Turns out, Ruby knew how to act like a normal person on the bus. Who knew? After they walked a very long walk to the nearest bus stop and waited a very long time for the bus to come, Xavier had finally found a way to make his hair stop sparking, but not before they earned some very strange looks from the people around them. Ruby paid the driver and they all sat down near the back. “Excuse me, dearies?” asked a lady sitting near them. “Are your parents here or are you by yourselves?” “He’s our chaperone” Ruby said, pointing at Xavier. “Oh, him,” the lady said. “My friends keep calling him lightning head, and I can't figure out why.” “People can be strange sometimes,” Ruby replied smoothly. “Anyway, we have to go. Bye!” She dragged Coral and the rest of them up to the front of the bus to make it look like they were getting off, then, when they were out of the lady’s sight, plopped them down in one of the front seats. Coral looked at Ruby with newfound respect. “That was… impressive. Have you done stuff like this before?” Ruby did her recoiling snake thing again. “Course not,” she muttered. “Still, I don’t think I would have been able to do that,” Coral persisted. “Though I hardly think I look old enough to be your chaperone,” Xavier muttered. “I’m only 14, after all.” Jamie glared at Ruby, obviously still stinging from the “Fairy Godmother” comment. Coral studied Jamie. He was her best friend, yet she felt like she hardly knew him at all. He’d been rude to her and to Ruby (though Ruby had been pretty rude back) and he wasn’t acting like himself at all. Coral was also a little nervous about the ‘going insane’ thing he’d mentioned earlier. Was escaping the MPCS an ‘unimportant wish’? Of course not, Coral, you’re being stupid, she chided herself. Still she found herself scooting a little closer to Maggie. “We will be arriving in Golden Village momentarily,” the radio announced. “That’s our stop, guys!” Coral said excitedly. Finally, finally she could fix her mistake and save her town. “Golden Village is a nice name,” Maggie remarked. “It’s named after the large golden lion statue in the center,” Ruby informed her. “The town was built in 1949, but many buildings and roads were remodeled after that, over a period of 25 years.” Turns out, Ruby knew how to act like a normal person on the bus. Who knew? After they walked a very long walk to the nearest bus stop and waited a very long time for the bus to come, Xavier had finally found a way to make his hair stop sparking, but not before they earned some very strange looks from the people around them. Ruby paid the driver and they all sat down near the back. “Excuse me, dearies?” asked a lady sitting near them. “Are your parents here or are you by yourselves?” “He’s our chaperone” Ruby said, pointing at Xavier. “Oh, him,” the lady said. “My friends keep calling him lightning head, and I can't figure out why.” “People can be strange sometimes,” Ruby replied smoothly. “Anyway, we have to go. Bye!” She dragged Coral and the rest of them up to the front of the bus to make it look like they were getting off, then, when they were out of the lady’s sight, plopped them down in one of the front seats. Coral looked at Ruby with newfound respect. “That was… impressive. Have you done stuff like this before?” Ruby did her recoiling snake thing again. “Course not,” she muttered. “Still, I don’t think I would have been able to do that,” Coral persisted. “Though I hardly think I look old enough to be your chaperone,” Xavier muttered. “I’m only 14, after all.” Jamie glared at Ruby, obviously still stinging from the “Fairy Godmother” comment. Coral studied Jamie. He was her best friend, yet she felt like she hardly knew him at all. He’d been rude to her and to Ruby (though Ruby had been pretty rude back) and he wasn’t acting like himself at all. Coral was also a little nervous about the ‘going insane’ thing he’d mentioned earlier. Was escaping the MPCS an ‘unimportant wish’? Of course not, Coral, you’re being stupid, she chided herself. Still she found herself scooting a little closer to Maggie. “We will be arriving in Golden Village momentarily,” the radio announced. “That’s our stop, guys!” Coral said excitedly. Finally, finally she could fix her mistake and save her town. “Golden Village is a nice name,” Maggie remarked. “It’s named after the large golden lion statue in the center,” Ruby informed her. “The town was built in 1949, but many buildings and roads were remodeled after that, over a period of 25 years.”
Coral was yet again impressed. “Wow, Ruby. You know a lot about Golden Village.” “Sure do,” Ruby replied smugly. “Hey!” Maggie cried. “Ruby, you’re cheating! You have the guidebook in your pocket.” Sure enough, when Coral looked down, she saw a piece of paper sticking out of Ruby’s back pocket. Coral nimbly pulled it out and stuck it in her own jacket without notice. “No I don’t!” Ruby answered defensively. Maggie was not going to back down that easily. “Pockets,” she demanded. Ruby scowled and reached into her pocket - only to discover it empty - no guidebook! “Where is it? I had it here somewhere…” “Oh, come on Ruby. Just hand it over.” Ruby continued searching. “No, I really don’t have it!” Maggie looked at her suspiciously. “Okay… But you’re sure you don’t -” “YES!” Ruby’s hair was beginning to glow; her fingertips turned a fiery red, causing some stares from the other passengers. Just as it looked like she was going to explode, the radio crackled and the driver’s voice came on. “All getting off at Golden Village, here’s your stop!” Ruby stopped glowing and smoothed her hair. Maggie fell silent, and they all filed off the bus. Coral and Xavier were the only ones in the mood to say thanks for the ride. The group gathered on the sidewalk in the pouring rain, - Coral’s rain - and the bus rumbled away. Saved by the bell, was all Coral could think of. ************************************************************************** (look at comments for rest of story)
