Missed The Bus

​​

MaKayla

​

I had it all planned out.
Dress pressed, hair silked down, just the right gloss on my lips. If there was ever a night for Samuel to notice me, tonight was it. My office crush. My reason for smiling through endless Monday meetings.

​

But then Atlanta traffic laughed in my face. With the Braves game downtown, there was no way I’d make it driving. So I ditchedjogged to the bus stop, and of course, missed my bus to Atlantic Station.

​

The sticky Southern air wasn’t kind. My curls frizzed, my blouse clung to my back, and my makeup melted before I’d even made it halfway. And worse than the weather? Brailee. My supervisor, my ride-or-die… or at least she used to be. Lately she’d gone cold, avoiding me at every turn. I didn’t even want to show up anymore, not if she was going to be there.

​

By the time I got to the street food festival, everyone was already there. My friends, his friends—it was one big awkward mix. And that’s when it happened. Samuel asked me out.

​

My friends had teased me about him so much, I panicked. Pretended like I had never even noticed him before. Put on an act—like I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go out with him. “I don’t know…” I said, fake casual.

​

And then I saw it. The way his face fell. The way my words embarrassed him in front of everyone. That moment burned into me.

Now at the office, he’s different. Not rude. Not cold. Just… professional. Guarded. Polite. It’s killing me.

I just want to apologize. To explain. To tell him it was all an act, and I do like him. Maybe more than I should. But his walls are up now.

​

Still, I’ve noticed things.
Every morning he walks in with a smoothie. He talks about the gym. So I’ve been researching smoothie spots, the newest joints he might not have tried. Maybe I could bring them up in conversation, slip in a casual suggestion for a totally platonic lunch between coworkers.

​

Today, I finally worked up the nerve. Heart racing, I headed down the hallway toward his office, rehearsing my opening line in my head. Just as I turned the corner, I stopped.

​

Across the room, I saw Samuel at his desk… and Brailee leaning over it. She picked up his smoothie cup, smiled, and took a sip like it was hers.

​

And suddenly, it all started to add up…   

To Be Continued

If you enjoyed this free short story and would like to support the author you can pre-order  his latest novel Bela Menina, today!  just - click here