⏱️ Later that evening...

°Deanne's POV °
5:45 P. M.

"Mi say mi breast dem tender!"

Heheya, yawh fondle dem up too much a night time.

Crumpling the empty snack bag in my hand, I pull the Catherine's Peak bottle from the side pocket of my bag and uncork the cap. A teasing grin spreads my lips as I stare at my best friend. "Come mek mi massage dem fi yuh..."

"Get away from me, batty gyal!" She laughs.

A small chuckle leaves my lips, as well, as I bring the water bottle to my lips and take a huge swig to wash down the remnant of the Double Cheese biscuit I'm eating. Boi the sun a pelt! It nuffi set by now? "Well since mah offer a solution and yuh refuse it, stop complain to mi then."

Ricky smiles then sticks her tongue out at me. "Gweh."

Real problem child...

I hum. Then sigh. "Wait deh man, yuh bus dem strike or sum'n?"

It's as if it's just dawning on me that we've been standing here for over an hour with not a bus in sight.

No man!

Rickel hisses her teeth and sighs. "Same t'ing mi just deh yasso a say to miself!"

I simply hum as I stare ahead, watching the faces of passers-by. The bus stop was skanty when we got here, earlier. Now, it's packed to the brim with schoolers, and working-class people alike. People fi kill!

I sigh.

Bwoi, the Prime Minister need fi do sum'n 'bout tha bus system yah. Jah know.

"Yo, yuh still deh yasso, mi G?"

At the sound of the voice, my eyes shift to Shav as he comes up to us.

He past here earlier, him and a group of sixth formers, and now he's back. In his right hand, he holds a Burger King juice cup, while the complementary bag is in his left hand. He has a smirk on his face.

Burger King pon a Tuesday? Real rich...!

My eyes roam his body, travelling over his blue and white uniform which sits on him like a well-tailored second skin, down to the pair of clarks on his feet, then back to his smirking face.

Before fleeting over to the guy behind him. Tall, dark, and equally as handsome. He's also decked out in JC's sixth form uniform which fits him just as neatly.

Five hype.

"Big head boy, why aren't you home yet?" My smile is teasing.

"Woulda ask you the same question."

"Hello? I'm my own big woman. Excuse me."

Shav comes to stand beside me. "Thru yuh start feather up, likkle girl, yuh think yuh big. All a scull school and shit."

"Who yuh see scull school?" I roll my eyes.

"Yuh forwud yessideh?"

I bite back my smile. Guilty. Except I didn't purposely scull. "Are you keeping tabs on me, Mr Davey?"

Don't put it past uno boy child nowadays eno.

"But muss!" he says, his answer taking me by surprise.

"Stalker!" I mock yell, causing Rickel to giggle from where she is beside me.

Shavar's smirk stretches into a grin, highlighting his dimples. "Cyaa gi' mi woman nuh chance fi cheat pon me and mi nuh know. Yuhzight!"

"Move yuh likkle nasty face 'bout woman, yuh stink like!" I swat his arm as I say so, causing Rickel to laugh. But she quickly covers it up with a cough.

This draws Shavar's attention over to her. He clears his throat. "Wait, a who yuh friend?"

So yuh just a see the girl yasso from how when? I smirk. "Awah? Yuh like her?"

"Who?" He frowns. "Mi loyal eno babes, one woman mi desire and a you..."

Watchya!

A who and you?

Fava backshot pon hungry belly.

I roll my eyes. "So don't ask mi noth'n 'bout the people dem girl child then."

"See mi Dawg deh eno," he motions with his head to his friend beside him, "what if mi can set a link pon di G.?" Turning to Rickel, he runs his tongue over his pink lips. "Weh yuh name, babes?"

I nearly die when I see how pink Rickel's face gets. But a wah coulda cause this? I laugh. "Why yuh waan know the girl name, Shav? Yawh trouble maker eno."

Shrugging, he pops the BK straw between his lips and takes a sip. "Just curious. It nuh hurt fi be polite eno." He turns back to me. "Watchya nuh. This a Mari, mi dupes from a taller time. Him like her yuzeet."

Never know yuh can read man mind now.

Or yawh man mouth-piece.

"Yuh think a so like go?" Ricky answers, before I can voice my thoughts, finally finding her voice.

"How yuh mean? After ano Rocket Science we a study ova yasso. As far as me see it, boy see pretty girl, boy likes pretty girl. Boy's friend mek pretty girl see the pree. Simple mathematics."

She smiles.

Seriously?

She's feeling him.

I can tell. And apparently so can "Mari" as he chuckles and shakes his head.

"Nuh so it go, Mari?"

"Look like a you she a feature eno, mad Dawg," his friend says, speaking for the first time since he came over with Shav. His voice is smooth and deep. I can hear a little underlying accent somewhere in there too. Interesting. "See how she a smile smile and giggle giggle since yuh forwud?"

Shavar's head snaps to him, his lips curling as if his friend had just insulted him. "Mind wah yawh say fronta mi future baby mother eno yute...!"

Hear yah!

I scoff. "Not even wife eno, baby mother. Nuh sorry fi mi, Mister Davey."

His expression softens. "How yawh treat mi so, babes? Yuh done know yawh mi Queen already. Believe nuh man."

"Whatever." I roll my eyes. I know he's only joking, but, were he not, I'd be a fool to take another Davey boy seriously.

After what Chance did to me?

Yuh crazy?

"But pon a serious note though," Shav says to his friend, when he sobers up, "wull medz."

"Wah mi do, dawg?"

"Yawh fuck around when yuffi a show the catty a vibes, yute. Nuh you just a tell mi say yuh tired a the streggae dem and want a nice, decent girl fi settle dung wid? See a perfect opportunity yah eno, dawg. How yawh move so?"

Ah boi. Shavar is a menace eno...

The guy laughs. "No sah. Angle yuh business, man..."

Shavar makes a face. "Nah. Not my type."

Rickel immediately gets defensive, folding her hands across her chest and tilting her head to the side, locking his gaze. "A wonder why?"

Hold on! How that sound like you want to be his type so, miss lady?

I quirk a brow, observing them keenly.

And yuh know say all waa gwaan, dem match?

Shavar is definitely her type.

The thought brings a smile to my lips as I continue to take in the exchange.

"Honestly, yuh kinda likkle bit nerdy...but it cute." He tosses the now emptied juice cup onto the garbage heap just beneath the rails. Nasty rass! Then adds, "Not my speed stillz."

Hear the jancrow!

Dutty style.

My best friend scoffs. "Who nerdy? Yuh bright eeh! Yuh know mi, likkle boy?"

"Yeah, not too much on my bestie now..." I butt in.

I half expected Shavar to respond snarkily, so imagine my surprise when he only chuckles and shrugs.

"Naffi know yuh. But, mi nuh need glasses fi see that. Yuh just give off tha vibe deh, yuzimi. Like that 'yuh cyaa mash ants' typa vibe. No disrespect." He shrugs. "But as an in-the-street man, mi like a girl weh, yuh know, militant certain way."

Like the batta ears Alpha gyal dem weh eva hitch up 'round you and your fren dem? Fava.

"Like mi baby mother, Apple." He adds, as he shifts the BK bag to his next hand and, with his now free hand, pulls at my tie, running his thumb over the badges pinned on there.

But uno hear ya!

I hiss my teeth, adjusting the straps of my knapsack on my back. "Bwoy, guh suck a pumz and come offa mi name nuh, and don't mix mi."

"Yuh see that?" He turns to Ricky, giving her a mischievous smirk. "Bad up that name. That mi a talk 'bout. Dig that."

Rickel and Mari--or whatever him waan name --laughs at the way he says so, forcing me to join them.

I roll my eyes, smiling still. "Not even a laugh. Cho!"

Real idiot this eno.

'Bout him waaa get bad up...freaky like.

Shavar says something, I'm assuming something snarky, but I don't hear what it is as I'm immediately distracted by the bus which pulls onto North Odeon avenue.

Lord God!

My heart skips a sudden beat, then continues to race in my chest as my eyes follow the bus which pulls to the front of the line.

The conductor hops off, allowing the passengers to off board.

But my eyes remain on the driver, who doesn't see me, as his head is down, as if searching for something.

As if on cue, he looks up and over to where I'm standing, his eyes locking with mine.

My heart leaps.

I don't know why I expected him to smile.

Instead, he narrows his eyes for a moment, then frowns, before immediately turning his head away.

Watchya!

A who and him?

The man doesn't make eye contact with me again, until he opens his door and slides out. With his face ben' up like old iron, he walks to the front of the bus and stops, throwing his blue driver's shirt on, leaving it unbuttoned.

Beneath it, he's wearing all black. Black V-neck tee, black ripped, skinny jeans paired with black Air Force Ones with red bottoms.

Yum.

"It look like the bus them just feel fi come, Apple. One backa one another!"

The sound of Ricky's voice breaks me out of the trance I'm in. I reluctantly pull my eyes away from Driva to look at her. With a nod, I hum.

But I don't focus long enough to say anything else to her, as my eyes and ultimately my attention returns to the sexy piece of specimen standing in front the shinny silver bus, his head buried in his phone.

I don't understand why, but his sudden presence makes me nervous.

And hot. The thought prompts the heat to creep into my cheeks. I turn away, tuning back into the conversation in time to hear Shavar ask Rickel which bus she takes home.

She answers saying, "Stony Hill. Or any one going that side."

"Ah."

"So a so dem run bad?" he adds.

To which she nods. "Sometimes."

True. She's the reason I'm still in Half Way Tree at this hour. Tilting my wrist, I look at the time. Minutes to six. A so it did late? Jah Jah. But I can't leave her here. I must see to it that she gets on a bus, safely. As a good bestie.

Plus, Mommy is working late tonight anyways.

And I don't know if Ali a come home or not.

So mi nuh inna nuh particular hurry fi go home go be by miself.

I sigh.

My eyes fleet to Driva and, as if instinctively, he lifts his head and looks at me.

A small smile quirks the corners of this lips.

Then his eyes drift downwards and I notice his expression changes. His jaws tick and his eyes narrow.

Awah?

I follow his line of sight, my heart doing a backflip when I realize where, or rather, what he's looking at.

Shavar's hand which is still holding onto my tie.

I swallow. Hard.

Then look away, breaking our stare.

Jesus, the man mussi a think things deh now...!

Goodly a pree say Shavar a mi man or sum'n.

Lawd.

I shuffle on my feet, feeling uneasy.

Why do I care though?

"So a stay yuh a stay with her 'til she get bus, Apple?" Shavar asks.

I nod, absent-mindedly.

For some reason, I feel slightly uncomfortable with Shav being so handsy with me, when Such Man is literally so close to see.

Which is weird.

And, as if the universe feels like fi shit pon mi parade all of a sudden, Shavar releases my tie then comes up and wraps his arm around my neck, saying, "That's why yawh mi woman eno. Yuh heart big like fimmi."

Likkle bwoy...!

Biting my lip, I steal a glance at Driva who tucks his phone into his pocket and pushes his body off of the bus he's leaning on. He pulls his pants up to his waist and struts over to the vendor, a few feet away, joining his 'ductor and few other men who're in deep conversation.

A vex him vex?

A cyaa vex him vex.

Right?

"Shavar."

The sound of the voice brings my attention to the brown Andrews girl who walks past with her friends.

She smiles when Shavar turns to look at her, giving him a small wave.

He gives her a curt nod. "Sup."

Mrrr! I bite back my laugh at his reaction. Flicking his arm off my shoulder, I say, "Hear yuh woman dem a call yuh deh, gwaan."

Next thing yuh mek the people dem get the wrong impression.

He laughs then quickly sobers up. "Wait, how it look like a try you a try run mi so? A hide yawh hide mi? A wonder if yuh know say mi nuh waa mi woman a hide mi like mi a some sneaky link? A who yuh nuh waa see mi wid mi hand pon yuh? Mind eno. Me'll shot a boy now!"

I hiss my teeth. Cho! Why yuh nuh gwaan, man...

"No so it fi go, Kayann?" He turns to Rickel who has been standing silently beside me.

I guffaw. "Who name Kayann, Shavar?"

This blasted big head, ugly bwoy yussi!

"Nuh so yuh say yuh fren name?" He looks at me like I'm losing my mind. Or my memory.

Or both.

"Mi!?" I jab at my chest. Then laugh. "When mi and yuh hold dem breeda conversation deh, sir?"

Uno see how man wicked and lie?

Shrugging, he smiles sweetly, furrowing his brows. "Then wah yuh say she name again?"

"A Rickel the girl name!"

He smirks. "Tell yuh say mi must find out wah she name..."

I frown, rolling my eyes, immediately realising the trick. "Terrible like."

"Rick-el..." he mumbles, emphasing the last syllable of her name as if testing it out. He then turns to his friend with a devious grin. "Yuh hear that, Mari? 'El'. Like hell. All her name a tell we say a bay trouble she gi' eno."

I laugh again. Yuh know mi cyaa bother? "Shavar, wah yuh still a do yasso? Yuh n'ave things to do and places to be?"

Yuh just a chat so like yuh mouth buss to pussyclaat...

Shavar shakes his head and adjusts the tie-pin on his tie. "And yuh waa know say yuh right eno. A tha bredda yah mi a follow go barber mek yuh see mi yasso same way."

Oh.

"Uno go barber in Half Way Tree? That's rich!"

"Real rich...!" Rickel echoes.

Meeches.

Our comment makes both him and his friend laugh simultaneously.

We fall into conversation about barber and hairdressing prices.

Every now and again, I find myself stealing glances in Tyrone's direction, my heart fluttering with excitement each time our eyes meet.

What the hell is this feeling?

Out of nowhere, my mind drifts to yesterday, and my bold act, forcing me to blush at the thought.

This is the first I'm seeing him since, but the fact that he doesn't even acknowledge me makes me wonder.

What did he think of the kiss?

Him mussi a say me too desperate.

Lawd.

I sigh.

"Yuh alright, Beb," Rickel asks, nudging me.

"Yeah man, mi good. Just a get tired and hungry now."

"Yuh waa piece a mi burger?" Shavar says, a mischievous smile quirking his lip.

"Move..." I hiss my teeth. "Nuh sorry fimi."

Carry it go gi' yuh hungry-belly bredda.

They all laugh.

And I can't help but join them.

The sound must have travelled a distance, as I instinctively look up the road to see Driva's eyes on me, a scowl marring his face.

Him inna him feelings or sum'n?

Awah this man.

. . .

It's been roughly ten minutes since Shav and his friend left, and all now a bus cyaa come.

Mi soon gone home eno, 'cause it look like Rickel affi go sleep out yasso tonight.

I'm talking to Rickel, my back turned to the road, when suddenly a strong-scented cologne wafts into my nostrils.

Before I can acknowledge it, I sense someone come up behind me, sticking me in my left side.

"Wha di bumb--" I start to say.

Spinning around, I come face-to-face with Driva, his sudden presence scaring the shit out of me.

I gasp, grabbing my chest. "JESUS! Yuh frighten mi eno!"

A when him reach yasso?

No 'evening'.

No 'what's up'.

Just pop up so.

Mi not even did realize when him move.

Chuckling lowly, his only response is a simple, "My bad."

Tell mi now!

"Yuh alright?" I look up at him, wondering why he's suddenly over here. He has been acting like he doesn't know who I am, since evening. So a wah now?

He shrugs, ignoring my question. "Mi a go your side eno, yawh come?"

Excuse me?

My heart skips a beat. But I play it cool. "My side? No Constant Spring mi hear the 'ductor a say?"

He smiles and it almost stops my breath. He has a really nice smile. And the double-cheeked dimples is the cherry on top. Mercy.

Reaching behind his ear, he toys with the blunt that's tucked behind it. "Ago empty off a Spring first then go your place."

"Oooh..." Interesting.

"See, if mi did have yuh numba mi coulda tell yuh that. So yuh wouldn't affi waste bus fare come a Treez." Tyrone remarks, a hint of playfulness in his voice.

Think yuh slick?

At his words, however, a small smile forms on my lips. I peer up at him, then roll my eyes.

"A lie?" he challenges.

Resisting the urge to blush, I shuffle on my feet. "No. But the fact say yuh see mi in person now supposed to mean say the message connect clearer."

Right Louise?

Tyrone chuckles then shakes his head, adjusting the white handkerchief he has tied around his neck. "Yawh styla eno."

Hear ya.

"Ano style, a just facts," I shot back with a grin, reveling in our playful exchange.

Aye, mi a real Dasheen eno. Yuh see how the man start talk and suddenly it's like mi figot say him did a avoid mi earlier.

No sah.

I go silent, staring at my bag's strap as I wrap it around my finger, repeatedly.

"So weh yuh deh pon?" he asks after a few seconds of silence.

I quirk a brow, feigning innocence. "Wid wah?"

"Yawh come?"

Pon yuh buddy?

A joke!

"Mi nawh come noweh. Nuh Constant Spring that mi hear yuh 'ducta over desso a load fa?"

Tek mi fi idiot?

Tyrone nods, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. "Yeah, but this a mi last trip. When mi let off a Spring, mi just ago shot cross go ova so."

"Oh." 'Cause mi born yessideh...

"Mi a go your way fi real eno."

I guess he senses that I don't buy it.

"Of course you are." I give him a pointed glare.

"Big woman thing."

"So how mi hear yuh 'ducta a load fi Constant Spring then?" I still don't believe him.

"Mi nuh just tell yuh a thing?" He frowns. "Ago let off and then go your side. Swear."

Oh.

"So wah? Yawh forward?"

I don't know what to think. A part of me feels like he's being genuine, while the other part feels like he's taunting me.

Just say 'yes', because yuh know yuh waan go...!

...that a true.

"Alright then." I sigh. "Mi can go put mi friend pon a bus first?"

He locks eyes with me, holding my stare, narrowing his. "Which side she a go?"

I feel some typa way by the way he's looking at me. My insides tingle. "Stony Hill."

"Ah. Do that then nuh."

I pout, just realising something. "But by time mi come back the bus goodly full."

Although they recently started loading, it's late evening, and on a Tuesday, and not many buses are out here, so they'll most likely load quickly.

Driva turns to look behind him. "Yo, Perry, wul off tha front seat deh fi mi."

Perry nods. "Ah."

He turns back to me, his expression serious. "Gimme yuh bag..."

I do. And watch as he hands it over to his conductor who places it on the front seat and closes the window.

Awwww. "Thanks."

"That good man. Do yuh thing and forwud."

His tone sends tingles to my nether region. I love a man in charge. Hehehe. I giggle internally, like an idiot.

"Alright, mi soon come."

Turning on my heels, I grab Ricky's hand and pull her behind me. "Come."

"Wait nuh!" she complains, as I pull her along. "Wah kinda haste yuh inna so?"

"Girl, yuh hear the man say mi fi hurry up and come back before the bus load. Next thing it full before mi come back and the people dem start cuss."

"By the way nuh the man that weh Moesha dem did a talk 'bout today? Shottaz driver?"

I hiss my teeth, the mention of the likkle scabby dem instantly irritating my spirit. "Probably. And?"

Falling into step with me, she says, "Yuh know him?"

I don't have to ask what she's getting at. After all, she'd been watching us like a hawk the whole time. "Not really. Him granny live a Parkland so him come dung deh wah day and we buck up and him hail mi. 'Memba we did tek the bus wah day? So him mussi mark mi face."

I keep it simple.

After all, Rickel love run wid t'ings and mi nuh waa she start feel like say mi and the man inna things.

Not that I would mind.

"Oh."

"Yeah."

She goes silent before breaking it after a while, saying, "Him cute though. Nah lie."

I quirk a brow. "Mi think yuh only like brown man, miss."

Man like Shavar and Jev.

"That nuh mean say mi prejudice. And mi worse nuh blind fi caan identify when smaddy else look damn good." She giggles.

And so do I.

"Plus, dem type a man deh...yuh just see dem and know say dem buddy big."

I splutter a cough, my eyes going wide with shock.

Hear the virgin!

I halt in my tracks. "Come galang a yuh yard and don't mek mi scream out and wake up the whole a Half Way Tree! 'Cause it come like yuh forget yuh sexual status."

"Don't worry, mi soon trade it een fi a chicken and wrap combo."

"A you Najeeriii sing bout?"

Waiii.

I push her, both of us laughing out simultaneously, causing her to stumble forward, almost running into a vendor's stall.

The big, fat man frowns, adjusting the items which she almost knocks over. "Aye! Watch it, Miss Queenz."

"Sorry," she mumbles shyly, covering her mouth in embarrassment.

"Sixth former, control your behaviour on the government road," I tease.

"Nyam shit nuh, bitch, a you cause it," she whispers so only I can hear.

Laughing still, I continue to tease her saying, "Yes man, yuh hear how yuh renk, a that's why Biggs nearly lick yuh ova 'bout him stall..."

Rickel stops and rolls her eyes.

I laugh harder.

"Want the bus man tek yuh weh..."

Mi rass!

Not the least bit fazed, as I know she's joking, I smirk. "Mi want him tek mi weh too."

"Dutty gyal!" She's the one to shove me this time. "Yuh cyaa adapt some principle and behaviour?"

Wah name so?

"Watch if mi nuh tell Aunty Cynthia 'bout your dirty ways!" She grins.

I match her expression, falling back into step with her. "She knows her child. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Literally."

"Yuh soon know."

As she says that, a bus pulls in, the conductor bellowing out where he's loading for.

I hum. "See one bus deh a say Stony Hill, hurry up and go ketch one seat."

"Thank God." Ricky sighs then turns to give me a hug. "Thanks bestie. Later. Let me know when you get home."

I smile. "Def."

We pull apart and she enters the bus, taking a window seat.

Fi her style that.

Affi be a window seat.

She waves and I return it, before turning on my heels and navigating through the crowded sidewalk towards my own bus.

My eyes meet Tyrone's as I almost get to where he is. He's talking to this chick.

She has her back turned to me, so I can't see her face, but I can tell she's flirting by her body language.

A who she?

I furrow my brows, but decide I won't let it bother me.

After all, why should it bother me?

He isn't my man.

And I'm not his woman.

So...

I fold my arms across my chest as I get closer.

Looking up, Tyrone spots me, and he smirks. "That was quick!" he says, speaking over the woman's head.

She turns to see who he's talking to.

Nuff yuh fuck.

I shrug.

I'm bothered.

Scratch that; I'm bothered as hell.

My eyes travel over the woman. She's thick and dark, darker than me, and has a baby face. Her hair long and curly. Definitely a wig. And she's dressed in semi-casual attire... but I can tell she's coming from work.

But have time fi man.

She nuh tired?

I internally scoff.

"A smaddy seat that pon the front, Dada?" she asks, touching his bicep.

Watchya.

Mi know she nuh blind. She must see the bag puddung pon it.

Driva folds his arms, causing her hand to fall from his. She nuh see say a tell the man a tell her fi nuh touch him under style?

Yuh nuh shame, miss?

"Yes," he simply says. His tone firm.

Mrrr.

This brings a smile to my lips. A good! Too nuff.

'Bout yuh waa front seat.

"Wah 'bout the one beside yuh?"

Then what a woman determined.

No sah.

A fed up.

I look away, hissing my teeth below my breath.

It annoys me how friendly he's being with this woman.

But it annoys me even more how bothered I am by it.

Yuh know wah...

Hissing my teeth, loudly, I push past them and go into the bus, taking my seat on the front.

"Awah do tha school gyal deh?" I hear her say behind me, and bite my lips to resist the urge to tell her who a di "gyal".

As a virtuous Queen, I won't.

"Lowe that and tek yuh seat, Trish, a ready we ready," I hear Driva tell her.

Fucka yuh.

Pulling out my phone, I connect my airpods and settle comfortably as I click on TikTok.

The driver's door opens, in that same instance, and my eyes travel over to it.

And lock with those of the man standing there. His eyes narrow into slits, sending me a deadly glare.

In that moment, he looks like a father getting ready to discipline his child.

My frown deepens.

Nuh look pon mi, man.

Unable to focus, I look away. Before meeting his gaze once more.

"Calm," he mouths to me, and I can tell by his expression, it is filled with threat.

And if I don't, what will happen?

Mussi think mi a smaddy weh easy fi push ova.

My eyes burn. They stare unblinkingly as I watch the likkle "sum'n" hop up and into his seat. He looks at me another time, before shaking his head and chuckling lowly.

The atmosphere grows tense.

And my mood goes sour.

Mi really still a go wid this man, Father God?

In an effort to calm my nerves, I push the thought away, focusing my attention back on my phone instead.

The bus revs to life and the music comes on as Driva navigates the vehicle into the flowing traffic.

I can see the tension within him just by studying his body language. Him look well vexed.

I sigh. Awah this mi get miself inna tho...?

Despite myself, I have a feeling this night won't end on a good note.

Mi just hope him nuh tek mi weh fi true.

Jah Jah.