9.
The reactor's nap function was broken, it was a piece of technology that broke constantly since the first book with no pictures was put in front of her. It'd always been glitchy, putting her in a state of sleep limbo too often for her liking, and there was always the fear of it slipping so severely she'd wake in a trunk or a van.
And in that moment the nap function was set to "Bus driver's van".
Pretty Girl 104: Everyone would if they thought they could get away with it, and way, way…. WAY too many would even if only sure they could at least do it and be fine muddling through what ever came next.
So, even in limbo, in a fog of war, she'd keep her eyes open.
She lay back on the bus's leather seat, resting her head back enough that her head vibrated and banged on the cool glass, wriggling her butt into the seat to let her tail bone vibrate with the bus, like she was a part of the back, she was alone, free.
Repairs to the reactors main structure were deep underway, metal frames replaced, most involved letting cement dry. The hum of a cement mixer stopped, the foot on the ignition lifted. Heads looked up, Naya did too. She was suddenly at full attention. Paige? And Jin?
They were splitting from what she could only guess was Paige's house. It was so juicy she could taste it.
Ooooh…
There was going to be another little 'collision'
She dared him to try be 'clever'. It'd be cute to see!
There was a pleasure in trying to guess Paige's backstory, no matter what, it was unique. All their backstories started in Japan. Paige's required coming to Japan. Perhaps her father was in the navy, brought his wife, then died as they settled, now her mother was a prostitute spending her nights on her knees. The days had her baby girl hiding behind the biggest and most dangerous smartass that nobody knew. Though… judging from the apartment she was well off. But still, it couldn't have been anything good. There had to be something shitty, just like him… Her thoughts burst; her body had assumed command, locking onto Jin. She was dwelling and knew it. But why?
Jin coming out Paige's building was an eye opener. She, of all people, had had no idea! Was she shocked, upset? Annoyed at not realizing? She was supposed to know everything. Who was with who, who'd had sex with who? Who was pretending? Who was eyeing who? Love triangles, everything. How dare Jin cheat her of that info. She'd yet to blink, heart racing.
The little shit! Even if it was Jin of all people.
Naya glared at his ashy blazer and pants which looked as though they'd be used to sweep the remnants of a bonfire. Wait… how were they worse? She kept staring as the bus passed. She turned, eyes on him, half expecting to make contact. His eyes were floor bound, lost. She could've flashed her breasts and gotten nothing, which for a brief, inexplicable and stupid moment, pissed her right the fuck off.
A pang of wonder filled her chest. She'd looked a disaster coming out of her nightmare and he looked worse.
She read it all in seconds. But didn't get time to linger on it. The bus trembled, there was a flash of white, the windows exploding in. The light forced her eyes shut, saving her from the glass.
Blinded, the pressure on her numbed her. An adrenaline rush did nothing more than isolate muscle from bone, locking her in her own skin.
Jin! Paige!
She forced herself up and turned to the shattered rear window. The world was decimated. To the point where it didn't make sense. She was staring at a post-apocalyptic wasteland.
She couldn't see them! Naya leaned closer to see if she could make Jin out. Paige's home was falling, bursting and blasting apart at the base, causing it to tilt.
"Oh my God!"
He was gone.
She pressed the stop button next to her but the bus kept going.
"Hey-"
She shut up, the bus was empty and moving by itself.