Chapter One

“Now that we’re here, there’s no telling what may ensue, no…there’s no telling what, but I’ll give you a clue!” I shouted, caught up in my own excitement as the purple bus rode up to the rounded curb of the Magic Planetarium. As soon as the words left me, I clapped my hand over my mouth to stop any more words from coming out. I looked around, hoping that no one else had heard it. As I did so, I realized that all of my school friends on the bus with me had, of course, heard my outburst. Their excited murmurs upon arrival had quieted because my shout. Now they were all quietly looking down at their hands or out the window and a few were even giving me worried and sympathetic looks from the corners of their eyes, for they too, knew that I couldn’t have prevented letting it out, just as they couldn’t either. When the unstoppable urge to rhyme everything I said was through with me, I unclenched my jaw and dropped my hand. Shaking my head and letting my brown hair fall over my face, I too looked down at my hands.

There was nothing to be done about it, I decided. Shit like this was bound to happen, no, it was destined. Everyone knew that. Ever since birth, every single one of us were trained and sculpted to fit our specific roles of becoming a child’s dream come true, the perfect role models and guardians. We were the pages of children’s books come to life, we were their best friends.

“Now class, we all need to stay seated, the bus hasn’t stopped yet has it?” asked Mrs., our Junior English teacher.

“No, Mrs.,” we all chanted together obediently, used to her straight-edged discipline. All of us that is, except for Zade who, as usual, remained silent and glowering at everyone around him.

I sat there, waiting for the bus to stop, surrounded by my giggling and chattering friends who were all completely oblivious to both my silence and that of Zade’s. Meanwhile, Mrs. kept on her tirade of useless safety tips about partners and staying together. My gaze landed on Zade and he must have felt me looking at him, because he glanced over, his silver eyes narrowing when they landed on me. I inclined my head slightly to him in shared understanding and turned my focus back to Mrs., hoping that he would, too.

Eventually he turned back to the window as Mrs. continued, “…we will all file out neatly and don’t forget your partners or you will have to deal with the consequences later. Now go have fun and be safe!”

The moment the bus stopped, everyone did just as they were told, they filed out in a neat line, marching straight for the great orange and blue striped front mitzs of the Magic Planetarium. By the time everyone had cleared out, the noise of their chatter long gone, I decided that my pre-chosen partner, the reluctant Zade, had taken enough of my time. He was sitting in the seat opposite mine, across the isle with one foot on the floor and the other leg bent and propped up on the back of the seat.

I turned to him just as he turned to me. Our eyes met and he looked up at me through the kohl of his eyelashes, “Yesss?” he asked, drawing the word out, making it almost a hiss.

“Uhh, we’re supposed to be in the museum,” I said as I stared into his swirling, electric silver eyes and wondering why I was partnered with him, of all people.

“Is that where you want to be?” he asked, still lounging against the window. His eyes seemed to dare me to lie.

I felt my frustration and anger beginning to grow at his lewd innuendos. My cheeks started to heat and I felt the blush start down my neck. Every time I tried to be nice, every time I tried to communicate with him he avoided the subject in whatever way he could conjure up in that dark head of his. Yop, the guy frustrated me to no end! I just knew that if I kept on the same path, trying to get him to go into the museum and do what we were supposed to subtly, I’d never get anywhere, I would end up like I did every time I let my emotions get the best of me. I would turn into my Yop forsaken persona, the ever witty Dr. Suess, nonsensical ramblings, rhymes, and all, Yop forbid.

I forced myself to try to think of something else, I tried to give myself time to cool the bitterness he invoked in me, but I was captivated by his straight black hair hanging over his eyes, it’s soft healthiness begging to be touched. I realized that my hand was already halfway to touching his beguiling hair when I forced it back down, closing my eyes, trying to re-align my sense of normality and control.

“What will it take to get you off this bus?” I asked him, knowing even as I did it that I’d just left myself in a vulnerable position.

A/N: Okay, definitely a couple of things to say, throughout this entire story I will be using references to many different children’s books, obviously, so at the end I’ll write down the titles for reference. If you have any suggestions or want your favorite story included, just tell me in review or e-mail, whatever. Also, any words that I put in specific character’s names are either taken directly from the story or I’ve created it myself. When I do put words in their mouths, I apologize for any misrepresentation or faux pas. I really am trying not to be presumptuous in mimicking these great author’s works. Also, I apologize for any inconsistencies, if you catch them, let me know please. Thankyou. Well, have fun.

This chapter included references from: Junie B. Jones (the teacher character Mrs.) and Dr. Suess.