14

Tyler felt lighter somehow. After grabbing his backpack from the old bus, he launched up the steps of the rescue bus that had just arrived—another yellow school bus. He walked halfway down the aisle and slid into a seat. No one had wanted to sit with him on the initial ride home, but now he didn’t care. He just wanted to get home. He yawned and leaned his head against the window. His stomach growled. He found the granola bar in his backpack and unwrapped it. The first thing he would do when he got home was eat some chips and salsa while his dad grilled burgers for dinner. In the meantime, Tyler figured he’d probably sleep the whole ride home.

The rest of the team filtered onto the bus and grabbed cold water bottles from a cooler in the first row. They didn’t look at all like the clean-cut, suited-up team that had competed at the tournament in Tucson earlier that day. Dust stained their faces. Their clothes hung disheveled and smeared with brown dust and dirt. Some looked like baseball players who had slid into home one too many times. The bus smelled of dry dust and sweat. Tyler couldn’t wait to take a shower when he got home.

Julia rushed down the aisle to find a seat, grinning over at Tyler when she passed him. He still didn’t have the nerve to ask her to the dance. José, Daniela, and Sha’relle all climbed aboard. L.J. limped by, then Ethan. Tyler purposely stared out the window as Ethan came down the aisle.

Outside, Mr. Dwyer shook hands with the new bus driver. As he climbed aboard, he helped Kevin to a seat. Before leaving, the paramedics had said Kevin would need to see a doctor, but his injuries weren’t permanent. They gave him a clean, wet cloth to press against his eyes for the trip back.

Mr. Dwyer stood at the front of the bus with a relieved grin on his face. “We were finally able to contact the school. Your families have all been informed of what happened and are waiting for us to get back.”

Daniela held her phone in the air. “I just got service! I’m texting my moms.” Several students cheered while others checked their own phones for service.

“Can I sit here?”

Tyler had been so focused on texting his parents as well that he hadn’t even noticed Ethan standing in the aisle next to his seat. “Huh?”

“I said, can I sit here?”

“Oh. Uh, sure?” Tyler removed his backpack from the seat beside him and shoved it underneath.

“Thanks.” Ethan slid into the seat and stored his bag underneath it too.

They sat in silence for a few minutes as the bus finally took off. Tyler bit his fingernail and glanced out the window.

Eventually Ethan cleared his throat and said, “Everyone screws up, you know?”

“I thought you were mad at me,” Tyler replied quietly.

“Mad? Why?”

“You know. For letting the team down.”

“Hey, that could have happened to any of us.”

“Anyone?” Tyler asked.

They both looked back at L.J. Then they looked at each other for a moment and then cracked up.

“Okay,” Ethan admitted. “Anyone but him.”

“What about before? You and L.J.—you were laughing and pointing at me.”

“What?” Ethan looked at L.J. again and furrowed his eyebrows, trying to remember the earlier conversation. “Oh, that.” He swatted a hand in the air. “That wasn’t about you. I was asking him about next week’s calculus test.”

“Really? So you weren’t avoiding me?”

“Uh, no. I thought you might want some space on the ride home after what happened.” Ethan smiled at the shocked look that must have been all over Tyler’s face. “You know, not everything revolves around you.”

“I know that.” Tyler had gotten himself so bummed out, but they hadn’t been making fun of him. They hadn’t been talking about him at all.

“Dude, did you really think I would sit there and make fun of you?”

Tyler’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Instead of answering, he asked, “You up for playing Injustice tonight?”

“Ah, nice speech technique: changing the subject. I’d give that a ten for creativity and poise.” Ethan grinned again and shook his head at Tyler. “Okay, Injustice. Tonight. My house. I’ll make the popcorn. You bring the soda.”

“Deal. I’ll be over after dinner.” Tyler felt the corners of his mouth tug upward. They were going to be okay. Even though Tyler had screwed up, he still had his best friend. But he didn’t have a date to the dance.