Sunday

Ashlee sat up and ruffled her hair.

And it hurt. It hurt him like a knife twisting in his gut. She was totally oblivious to his presence and she looked content and even happy. He wasn't a sadist, but he wished that he could see some sign of her missing him.

He sighed as he thought of what he had to do now. He did not like the possible scenario that was enfolding in front of him. Physical harm would be easy to bear, but he knew she wouldn't resort to something as easy as all that. She could achieve so much more by sitting and smiling like an angel and verbally assaulting him within an inch of his life. And besides, it was a public place.

He shook himself and took courage, or what remained of it, with both hands and stood up in a firm motion and moved towards the empty seat next to Ashlee. A second's hesitation, and he dropped down next to her and turned behind to catch the conductor's eye. He was counting the seconds...

"What on earth are you here for?"

He grinned despite himself, it had taken a lot longer than he'd thought. She hadn't been expecting to see him ever again, though, so maybe that was it.

"Oh hello, Ashlee! How nice to see you. On the way to college?"

She just looked at him. Damn her, she knew that blank look freaked him out, he never knew what was going on in her head.

"You know, girls these days are getting ruder and ruder. They don't even reply to social small talk."

It was like he'd hotwired her. The blank look vanished and she narrowed her eyes a trifle. He winced.

Maybe the blankness had been better. He knew her well enough by now to know that what came after that look was not going to be pleasant. Not for him, at any rate. Maybe it would be fun for any audience, should she desire his public humiliation.

He heaved a mental sigh. He did deserve some part of it.

She seemed to physically control herself. She opened her mouth and he braced himself. Here it comes...

"I didn't know you were in town. Why didn't you call ahead?"

His jaw dropped. He knew it must have, not that he knew much at the time. Shock does that to you.

"Huh?"

She smiled at him sweetly. "Social small talk?"

He returned the smile half heartedly. Oh Lord, something was wrong. Very wrong, and he shuddered to think about what it might be that would change her so completely.

"Huh. Yeah. Uh, it was a last minute decision. I just caught a bus and then called home. Then didn't have balance, as usual."

She leaned against the window and nodded towards the road speeding by. "I know, as usual."

They continued in the same vein. Stilted, extra-careful, impersonal, formal, even. And the bus continued in its carefree way, completely ignorant of the fact that something was so very wrong in the world that it could well even be the end of civilization.

It reached their stop and they both stood up and struggled to the exit.

Standing outside, breathing pure, un-sweaty air again, he looked down at the top of her head. She was replacing her headphones in her bag as methodically as always, head bent, fingers carefully twining her precious earphones.

"Ashlee! It's been a while. You look all New York-y and stuff."

He rolled his eyes. Oh gee, all New York-y and stuff! How cute! He waited to see Ashlee's response. She was sure to cut this chap down, after all, he knew she prided herself on her cosmopolitan uniqueness.

She smiled at the newcomer. "Thanks. What're you doing here? It's a holiday. Sleep!"

"Nah, not a chance, with the drama fest coming up and all that. Why didn't you try out?"

His jaw dropped. She was talking to this dude like she had been talking to him all morning. What was going on with her??

That's when it hit him.

She WAS punishing him.

The semi-formality, the careful politeness. It was all a way of distancing herself.

That's how she dealt with all the people she didn't want to talk to but felt too bad to be blatantly brusque with.

The smart ass.

He'd show her she couldn't fool him for long.

The retarded conversation ended and they continued on their way.

"So, you're mad at me, huh? Is that what this random mood of yours is about?"

She faced him, eyes blazing.

'Uh oh.' Flew across his brain.

This was not the best way to face the beast.

He realized how mad she really was.

He also realized he was history.