I finally got the motivation to check my phone ever since I had sent my last text about Noah throwing his damned party a week after her passing. Before I even checked my phone, the bus driver stopped at one of the bus stands. I looked up to see who was getting on this empty, dull bus. As I watched the person talking to the bus driver, I was able to get a good look at his face.

It was some kid that goes to my school. He’s in one of my classes but I never cared enough to pay attention to his name when the teacher called roll call. I’m pretty sure I had him in one of my groups though, for some school project. I think his name started with a ‘D’ or something like that.

“You too, sir,” he starts muttering to himself as if there’s no one on this bus, which is basically true. It was just me and the bus driver, now him. “Old man. I’m surprised he can see.”

He started chuckling a little while he was on his phone, which looked like it was halfway through death, and he finally took a seat, which had to be the seat next to me.

I never had an opinion on a lot of people at my school but I definitely had one on him. He’s rude to the point that if he were to be nice, people would think he was joking around and being a bigger jerk. He would be one of those people who I don’t like, at all. Yet, I find him interesting, if so, amusing. I don’t know why. Therefore, my opinion of him: he’s certainly interesting but not the type where I would want to voluntarily be friends with him, let alone even talk to him. Seems like torture if I were to even try to engage in conversation with him out of all people

Hopefully, he won’t try to start a conversation with me. Almost everyone at our school randomly goes up to me and says “Oh I’m so sorry for your loss.” Then they walk away. One, I don’t even know them. Two, don’t feel sorry for me and leave me alone. Your pathetic little sorries don’t do anything. They won’t bring her back, won’t they?

I ignored him and just stared out the window. Then I felt a buzz in my jacket. Oh crap, I completely forgot about the text Noah had sent and what I said back. I forgot to check it. Let’s see who is going to curse me out this time.

“I mean, she is right. Ur hosting a party at the worst times possible. Under Camellia’s name is what is sadder”

Wow, someone actually agrees with me. That’s new. I thought I was going to receive hell for being right. People are finally using their brains for once. I felt a random tap on my shoulder, which scared the hell out of me. What does he even want?

“Hey, aren’t you Valerie? The dead girl's best friend?”

Well, that’s one way to remember me. ‘The dead girl’s best friend.’ He doesn’t even know her name, yet knows mine. Her name has been all over the school news and news in general. How does he not know? “I guess.”

I didn’t want to answer that question. Being remembered as the ‘dead girl’s best friend’ isn’t exactly the best way to be remembered. Also, who just says that to people? If he knew my name, how come he doesn’t know hers? And if he knew Camellia is— was my best friend, why would he just say that?

“Great. I’m Devon. I’m in your science period. Don’t you remember? I was in your group for that stupid project.”

Oh, I definitely remember. Never do I want to work with him ever again. He didn’t do anything and even if he did, all he did was write a sentence then he would go back to sleep.

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“Could I get your number? I know you don’t entirely know me, but I've been in your shoes before. It’s not a pleasant feeling, plus I’m, like, a hundred percent sure you have, like, no friends, so today is your lucky day.”

See, that’s when you can’t tell if he’s being nice or trying to rub in your face what’s happening to you. What really caught me by surprise was the fact he said ‘I’ve been in your shoes before.’ That’s something new. It’s things like this that make him interesting. You never know what he’s going to say. You also never know if he genuinely means what he’s saying.

I had a confused and shocked look on my face. I could process everything he had just said. I’m surprised he remembered that I was in his group. Shocked that he just asked for my number and that he said he’d been through this before. I’m also a tiny bit offended because he basically called me friendless— even though he’s not entirely wrong but to me, he’s basically a stranger and you don’t just say that to strangers.

“Uhh, hello? Anyone there? I’m asking you a question. Can it be answered? It doesn’t take that long to answer that simple question.”

He started waving his phone in front of my eyes like I couldn’t see it. He’s seriously annoying. Why does he want my number? What is he going to do? Nothing he says will help me feel better about my best friend dying.

“Get your phone out of my face, please. I just needed a minute to get a grasp of everything you had said. You, one, called me friendless, two asked if you could have my number, and three said you have been in my shoes before. A person can’t just simply process that in the span of a few seconds, especially being told that from someone like you. Never mind, just unlock your phone. I’ll put my number in it.”

I probably came off a lot ruder than what I wanted to but I don’t even care. He does what I just did all the time. What is he going to do? Whine about it? It’s just hypocritism at that point.

“Great,” he starts to unlock his shattered, broken phone and opens up the Contacts tab on it. How can he even type on that without his fingers getting cut? He started handing me his phone, “Here.”

I grabbed his phone and started pressing the numbers that were on the screen. After a millisecond of silence, I hit the green call button that was under the digital keypad and my phone started buzzing once his number called mine. I hung up the phone since he was just right next to me. I guess I’m going to have to text him first.

Ugh, this entire thing is just stupid. What point does this serve? What could he possibly do that could help me through this? If he had been through this before then he should know that nothing people say will ever help the situation and all you want to do is shut everyone out.

“Here,” I started giving him his phone back. “Why do you even want it in the first place? We have never talked and this is our second interaction with each other. You didn’t talk during the project, all you did was sleep and you wrote one sentence out of that entire thing.”

He took his phone back and just shrugged at me like that would answer my question.

“I don’t know. You seem cool and I thought you needed someone to talk to. Like I said, I’ve been through this before. Rather have at least one person instead of zero, so I just thought since you don’t have anyone, you have me, unless you want that one person to be your mom.”

He had a point but he didn’t have to say I didn’t have anyone. I mean I do have my mom and my dad. Well, my mom is working all the time and my dad doesn’t know who Camellia is, plus he sucks at comforting, it would be worse since he lives in another state. I guess he is right, my mom wouldn’t understand or even be there physically for me. I still love her, though, she probably wouldn’t be the best person for me to run to at this time.

“Well, okay, that’s one way to describe my social circle. Fine. Thank you,” even though you just insulted me. “That’s considerate of you, I guess.”

The bus finally got to the bus stop close to my house and I got up from my seat and walked past him. I guess it was nice to see someone who might be on my side, even if that person is calling me friendless.

“I know it is. Just another one of my selfless acts. Anyways, text me whenever.”

He’s conceited too. That’s fun. I just want to go home. I was stuck at the police station for way longer than I wanted and being crammed in there felt hopeless. I walked to the front of the bus so I could walk down the small stairs the bus had built in and go home. I’m over this day.