

And she was staring right at him again.