I.III-Anxiety

Ashley didn't plan for his arrival or anything, honestly. She thought the situation was hopeless unless Hattie was caught off guard long enough for her to think of something better. Though even in the possibility Hattie wasn't caught off guard and kept her nerves in place, she may have taken the pistol away and threatened her with it.

Now, technically, punching Tracey wasn't really necessary.

She just wanted to after what he said in a situation where innocent people could die because of him.

"Hey Ashley, you and Arthur alright?" Seth casually asked.

She was accustomed to his bizarre, chill attitude towards dangerous events. Somehow, seeing him act like this always managed to calm Ashley down.

"Yes, sir, we're alright."

"Good, good..."

Seth looked at Hattie's terrified face. She probably hadn't registered everything that had happened. Ashley couldn't blame her, but then again, it was a good thing she hadn't yet.

Seth took out some bandages from his pocket and wrapped them around the bus driver's inquired hand.

"You okay?"

"Y-Yes, thank you so much."

"Everyone back there, okay?" He shouted towards the students who had crammed themselves to the very end of the bus.

"We're better than okay now that you're here!" A student shouted back.

"Good, good..."

He moved toward Hattie nonchalantly.

"I did think after yesterday how long it would take before this would happen. I was having a betting game with a friend last night about this very topic. He betted a day. I betted before the school day even started. He thought I was crazy for thinking that, but look who's about to get some money, huh?"

Hattie stared anxiously at him.

Seth grinned slightly. "I have you to thank honestly. If it wasn't for your little stunt, I may not have won that bet. But, I may not have to be here to handle this shit show of a situation. Or talk to you right now, but here we are. Funny how this world works. You could be going about your usual morning routine, and then, suddenly, you're hit in the face with a bus stopped in the middle of the road with a girl aiming a pistol causally in broad daylight. And we have you to thank, don't we? Everyone clap it up for Hattie!"

Seth started to clap loudly in such a vehicle now filled with absolute silence.

"Not in the mood for clapping, anyone? Can't blame you. Neither am I."

That's when he pulled out his pistol from his inner jacket pocket. He aimed right at Hattie's forehead.

Seth was no longer grinning, and no longer was Hattie unaware of the situation. She quickly registered the events in her head, and was now tearing up profusely.

"You're still a child, you know that? A child trying to play a grown-up game where life and death are the only outcomes. And honestly, I'm sick of it. I'm sick of not being able to do anything, but watch children with no concept of the future go out and ruin this town. So let's be clear here Hattie, you better not and should not point a gun at someone ever again. Unless, of course, you're willing to die right there and then. Do I make myself clear?"

He pushed the pistol closer to her sweating forehead. Hattie was now quivering like a shaking building during an earthquake.

"Do I make myself clear?" He raised his voice specifically on the last word of that question. Hattie nodded up and down, trying to close her eyes to stop the tears.

"Well, as long as you understand." Seth placed back his pistol back into his pocket. He kneeled down to pick up the pistol Ashley knocked out of her hands.

Suddenly, Hattie pulled a knife out of her bag. It was a hastily and rushed attempt, resulting in Seth quickly grabbing the knife with his left hand and the teenager's left arm with his right as he stood up.

The action happened so fast that it took Ashley a second to process what occurred.

And she realised it once Seth broke Hattie's wrist.

It looked so delicately broken, that it would heal perfectly. But at that moment, Hattie only screamed out in pain.

"I thought I made myself clear to you."

Once again, he took the knife from her and placed it in his jacket pocket.

"Welp, stay safe, fellow government employee. I'll call the school to send over another bus while I take this one. The troublesome students will stay with me on the bus. Just take care of the other students, you got that?"

The bus driver was relieved, and the tears in his eyes carried out his gratitude. He messily said, "I-I will, don't you worry!"

"It's a waste of time to worry. I rather put my trust in you instead."

Seth Bernhard tapped each person who would leave the bus. Obviously, all the teenagers in the back were escorted off the bus, along with Ashley and Arthur. Tracey and Hattie simply waited at their shared seat.

"Both of you will stay here with me."

He turned to the outside of the bus. "If anyone feels unsafe, you're welcome to go back home. I'll make sure every last one of you will be excused because of this morning's events. I promise that no teachers will be mad at you for ditching school because of this."

Even before he finished, most of the students started to run back home.

Only Ashley, Arthur, the bus driver, and five other students stayed.

"I figured as much. Wait here while I call the school. Oh, and go tell the cars to find another route. This bus ain't going nowhere."

Ashley saw Arthur make his way to the cars to inform them of the situation. Though, Arthur handed her MP3 player before doing so. Apparently, he was still able to keep it with him.

She smiled to herself.

"Ashley!" Ashley looked up at Mr Bernhard, and he mouthed out the words, 'Come see me after class,' before closing the bus' doorway.

She saw the teacher make the phone call to the school. Most likely, Tracey and Hattie were sitting in silence, anxiously waiting for what would happen next. The five other students were whispering to each other in hushed voices. The bus driver sat on the ground, looking at his wounded hand.

Ashley was frustrated above all else.

'So it already begins?'

She sat down on the hard pavement and turned her music back on to the jazz song that was playing before.

She knew what was waiting for her later on in the day.

Or she could think of the many possibilities that could occur.

But for right now, she wasn't worried about any of that.

For right now, she would rather enjoy the jazz song playing comfortably in her ears.

I-Anxiety End