>be Evan, eighth grade, on the bus.

>It's winter, all the kids in their puffy coats and mittens.

>Evan sits by himself, listening to Jason's Metallica CD on his Discman when he notices something peculiar.

>Juan Torres and Simon Johnstone are covertly disappearing one at a time from the seat in front of him. One of the two ducks down while the other intently watches the bus driver, Ms Dee, and then the one who disappeared will come back up and the watcher will disappear. They take turns like this several times.

>Evan leans forward, headphones still on, trying to make it look like he's just about to rest his forehead on the back of their seat.

>He peeks between their shoulders, sees them playing rock paper scissors.

>Simon loses.

>Goddammit, says Simon.

>Juan quietly slips down between their seat and the seat in front of them.

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>Simon swings his legs up onto the seat out of the way and watches Ms. Dee's sunglasses in the mirror up front.

>Juan lies on his belly down between the seats.

>Someone else is down there with him.

>Evan stealthily shifts his gaze over Simon's shoulder, getting a better view of the floor.

>It's Lily Trent, lying on her back.

>Juan is lying on top of Lily and the two of them are kissing, awkwardly. No tongue, just little nips on each other's lips.

>Lily is giggling wildly, peering up lasciviously at Juan.

>They kiss a bit more, and then she pushes him away.

>She looks up, sees Evan spying from behind Simon.

>Eew, what are you looking at?

>Evan throws himself back against his seat like the bus just went into warp speed.

>He looks out the window, heart pounding, knowing he's been caught.

>Juan appears next to Simon.

>They both smirk at him.

>Don't you feel so lucky, Barker? Juan says.

>Evan doesn't respond.

>I think we're gonna start calling you cherry-face, says Simon.

>Fortunately, the bus arrives at their stop next.

>They stand up to get off, slinging their backpacks over their shoulders.

>Evan looks out the window, still not acknowledging them. They take off.

>Lily waits for her companions to walk down the aisle, then slips up from between the two seats and follows them.

>Her black hair is in two long braids under her lime green wool winter hat.

>She doesn't look back.