Welcome to my new series where I will be free writing and writing flash fiction to have fun, to regain my discipline as a frequent writer, and to stretch and strengthen my writing skills.

This is an old story I originally wrote during college, years ago, for my creative writing class. It is a fictitious, urban story that came from I don’t remember, but it was fun to write. Editing and few changes were made prior to publishing here.

Jackey and The Stranger at The Bus Stop Pt 4

“My name is Kenneth,” said the stranger as he walked onto the blue and grey bus just as the driver opened the doors. Jackey looked both ways. Desmond’s car was nowhere in sight. So she decided to get on the bus before it took off. Jackey sat at the front of the bus. Kenneth sat across from her.

“What’s up with your ride?” he asked. “You are too pretty to be stood up.”

“You ask so many questions.” Jackey shook her head and laughed.

“Would I freak you out if I ask for your number?”

“Yes stranger.”

“Let me give you mine then. Trust me, I’m no freak, just a fool for letting my supervisor talk me into getting this shift.”

Jackey laughed.

“See I’m making you laugh.”

It had been a week after Jackey had been stood up. She would not talk to Desmond. Jackey ignored his calls and instead she would call Kenneth. Maybe it was because she and Desmond had become just as much as strangers as her and Kenneth was.

Maybe it was because Kenneth made her laugh or because he was different from Desmond, from his looks to personality. Kenneth worked a steady job at a shipping company and didn’t seem to have a problem with it except for sometimes working late at night to the early morning. He wasn’t a thug. He was more open and they would talk for hours on the phone. He had plans, not just goals. He had plans to save enough money to take criminal justice classes at a local college. But so he said.

Although Jackey liked Kenneth, she still thought about Desmond. A month went by and they hadn’t talked. Desmond had stopped calling after awhile. Jackey was busy with voice and dance practice, classes, and styling hair. She and Kenneth only went out once for pizza. They talked on the phone but not as often as they did after they first met, and sometimes Jackey would ride the bus with him.

One night after cleaning and locking up the salon, Jackey turned down rides from Sandra and Brian. She walked outside to the bus stop at 9:50. Kenneth was not there standing under the dim light. She glanced down the street. The streets were quiet. Pieces of paper were flying back and forth in the Chicago winds. The salon was closed, locked and dark. The store was open but there seemed to be no life near it except for Jackey and the clerk tucked away behind the counter inside the old store. Jackey turned back around facing the streets and flipped open her phone. It read 9:55.

Maybe he’s running late again, she thought.

She heard the old convenient store’s door creak and shut. She saw a shadow appear upon the ground next to her. She turned her head around to see a silhouette of a man in a black leather jacket.

She smiled.

“Kenneth.”

The stranger stepped forward.

To her dismay, Desmond stepped from out of the dim light with both hands in his pants pockets just looking. His head was cocked to the side. His eyebrows raised and his eyes were sharp and penetrating.

“Is that his name?” asked Desmond. He reached into his coat. Startled by Desmond, Jackey looked worried. Desmond was quiet. Jackey took a step backward. Desmond pulled out his cell phone that was vibrating. He looked up at Jackey’s face and scrunched up his eyebrows. “You thought I was gone hurt chu. I just wanted to talk to you. You weren’t answering my calls. I heard you were talking to this other guy. I even saw you out with him at the pizza place.”

Bright lights slowly covered Desmond and Jackey as the bus came rolling and rocking down the street. “Hold that bus,” shouted a man running down the street towards Jackey, Desmond and the bus. It was Kenneth and he noticed Jackey. She stood in shock as he approached her and Desmond.

The bus stopped right in front of them. Kenneth made it to the bus. He stopped alongside Jackey but she said nothing. She was embarrassed for some reason. Desmond watched both with his head still cocked to the side, his cell phone in his hand. He and Kenneth wore the same black leather jacket. Kenneth walked onto the bus, paid his fare, and took a window seat in the rear of the bus. His eyes locked into Desmond’s eyes as the bus took off. Jackey turned and watched the bus go down the street.

She was going to tell Kenneth that she wanted him and her to just be friends.

“Why didn’t you get on the bus with him?” asked Desmond.

“I didn’t want to. Tonight I was gone tell him we should just be friends anyway.”

“And us?” asked Desmond.

“Are you ready to talk? asked Jackey.

“You’re the one who been ignoring my phone calls. Are you?”

“Yes.”

“Can I take you home then?” Jackey looked him up and down. He smiled that same smile that softened his rough features. “Yeah,” she said almost in a whisper. How come you didn’t pick me up that night?” she asked curiously.

“Honestly,” he said. I went into the house round ten to grab my hat and some music I had been working on. I wanted you to hear it. Someone broke into my apartment. They took everything even my music equipment. I was so damn mad that me and Chris were driving round trying to find my stuff and who took it. Then we got pulled over by the po pos who were looking for who robbed the currency exchange. I told them I’m looking for the people who took my stuff. And if it was those same ones, they better find them first.”

“Man, I’m sorry Dez,” said Jackey.

“I’ve been thinking about what you said about my brother and those promises I made.” Desmond said as if those very promises had just rushed back to his mind. She put her left arm around his back and her hand on his chest. He put his arm around her waist and his hand on her hip. She leaned in closer. She knew she had to apologize to Kenneth, but right now she wanted to make things right with Desmond.

Hope you have enjoyed Jackey and The Stranger at The Bus Stop

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