TRIS-

I pulled my knees up to my chest, and leant my head against the bus window. It felt like my brain was slowly melting away with the vibrations, and the liquidised mush was just sloshing arround in my skull because it had nowhere else to go.

Melanie would report back to Caleb, as per the agreement, and then Caleb would call me later this evening, screaming down the phone about how I wasn't trying hard enough to change. Or maybe if I was lucky he wouldn't bother calling. Maybe he'd just sit fuming and Cara would have to deal with his stroppy self. Actually I don't know which I'd prefer. Probably the first, at least his rage is mildly entertaining - and he'd wear himself out so Cara wouldn't be burdened.

A man in an ugly suit and tie shot a glare my way - was probably offended that I had the audacity to put my feet on the seat.

The bus crawled slowly through town along with all the other work traffic.

Two seats in front of me was a boy who didn't understand that the purpose of headphones was so that you could listen to music without having everyone else hear it also. Beside me was an old lady miraculously managing to work her way through a bag of toffees without loosing her dentures. And then a woman hissing down the phone about how useless busses are and that she'll be late at this rate.

Lovely people.

The door's opened once more and a few people got off, and a few others got on.

And then on particular person came and plopped down in the seat next to me.

"Hey, Tana," long time no see.

"Shaun," I said, not bothering to hide my annoyance, "I both saw and met you yesterday - not a long time at all."

"I know, I know... But I missed my new favourite buddy."

"Buddy?"

"Yup," he said, and started digging arround in his pocket. "Buddy. Or would you prefer something else? Pal? Bestie? Dearly beloved? Affectionless ferret?"

"What on-"

"Fellow furry."

"You're a fury?"

"No," he grinned. "But I could be."

I huh he'd and dropped my legs back down to a normal sitting position. "Let's just stop with the silly names. Why are you on the bus when you have a car?"

"How dare you question why I'm on the bus. An alien could have stole my car and now I'm distraught and careless for all you know."

"I highly doubt it."

"Yeah..." Maybe aliens is a bit too extreme of an idea. Lollipop?"

He had two. One green. One red.

"Thanks," I said, taking the green one. "But why are you on the bus?"

Whith a shrug he stuffed the wrapper into his pocket. "I was walking to my car actually and saw you looking like you've just attended a funeral so swooped in to save the day with candy."

"Wow. How noble of you to swoop like that."

"Eh, you know me, I'm the famous swooped. So what's up? Who died and made you look so miserable?"

"Well aren't you the nosey one..." I scoffed.

Shaun gasped, and jumped a little in his seat. "Talia! How dare you call me nosey! I'm merely a concerned buddy."

A few small laughs escaped me, an a few fellow passengers turned arround to serve at Shaun's theatrics. "It's just been a bad day, nothing drastic."

"Welp," he said, "I guess because I'm the swooper, it's only right for me to swoop in and make it a good day."

A/N

Alright so this is just a quick chapter, but the next should be exciting. And then the one after that... Well... Let's just say it's going to be mega long and featuring a character who has been tragically missing so far in this book. *wink* *nudge* *hint* *cough* Tobias!

Hopefully you'll forgive me for the brevity of this chapter. If not, well... Tough?

As always, I do not own Divergent.