Your POV 

Hannah was laughing while making subtle moves on Shu, acting like a complete different person than the classmate I know. Shu's back was facing me, so I could only hope that he wasn't finding her behaviour attractive.

But then again, I shouldn't be one the restrict his behaviour.

"Wait, you aren't an Elite!"

"Are you an...anime freak?"

"Get lost, loser!"

"This isn't place isn't for the poor like you!"

I heard the shouts of Elites, and I realized an argument would ensue soon. The Elites had spotted Hannah, and for some ridiculous reason, they hated the poor the most. Of course, Hannah wouldn't run away, she would stay and argue back. I just wondered how long she would last.

Before I could react to this, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around to see a shy Esme, fiddling with her uniform as her dark bangs covered her eyes.

"Esme?"

"Um," she shooked the bangs out of her eyes. "You talked with Georgia, right?"

I nodded, getting a feel as to where this conversation was going. "Right."

"How is she?" Esme suddenly blurted out. "Is she alright? Do the Elites over there bully her? Does...does she miss me?"

"Georgia's doing fine," I replied softly. "As expected, the Elites try to do their worst to her, but you know Georgia. She's not having any of their shit. And, of course she misses you."

Esme sighed, visibly relieved and I raised my eyebrows. "Shouldn't you two make up already?"

"I mean, I want to," Esme squirmed, looking down at her feet. "But I don't know. I just can't get over the fact that she didn't tell me that she moved until she did. I really thought she told everything to me, so it was like a stab in the gut that she was keeping this big secret from me."

It then occurred to me that some of my true friends would feel this way if Ashley forcibly leaked my crush on Shu in the future. I mean, c'mon, I loved him, and I didn't tell anyone.

But then I remembered that Esme was subtly asking advice from me, so I stopped focusing on myself. "I think both of you have a little fault. Georgia should've trusted you, but then that would've made leaving Claritate harder when it really was for the best of Georgia's mental health."

Esme chewed her lip. "When you put it that way...you make me sound like a selfish brat. But, maybe you're right."

I smiled warmly. "You're not a selfish brat, it's just your human instinct to hold onto the things you love, like friends."

"But, you see, I don't love her as a friend," Esme whispered and I realized that she was crying. "I don't know, but the feelings I have for her go way past being a friend."

"Esme..." I whispered. "Y-You're bi?"

She nodded. "I was always attracted to girls, but all the Elites were straight so I just brushed those feelings off. But a few months ago, my boyfriend broke up with me, remember? I was kinda over boys, so I started to take more interest in girls, but of course, I didn't tell anyone except my family. I was just so scared of the Elites, even when they were my friends. But, I guess now, you've shown me that popularity doesn't really matter anymore."

I shook my head. "I didn't show you that. It was probably Chanel. But, I'm the first person outside your family to know?"

She nodded again. "Not even Georgia knows."

Then Esme facepalmed and groaned. "I complained about Georgia keeping secrets, but here I am, keeping this massive one to myself. Usually I would tell her my secrets, I really would (y/n), but I'm just scared of Georgia figuring out I have a crush on her. Because...she's straight, isn't she? She's only dated boys and only shown an interest in boys."

Esme was right. Georgia is straight. I've never, ever seen her look at a girl in that way. Most of the time she hangs around boys anyways. I doubt she's even batted an eye at the girls at St. Catherine's. 

"Look, Esme," I took a deep breath. "I think you know not to force someone into a certain sexuality. But, are you going to deal with your feelings left unrequited?" 

Suddenly, Georgia was next to me, her perfect brows furrowed. "Esme, do you have an unrequited crush you didn't tell me about?"

Esme and I exchanged shocked glances. Noticing this, Georgia chuckled dryly. "This is a bus for people who live in Divitae Streets, guys. Do I really seem out of place?"

The bus was here, I realized. But this conversation was far from over. But it wasn't my conversation to have. "Esme, Georgia, I need to go, I'm sorry for leaving so quickly."

"It's alright," Esme smiled before glancing at Georgia. "We needed to have a private chat anyways."

The two walked off, ready to engage in a conversation that would certainly not be bland. I turned around to survey to bus stop before I entered the bus. Unexpectedly, Hannah was still there. She didn't seem like she won the argument, but she was there nonetheless. With Shu. 

My forehead creased, and before I could do anything I felt an arm sling around my shoulder. I glanced up into a pair of dreamy eyes unlike anyone else's. "J-Jack!"

"Hey (y/n)," he smirked before leading me into the bus and seating me next to him, much to my repulse. "Don't look so shocked. This is a bus for people who live in Divitae Streets. Do I really seem out of place?"

"That's the second time someone told me that today," I tiredly rolled my eyes. "But this is the first time that that's made me annoyed."

The bus doors opened again as two people entered the bus just before it left. My eyes widened in shock as I locked eyes with Shu, who also mirrored my expression. I wasn't shocked because of him; I was shocked because Hannah was linking arms with him and grinning up at him with a look on her face I didn't even know she was capable of making. 

The two hurriedly took a seat in front of Jack and I before the bus pulled out of the stop.

"I knew it."

Jack's whisper brought me back to face his eyes. "H-Huh?"

"I knew you had a crush on Shu Kurenai," he said quietly. "Does it make you jealous, seeing another girl touch him like that? Because that's how you make me feel when I see you look at Kurenai."

I huffed, tired of his flirting. "How did you manage to focus this conversation on you?"

"What can I say?" he said airily, shrugging. "Who wouldn't want this conversation focused on me?" 

I rolled his eyes, catching sight of Hannah and Shu conversing as I did so. Without really meaning to, I leant forward to catch snippets of their conversation.

"Who would've thought that you were capable of eavesdropping," Jack grinned impishly. I nearly rolled my eyes again. That just proved how much he didn't know about me. 

"Shut up," I hissed. 

"Very well," he leaned forward too and when I raised an eyebrow at him, he whispered, "Can't let you have all the fun."

His eyes twinkled in amusement and, in an effort to ignore those circles of enchantment, I stared hard at the back of the chair in which Hannah was sitting in. 

She was getting dirty looks from all over the bus, but as expected, she just brushed them off and continued chatting to Shu.

"...as expected, you're so organized," Hannah was saying, and I saw her move to 'accidently' brush Shu's arm. "And so smart."

Jack and I simultaneously grimaced at how obvious and cringey that move was. At least we agreed on one thing. 

"...it's not that hard, really," Shu replied. The seats cut off my view from him, so I could only hope he had moved his arm away from Hannah. "Just pay attention in class."

"Look at you, being all modest," Hannah giggled. I froze. I didn't know she was capable of making that sound. I heard her sigh in exasperation. "I try to pay attention in class, but there's so many distractions. Like, (y/n). So annoying how she acts all goody two shoes, but really ditches class like everyone else."

"Ooh, they're talking about you!" Jack elbowed me, as if I was deaf or something. 

I glowered at him before shouting-whispering, "Shh! I didn't get to hear Shu's response because of you!"

"...parents want to get a tutor for me, but I don't want one," Hannah sighed again as I resumed listening. Then she batted her eyelashes and I nearly choked. "Unless it's you perhaps?"

"It's just like one of those Wettpad stories!" Jack gaped.

"Wattpad, not Wettpad," I crossed my arms. "And no, it's not a fanfiction! Shut up, I missed Shu's response again!"

Hannah was talking again, "I need a tutor, though. I really do. On my last test I only got five out of thirty six."

Jack whistled quietly. "She got some nerve talking about her failing test scores like that on an Elite bus."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

Jack looked at me as if I was crazy. "You seriously don't know? You're not the only one eavesdropping. There are eyes everywhere. I would bet my life that they're heard every single one of your conversations on this bus."

I frowned instantly. I always knew Elites were nosy, but this is borderline creepy. I brushed it off, hoping that it was just a silly ploy of Jack's.

"You make it sound as though they're working for another government," I scoffed. "Please, it's not like we have a big secret."

I didn't like the way how Jack's eyes darkened. "Oh, but I do."

--------------------

Exhausted from the school day, I flopped into my bed and stared at the ceiling as soon as I got home.

"Oh, but I do."

I rolled over to one side, pondering on the words that had been echoing in my mind every since they had been uttered out loud. Fortunately for Jack, the bus stopped right as his stop before I could ask him about it. He only left with a cheeky grin, leaving me confused. 

But then again, this could just be another one of his antics to make girls interested in him. I sighed tiredly, my mind drifting to another boy I knew.

Hannah didn't live in Divitae Streets, so she had just gotten of the bus when Shu did. 

I wonder...I wonder if she stayed over at his apartment.

A familiar feeling bubbled in my chest, and I sighed again. The amount of times I had felt jealous today was incredible. That feeling had been pushing me to do things that I never thought I would do. Eavesdropping intentionally, hosting possessive feelings...I'm starting to sound like an Elite again. 

I really do have no business in Hannah and Shu's relationship. Whatever that is. 

"Oh, but I do."

I slapped my cheeks when those words reverberated inside my head again. It was obviously a lie, to get me more intrigued in Jack. Because it's working. He's been on my mind frequently as my mind keeps on questioning it.

Because what lie could Jack have? Jack was the classic, popular, honest jock. Stereotypical, but true. I doubt he has a secret that he's dying to keep. But then my thoughts wander to the look in his eyes, Esme's confession, Layla's hidden feelings and myself. 

If Jack had a big secret, I wouldn't be surprised because at this point, I feel like everyone has a secret that they're dying to keep.

[ word count: 1973 ]