Three days later finds me at the bus stop just outside the campus grounds waiting for the daily route to arrive. Today's the day that Marie should be showing up. Others are here as well, waiting to get on as well as well as waiting to see who gets off. Not all are students, but I'd say at least half are.

After I'd gotten my phone set up and she'd called me, we talked for hours. Filling each other in on what was going on as well as making plans. Waiting for my friend to get here has been damn near killing me, but I'd been passing the time by getting the lay of the land so I can better direct her when she finally gets here.

I'd even met up with Sasha again during one of my outings, and we got to talking. Turns out she's a self-made Loner as well. She didn't get too in depth about her background, but what I gathered from what she did share with me, it was probably just as abusive as my own. She's from somewhere on the opposite coast but didn't go into where, and I didn't ask.

She's planning on becoming a fine arts major, already apprenticing at a tattoo shop a few blocks away. Her portfolio of sketches is amazing. She reminds me of Kalista in some ways and while the memories are painful, I'm glad she's around. Sasha also takes self defense classes, which she'd noticed I'd shown interest in and offered to show me. I'd say we hit it off rather well.

Seeing the bus coming, I'm practically bouncing on my feet. I catch a glimpse of a couple of the guys nearby who're lingering on the rock wall that borders part of the property and have to roll my eyes. They're human and have been following me around for a couple of days now. I'll catch snippets of their conversations when they get close, and while at first it had me blushing and hurrying away, their hardcore bravado only seems to be able to take them so far.

Having seen me with Sasha, they're assuming I'm a werewolf and therefore wary about approaching, yet both appear to have developed a type of crush or fixation. So far they seem happy to admire from afar and are pretty much harmless. Everything I've overheard from them is pretty much puppy-love and while cute and sweet, ignoring them seems the best course. I've seen how outright rejection can go badly and I'm not in any way leading them on, so I'm leaving them be to do their own thing. If they overstep though, then I'll be sure to let them know.

The high pitched screech of the tires has me wincing and stepping back further, leaving plenty of room for those getting off to move around and those who want on to do so. The large windows on the side of the bus are tinted and plastered with the ad that goes along the length of the vehicle, so those outside can't see those who're inside clearly at all.

After three others come glomping down the steps with their assorted bags, I finally see Marie walk down them, a grumpy frown plastered over her face. A taller male behind her steps really close and leans down to whisper next to her ear but she snaps a growl at him to back off. Frowning myself, I step forward immediately.

She moves away from him quickly once stepping down to the ground, but he frowns and tries grabbing for her. I reach her first and pull her to me, wrapping her in a firm hug while shooting him a warning look.

"Wynter! Oh my God, I missed you! Let me get my bags, mom and Gramma also had me grab some of your things as well, so you can help carry some of this crap."

Laughing with her, we move through some of the other bodies who're impatiently trying to get onto the large vehicle. Moving towards the rear, the side compartments are raised and bags are being offloaded. We hurry forward to grab ours before anyone else can make off with them, and once she gives the nod that they're all accounted for, I lead the way towards the road that leads to the campus.

"Hey, wait! I'm not finished with you yet!"

Looking over my shoulder, the man who had tried grabbing for Marie is stomping after us. While not all that old, he's at least in his prime. He may have been handsome at one point, but hard and rough living took its toll on both his appearance and his mannerisms, it would seem. I put myself in between him and my human friend, he being several inches taller than I doesn't faze me a bit, but it would seem he had gotten used to using his height to intimidate. The fact that it doesn't have me cowering seems to deflate his sails a tiny bit but only riles his anger more.

"You little hussy, get back here! You can't rile a man then leave him high and dry!"

Blinking at him, I catch Marie's expression from the corner of my eye as she makes a face at the guy.

"I didn't do or say anything to you! I ignored you! You're the one who has been reading into things since the last stop that picked you up."

Before he can raise his voice again, I step into him, bringing his attention back to me. His temper flaring in his eyes as his nostrils widen. He's all human, but that doesn't matter when emotions enter the mix. My hands are full with suitcases currently, so I use them as a buffeting force to keep from making any actual hands-on contact.

"I think you're confused here, sir, and need to turn around. Clearly you misread the situation and need to leave before things escalate. We don't want any trouble and neither do you."

The man is glaring down at me, as if I were staring down a rampaging bull with his flaring nose and reddening cheeks. I can see his mind working. Would appear he isn't going to back down, then he suddenly backs off. He even goes as far as raising his hands and takes several steps back before turning and returning to the bus. I'm a bit confused until I turn around and see that my own stalkers had moved up.

Shooting them a puzzled but grateful smile, they salute Marie and I before going on their own way. Marie whistles while nudging me with her elbow as I move up next to her as we continue on our own way.

"Oooo, who are they, hmm? There I was still workin' my butt off at home and you were over here makin' nice with the college boy cuties! What gives?"

Chuckling, I shake my head and wave my encumbered arms.

"Uh, no. Sorry, but you got it all wrong. I don't even know who they are, really. They've been trying to work up the nerve to approach for the past couple days, but so far haven't had any luck. They just follow me around at a distance when they happen to catch me outside."

"They're human, aren't they?"

Her question has me cheesing at her but nodding all the same. Her arrival time is a lot earlier than mine was, so we have plenty of time to get things done.

"Come on, let's drop this stuff off at the room and I'll take you to the main office to pick up your stuff."

With excited chatter, I point things out to her all the way there, feeling the newness of the place all over again now that I get to share it with her. While I've been here for several days now, it feels more...complete, with her here.

🌖🌗🌘🌑🌒🌓🌔

✰ \(‾▿‾\) 𝔇𝔬𝔫'𝔱 𝔣𝔬𝔯𝔤𝔢𝔱 𝔱𝔬 𝔳𝔬𝔱𝔢 (/‾▿‾)/ ✰