Old Quack Quack called our punishment “community service,” but we knew it was just his way of getting free labor: He was making the three of us paint the lockers.
At least we still got to ride the 121 Express.
The new bus driver had a face like stone. He didn’t show any reaction when we got on the bus on Monday afternoon. And he didn’t say a word when Georgie didn’t show him his bus pass. He kept his eyes on the road and paid no attention to our screaming and fighting.
“The other driver was way more fun,” Kelly said. “At least he noticed us.”
Even though Kelly was still going out with Jake, she was back on speaking terms with Georgie, who sat with Pierre in the seat behind the two lovebirds.
“Kelly,” Georgie said, “I’ve got this really cool idea.” Then he dropped his voice. “How’d you like to play a little trick on raghead?”
I groaned—but only to myself. Couldn’t these guys find something better to do than torment Sandeep?
“This trick you’re talking about,” Kelly said to Georgie, “what’s in it for me?”
“How does ten bucks sound?”
“What do I have to do?” “
Just kiss him—on the lips.”
“Eww,” Kelly said, “there’s no way. Besides, Jake wouldn’t like it, would you, Jakey?” If Jake didn’t like being called Jakey, he didn’t let on.
Georgie leaned forward. “It’d just be a joke,” he said, slapping his thigh. “Imagine how old raghead’ll react! Getting kissed by a hot girl like you! The guy’ll think he got sent to heaven. Besides, Jake wouldn’t mind, would you Jake? I mean it’s not like you own Kelly.”
Kelly crossed her arms over her chest. “Of course he doesn’t own me.”
“Do it if you want,” Jake said. “I guess it could be kind of funny.”
“Ten bucks?” Kelly asked. “How ‘bout fifteen?”
Georgie turned to face the rest of us. “What do you guys say? Anyone want to put up another five?”
“I’ll do it,” Pierre said, pulling a five-dollar bill out and handing it to Georgie.
Phew, I thought. It was a mean prank, and I was relieved I wasn’t going to be part of it. Besides, I’d sworn off troublemaking. What kind of guy was I if I couldn’t keep a promise I’d made to myself?
“Do you want me to do it now?” Kelly asked.
Georgie and Pierre nodded.
Kelly didn’t just walk over to the front of the bus. She sauntered over like she was a movie star. She took really small steps and her hips swiveled the whole way.
Part of me felt bad for Sandeep. But I had to admit another part of me was looking forward to seeing how embarrassed he’d be. In a way, the guy had it coming. This is what he gets for acting like he’s so much smarter than the rest of us.
I moved to the edge of my seat to get a better view. As usual, Sandeep had his nose in a textbook. Georgie and Pierre were already laughing.
When Kelly said, “Hey, Sandeep,” Sandeep nearly dropped his book. Even from where I was sitting, I could see him blush. It looked like he was trying to say something back to Kelly, only he couldn’t.
“I’ve got something for you, Sandeep. It’s a little present from your friends at the back of the bus.” Kelly tossed her blond hair in our direction. When she leaned toward Sandeep, he moved away. What kind of guy who was about to be kissed by the hottest girl on the 121 Express would do that?
But Kelly was quicker than him. She leaned over so her chest was right where Sandeep’s book had been—and kissed him smack on the lips.
Jewel Chu’s eyes looked like they were about to pop out of her head. “Are you going out with him, now?” she asked.
Kelly turned to face Jewel. “Maybe,” she said. “Or maybe not.”
Everyone cracked up. This was the funniest thing that had happened on the bus in weeks. Maybe that’s why we didn’t notice when Sandeep started making weird gulping noises.
But Jewel noticed. “I think he’s having an allergic reaction,” she shouted.
Sandeep’s dark skin had become much paler and he had a panicked look in his eyes. It looked like he was trying to swallow, but there was something caught in his throat.
“He’s pointing at something!” Kelly called out. She was still standing in the aisle, only now she looked embarrassed. I guess she didn’t like the idea of a guy being allergic to her—even if the guy was Sandeep.
Sandeep’s hand was trembling, but Jewel was right, he was pointing across the aisle to where Valerie was sitting.
“It’s your brown bag!” Jewel yelled. “I think he wants your brown bag.”
Valerie dumped the contents of her bag on the floor—a bruised banana and a bag of chips—and threw the bag over to Kelly, who gave it to Sandeep.
Sandeep leaned over the bag, and I was sure he was going to vomit into it—the way people do when they get motion sickness on an airplane. But he just breathed into the bag, taking long deep breaths until he returned to normal.
“Are you okay?” Kelly asked.
Sandeep just kept breathing into the bag.
“Maybe he really is allergic to you,” Jewel said.
Sandeep’s reaction pretty much took the fun out of the whole plan. Kelly refused to take Georgie’s fifteen bucks. “Keep your money,” she said. “It was a dumb idea anyway.”
Even after Sandeep folded up the brown bag, he wouldn’t look up.
“What’d you do? Drop your physics notes on the floor?” Jake called out.
Kelly smacked Jake’s arm. “Don’t give him a hard time,” she said.
We hit every red light on the way from the Côte-Vertu metro station to our stop. When Sandeep stood up, I got up and followed him to the front of the bus. “You okay?” I asked.
Sandeep raised his eyes from the floor. “Ever notice how you only talk to me when your pals aren’t around?” he said. “Why do you think that is?”
I shrugged. “I was just asking is all.”
“I’m okay,” Sandeep said.
When the bus stopped, he rushed out and headed down the street.
Now it was just me and the driver. I turned to face him. He looked much younger than the last driver—but maybe that was only because he was new to the route. Maybe we’d age this guy too. “What happened to our last driver?” I asked.
“Breakdown,” he said, without looking up from the wheel and making it sound as if it was the most natural thing in the world. “Nervous collapse. It’s a shame too. That guy was a real fighter in the bus drivers’ union. We could always count on him to stand up for the rest of us.”