II.I - The Heroic Trio's Separation

1

The soft noises of sobs were the only sounds heard throughout the bus. While Mr Bernhard ignored those sobs from Hattie, Tracey sat silently, awaiting the outcome of the incident. He wasn't sure what to make of everything that occurred. A pistol aimed at his head or being punched in the face wasn't exactly what Tracey expected. Though he didn't know what he expected. Maybe being something along the lines of appreciation.

He attempted to open his right eye, but it only caused him more pain.

Tracey wanted to leave as soon as possible.

This whole experience had been enough for him. All he wanted to do was simply see the school's current situation, but from how the bus was before Hattie showed up, Tracey didn't have the highest of hopes now.

Although, whether it was the usual whispers or distinctive ones about what had occurred, he couldn't tell yet.

With a long sigh, the sobs and thoughts from Tracey ended. Mr Bernhard went to a seat across the two students and landed on the uneven seat, exhausted. "I called the school, and it seems like they're going to have security escort you to school. Protocol states that we should let the police handle you two, but I think Hattie knows very well why that's an awful idea."

Hattie looked away from her broken waist while Tracey was slightly confused by the statement.

"I still have to go to school with this?" She responded in an attempt to emphasise the pain she was feeling.

Mr Bernhard sighed again. "Well, you won't have to deal with that if you had cooperated."

She clicked her tongue.

Mr Bernhard had a peeved look from that reaction, "It's funny, really, that I have to go to these lengths. Where I'm from, stuff like this is such a rare occurrence. Normally, school would be shut down immediately. But it seems like this town loves their teenagers to be idiotic punks."

Tracey perked up, "You're including me in this?"

"Why won't I? You are also responsible for the state this town is in."

"But I exposed Michael and his crimes!"

"At the risk of many lives. You don't quite understand what you did yesterday."

Mr Bernhard stood up from the bus seat and moved towards the centre of the bus.

"Because you stopped Michael all in one big scoop, this town will now crumble into pieces like a Jenga set. You took the one piece that should have never been taken out. Now, it's not like I don't respect you, Arthur, or Ashley," He grinned widely when he said Arthur and Ashley's name, "But, you essentially caused the worst-case scenario that we all have to live. I mean, look at Hattie!"

He pulled out the gun, not before unloading it, to stress his point.

"She took a loaded gun on a public transportation service to get back at you! All because you didn't think of the consequences of stopping Michael, and thinking about, oh, I don't know, a safer and much more gradual path. This is why you left stuff like this to the adults."

Hattie mumbled softly, "...Yes, the adults that did nothing to help Michael or his cause."

"What was that? Didn't quite hear you over the mention of Michael's brain dead ideology."

"Don't you dare say that about Michael's cause! He is a genius, the hero everyone needs but doesn't deserve-"

"Ah yes, the hero who started a drug trade and many gang fights across town. Sorry to disrespect this 'hero' of yours." Mr Bernhard bowed in mockery.

Hattie's face turned red, not clear enough if it was from embarrassment or anger.

"I shouldn't expect such a idiot like you to understand Michael's goals or dreams." Hattie muttered.

"I shouldn't expect a child like you to understand why his goals or dreams are foolishly naïve and make no logically sense. Think about it Hattie. How is causing all this destruction really necessary to achieving this dream he never stated? All he did was create trouble for everyone in this town while going on his high horse, blabbering about flashy statements about the world. Like, yeah okay, I'll trust a teenager who was held back and had barely showed up to middle school about his vision of this 'new world' and help him out without any doubts."

With the end of that retort, Hattie could only remain silent. Tracey was thinking of what to say next until a look from Mr Bernhard suggested otherwise.

The adult sighed again, but in a way that a loving father would at a child's attempts to be good. "Look, Ms Rush, you're a good kid. Your mind just messed up from hanging out with Michael too much. You'll eventually see the right path, and do wonderful things. All you need is a good push in the right direction."

He patted her on the shoulder as a sign of comfort.

Her face showed annoyance, but she remained quiet and still.

"Oh, they're here!" Mr Bernhard called towards the outside.

The teacher was referring to the security escort that had finally come about. It wasn't the most classically escort vehicle. Simply, it was a smaller bus with a licensed security guard the school hired. He looked excited despite the depressing looks the students carried as they got into the bus.

Tracey could barely see Ashley and Arthur enter the bus. Arthur looked hesitant to enter, but it looked like Ashley was able to convince him. 'I hope Arthur is able to figure out the current atmosphere of the school for me.'

Then Tracey spotted Mitch, the security guard driving the bus. Tracey had a whole spot for him as he was one of the only people who gave him the time of day. He would listen to his outspoken ideas frequently.

It made Tracey feel appreciated.

Though Tracey could see Mitch feeling happy to finally be more active in his job. He also was among the only two who welcomed yesterday's events with his well-toned arms.

Mr Bernhard walked down the steps of the bus with Hattie following him.

Tracey started to follow suit, but Mr Bernhard looked back and hollered, "Stay there, Tracey, I'm driving the bus with you in it."

Tracey couldn't refuse an order from a teacher, so he laid back on the seat, waiting impatiently for the teacher to come back.

Hattie walked to the bus, not before Mitch-with a grand old smile- handcuffed her. "Sorry," he said in a not at all apologetic tone, "Safety and stuff like that. But, I mean, who knows what you'll do." Though he was clearly hiding his anticipation.

Mr Bernhard glanced with disgust at Mitch.

Tracey glanced indifferently at Mitch, not picking up the hidden aspect of his words.

After she entered the bus and it headed off into the distance, Mr Bernhard jumped right back on the bus.

He walked up to Tracey slowly and swiftly.

Then slapped him with no restriction on his strength.

Tracey couldn't take a chance to recuperate from the added pain before the teacher started to parade him.

"You, on the other hand, are a troubled child that needs to understand the world you're trying to break through. I'm honeslty flabbergasted you were able to do all of that, and come back, on the bus no less, without any real change. What do you have to say for yourself." Tracey then realised he was adding to the conversation earlier.

A soft silence passed through the two males for only a moment.

Tracey perked up carefully. "Before I tell you my answer, is there anyone near us? Anyone at all, or anything?"

Mr Bernhard raised an eyebrow curiously. "Anything?"

"Anything such as a recording device or on looker that would discuss the things I say."

"Not to my knowledge."

"Alright then," Tracey said contently.

Now that he knew all this, he reformed himself in a straight posture with his fists clenched. He took a breath and then another as he looked straight into Mr Bernhard's eyes.

They were this charming grey colour that showed the kind of person Tracey thought him to be. A relaxing, stern man who has no trouble speaking his mind. He could tell his teacher wanted answers for his better understanding of his students.

But Tracey was too pent up to be reasonable to him.

"What I have to say for myself is simply this: I did the absolute right thing. Not even a pistol pointed at my head or a slap can change that. I did what needed to be done for the sake of justice for the sake of our town and I don't regret a single moment of it. If I can be blunt, I think you and Hattie are incompetent fools in every possible way. And if it turns out everyone at school thinks the same way, then none of them grasp the nature of what I did. I saved everyone's lives and then some! I did something I should be awarded for, but I couldn't care less for that! Instead, I care about making everyone feel safe and following the same rules we stand alongside. And if no one can realise that, before it's too late, this town is beyond saving."

"Or," Mr Bernhard, who was completely silent throughout the speech, suggested, "What you stand for is merely the work of a naive child who thinks of himself as a saint."

Tracey scoffed. "Whatever you say, Mr. Bernhard. You'll understand one day what my actions did for everyone."

He pushed the teacher aside, walking down the bus stairs in solemness.

Mr Bernhard ignored the blatant disrespect, "Where do you think you're going, young man?"

"To school." Tracey turned around, furious.

"I recall telling you I would drive you there."

"I don't feel like being near you anymore. I just....I just want to see my fellow classmates. I want to see what they think."

His earlier words and the morning's doubts began to grow in his mind once again.

Mr Bernhard was visibly puzzled. "I thought you had complete faith in your actions."

"I do," Tracey responded, "But I hope that what I said isn't the case. In terms of people not understanding what I did. I hope my victorious day lets others understand what I'm trying to accomplish. Because... I want them to..." He trailed off, uncertain of his answer. Then, he realised how much he had opened up to the teacher and started feeling embarrassed.

He walked a few more steps towards the exit of the bus. Yet his heart wanted him to finish those words.

His heart wanted him to say the words out loud, not for the teacher, but for himself to hear.

Tracey caved into his heart.

"I want them to... I want them to appreciate me."

Relief or despair would not be the proper words to explain what he felt.

Apprehensive may explain the emotion he sensed within his heart.

Because that expectation that people would appreciate him for what he did seemed so comforting, like a piece of gold hidden in mountains of dirt. The desire to be valued for his hard work from those many years to help others through the natural path of justice seemed right.

He wholeheartedly believed himself to be just and that even if that recent revelation did not occur, he still would have gone through the path of justice to stop Michael.

However, at this moment, his heart showed him how he longed for someone to appreciate him.

So that after school, he could face his new goal with his head held up high to the heavens.

That someone Tracey already had in mind would appreciate him.

At least, he hoped so.

Nevertheless, when he spoke those words aloud, Mr Bernhard said nothing. Tracey was pleased the teacher didn't have much to say.

Tracey felt nothing else could be done here, so he finally left the bus and headed away from school to a different location.

A location only he, and that someone he had in mind, visited and stayed at.

~~

The teacher stood alone on the bus. He didn't feel the need to follow Tracey. While he had no idea where the young boy was headed, the teacher was confident Tracey would find his way back to school.

Besides, that would make the next step easier for him and Ashley.

"So that's the path he's headed on?" The teacher mumbled to no one in particular.

He took out a cigarette and lit it, so he could relax. All that stress needed to leave somehow, and this was the man's preferred way to do just that.

"Now, how the hell do you drive a bus?"