DERRICK'S POV
An hour later after the bus moved, the students clamouring had settled down to silent whispering about 30 minutes ago.
It had gotten quite and some were sleeping,
Making use of their phones, laptops, and earphones.
Usual.
They were all teens.
Miss Ashley got up from the staffs role and picked up a tray.
She must have packed it along.
Wondering what she was up to, the students got quite at a time.
She started depositing all sorts of sweets, chocolates and snacks.
They were all sorts, dairy and non dairy snacks.
That was very small or her.
No wonder the children likes her.
Already getting a hint of what she was doing, the students all light up wanting to ease the boredom sipping in.
I wouldn't say i haven't thought about certain activities to brighten everywhere.
I just didn't want to push them again, Taking a surprise journey was already a stress to them.
They were stiffed and reluctant about it.
Coming up with another activity would be strenuous and suffocating on them, i was giving them space and time to adjust,
get use to it.
For now i appreciate what Ashley was doing, it was a familiar face.
Also, they had a soft spot for her.
Lydia joining her to distribute the sweets and some game board.
Which included mahogani, chess, Scrabble, Whots and others.
They formed into small groups, playing and having fun.
I looked towards the end of the bus, Lorientta dozed off on her phone with a sleep mask over her face.
Hailey had woken up already and was snacking on some of the fruits Bliss had brought for them.
He came prepared, might i say.
This wasn't his first time.
I couldn't really blame him.
He was on his phone, the earpods now removed from his ears and placed on his laps.
He was side eyeing what Hailey was saying while in his phone.
He became tensed immediately Ashley walked up to me.
Her posture stiffened a bit, she stutter out "I - I just wanted to give her some treat".
His shoulder relaxed a little while nodding his head once, signalling she should continue.
Getting the permission from her brother, she stretched out her hands to collect the sweets.
It seems Bliss wasn't too fond of Ashley.
Okay, taking note of that down.
Watching the others reaction towards Ashley and Linda, it definitely was a good choice to tag them along.
Crouching down, she gave Hailey the sweet, smiling sweetly at her causing Hailey to bring out a full grin.
She seems like the girl who doesn't associate with elders.
Considering how Bliss is, I doubt he'd let anyone within a 10 meter radius near her.
He do go full on caveman on her.
I had been in thought, i hadn't heard what she was discussing with them.
Seeing Bliss tensed shoulders, and his clenched fist, i knew Ashley had made a mistake.
Overstepped her boundaries
Straining in further to listen on, "Hailey, what about your mom and dad?"
Oh shit.
That's wasn't supposed to happen.
Ashley had managed to seat Hailey on the bus floor and playing scrabbles with her.
So she was oblivious to the stink eye Bliss was giving her. If I do not come up with something.
Bliss is going to lose control, i do not want that an hour into the trip.
It will disorient everyone else.
Standing up, thinking of what to do to turn things around.
Ah
A thought flashed through my mind. Clapping my hands to draw everyone attention.
It worked cause everyone attention was on me except Bliss who was still giving a death glare to Ashley.
"Okay, i would want announce to everyone we are 1hour and half away from New york Central and we are 30 minutes to our destination"
There was shuffling and dragging of feet to their respective seats.
"So gather up your properties and belongings cause we will be stopping in no time" I said trying to pit up with the best teacher voice i had at the moment.
This caused Bliss to divert his attention.
"And where the hell are we going?" Bliss asked.
"Waterlanes" I stated simply.
"That's like in the middle of nowhere" he hmphed staring outside by the window on his left.
"The Paddock Mansion" I called out for him.
He gazed turned towards me immediately calculative.
Oh My Gosh
The Paddock Mansion
Wasn't it hunted or something?
Are we really allowed to go there
It looks surreal.
I heard whispers all round, i expected this reaction from them.
It was literally the no entering zone.
A historic place.
My insanity,
the only reason I have access to the place.
Bliss was staring at me all this while, trying to clear the tension in the air.
"I know there have been stories or tales which aren't true about the Paddock Mansion." Breathing in deeply, i didn't want it to affect me.
"Im here to diffuse it, it's a safe place, we are only staying temporarily because of a learning in your curriculum."
"And do you know it's a safe place" came Bliss arrogant speech.
"Because i said it" i said it with a tone of finality.
Ashley had already walked up beside me, whispering in my ear "Are you sure about this?"
I jumped a litte frightened, i hadn't seen her walk up to me yet, composing myself, i nodded towards her.
Yes.
The surest I've ever been in my life.
"But here is a trick question, if you really want to know where we are going to be staying for a whole two months?"
What the f**k
Two fucking months
How am I going to survive?
No videogames
Spa? Lorientta butt in, she must have gotten awake in the midst of all the noises.
My subwwaaay...
I miss the beach.
"No swears words going around, please?" I said out loud.
"The beach will be surplus, videogames will also be available but at the right time."
"And there'll be constant spa consecutively for the two months" i spoke answering all their questions
"It will be as though you never left" there was instant cheers wailing around.
Teenagers
Very easy to please.
"Then..." I heard from Bliss, i doubt there will be anything he can say to counter me.
He smirked with an eyebrow up in a very relax form "Will there be puttanas too? Cause many of us can't stay without them"
This caused a loud cheer from the guys, and snickers from the girls puttana meant whores, he covered it up because of Hailey.
It wasn't a surprise they a knew the word, they all attend clubs, the words whores being spilled out in Russian made it look more dignified.
They all knew.
"If you want a puttana, then you are going to get it" I smiled seeing as his smirk dropped to be replaced by shock.
Seriously
What the fuck, man
Had to go and ruin it
But he did say, he was going to give us puttanas
Yays.
"Right back to my earlier questions, if anyone can get it, i will-" Bliss interrupted me again.
"Leave the gifts for the winner to decide?" he questioned testing me.
"If that's what you all want-" i hadn't even completed my words when they erupted into a loud.
"Yes!!!"
Talk about bursting eardrums.
Whipping my hands over my ears to reduce the sound entering it.
"Okay, okay, i get it. The question, we are going to is 'The Central City, The City of Gracious Living, The City of Seven Hills, The City with Vision, The Sixth Borough, The Terrace City' that's what they call it' So who knows it?" The bus came to a stop as soon as I ended the question.
Nobody made a move to answer.
"Okay, I'll assume no one knows, let get down"
"Yonkers street" Bliss answered. Surprised he answered and correctly.
I was dumbfounded.
The students were already getting their stuffs and out of the bus, it remained me, Lorientta and Bliss.
Standing up to his full height, he was at par in height with me.
"You owe me one" he said picking up his duffel bag and Hailey while Lorientta picked the others.
"Yes i do"
And I hated it.
Everyone gather together outside waiting for my next instructions.
I was still inside the bus, staring at the house, the house that once served as a sanctuary now became an hunted house to me.
The kids weren't the only one going through healing.
I was healing too
That's was the main reason i used this place as our stop.
I also had to get out of my comfort zone and showed that I've truly healed.
And i was going to do it with the kids.
Looking outside, my eyes stopped on Bliss who was gauging my reaction.
He mouthed towards me "Little scared, are we?"
I smiled coming back from those hurtful memories that hunted me and almost drive me insane.
Staring at the rail where it all started from, down towards the lawn where her body was found.
I knew what I had to do next,
That was the push i needed to make me move, and i got out onto the gravel floors of the Paddock Mansion.
This was going to be fun.
A rollercoaster of events.
A healing process and revelation to some.
I was going to heal with them.
And i don't how.
But i was going to do it.
Together.
CRINGY AUTHORS NOTE
Hello readers, and how are you doing, just wanted to say a big thank you to you all reading this story.
I habe been getting positive response from this book and i want to carry on.
AS Cliche as it may sound.
But I'm liking it, it makes me feel giddy on the insides.
Enough about me, talk to me, how do you all see this story evolving as.
Is it so obvious or there's a serious climax there.
(Laughs)
I don't know
You tell me.
Okay, bye bye for now, till Sunday when next i will update with response to your wonderful comment.
As of now, who is your favorite character, mine is Derrick.
He's an emotional man who had gone through what any youth would have and got his healing.
This book can also serve as a motivational or inspiring book for yourself or anyone.
Don't forget don't get too wet in this rain.
There's gonna all that you want, the crime, the savings, the food, the smuts, the games and all
You wouldn't miss it for anything.
Love you all again.