One Of Us

It was chilly. It wasn’t quite cold enough to warrant doing anything but it was just about cold enough to complain; they both sat on the slanted metal bench under the open ended, greenhouse-like structure that had been, for some reason, constructed in the gargantuan brick hangar their local council called a bus station. A pigeon crossed from one bay to the next, searching in vain for food as buses ferried passengers to and from the station, navigating around one another in an almost mesmerising display of discipline and practice, the evidence of which still lingered, swept into the nooks and crannies of the station. Remnants of the day’s rain dripped from the leaky ceiling and came down above them only to be stopped by the plastic protector above. They saw it all and yet, their focus was entirely on the person sat next to them. Together they had conquered every challenge set before them save one most ironic: Getting to the bus stop on time. It wasn’t too long of a wait and as they waited, more and more travellers gathered around before forming a queue behind them. Without turning, they rose from their seated position, subtly nursed their numbed but somehow aching behind, then moved towards the gap where the bus doors would open to allow them to board. Not ten seconds later, their bus arrived.

They almost rode for free before remembering when they were. Stopping themselves, they returned to the driver’s cabin. “Sorry, I’ll take two singles to The Royal Oak please.” They grabbed their wallet from their back pocket and removed three coins in anticipation.
“Two fifty mate.” The driver jabbed at the ticket machine’s buttons.
They placed two pound coins and a fifty pence piece in the driver’s hand before nodding to conclude their part of the transaction. After confirming the coin’s value, the driver did his part and pressed the final button.
The tickets printed and fell as one into their waiting hand. “Thanks.” They nodded before moving down the bus to find themselves and their companion a seat.

The doors closed. For the first time in what seemed like forever, they sat down and didn’t feel an immediate need to get up and rush about. For the first time, they had nothing to do but sit and wait until they reached their destination. Lore allowed Char her choice of seat. Taking the one by the window left Lore in the aisle but it didn’t matter. The other passengers slowly trickled onto the bus, taking the seats around them. A young woman with exceptionally large, over the ear headphones sat across from them, blissfully unaware that the whole bus could also hear what she was listening to. Rather than say anything, the only appropriate response was to look disgruntled in her direction and hope she’d take a hint and when that didn’t work: tut. With everyone seated and adequately annoyed by the forced soundtrack of early two thousands popular music, the bus began it’s journey. It started with a sudden jolt of acceleration as all bus journeys do before petering out into a delicate crawl as the bus weaved its way out of the station. Eventually, they emerged into the outside world, the setting sun streamed in and somehow, found its way immediately into their eye. After a few turns, and passing by some tall buildings, it had become much more manageable. Lore turned themselves in their seat and looked at Char. While they felt uncomfortably comfortable in their civilian clothing, she seemed to have effortlessly transitioned into it and the lifestyle it came with. They focussed on her with their good eye; as ever, she was an image of beauty. Her chestnut hair tied into a messy bun, with the escaped strands caressing her face; her golden skin radiated in the evening sun. There was no one they’d rather be travelling with. Char stared out of the window in quiet contemplation, watching as the town centre sped past before slowing to a crawl as they hit traffic.
“Thank you for today.” Lore broke the silence.
Char turned to face them, resting her back on the window. “I think we both needed it. I can’t even remember the last time we went out together and it wasn’t work related.”
“Tay’s tenth birthday. We went out to the cinema then… Everything happened.” Lore chuckled. “Gods, I didn’t realise it had been that long.”
“Exactly.” Char smiled. “She’s transitioned twice since then…”
Lore shook their head. “I look at her and I sometimes can’t believe she’s our kid. When she gets home from uni I see the strange girl who I bumped into in Cambridge or… Do you remember the time she broke into your safehouse to interview us before our honeymoon?”
“As I recall, she came with us.” Char slowly started to slide her hand from her own lap to Lore’s. “I also remember really enjoying that honeymoon.”
Lore’s eye narrowed. They felt her fingers slowly circling their knee. Awkwardly, they corrected her.“I think you’re thinking of the other time we bumped into her while we were in Wales.”
Char nodded. “Yep, you’re right. Now that was an even better holiday. Maybe could have done without getting pregnant but still, everything worked out in the end.”
“I’m sorry it was a one off.” Lore frowned.
Char moved in closer almost immediately, embracing them. She pressed her face to their ear before whispering. “That’s what made it so special.” Goosebumps shot across Lore’s body sending their neck into spasm. Char backed away slightly, waited for the signal then re-engaged. “Sorry.”
“My fault.” Lore returned. They were about to say something when they felt a tap on their shoulder. “Sorry?” They turned.
“Sorry… um… do you know if this bus stops at the Miller’s Road Precinct?” The woman had stretched from her seat to theirs, her overly large headphones now cracked ajar with one ear free of them, awaiting Lore’s response.
They nodded.
Char moved in a little closer. “That’s actually the stop after we get off.” She smiled.
“Thanks.” She looked about ready to go back to her music before stopping. “I don’t mean to be rude but are you two a couple?”
Char looked to Lore who gave a single nod. “Yeah, we are.”
“Oh.” Her face went from awkward anxiety to suppressed happiness. “Thank you.” She returned to her seat.
Lore shrugged. Char shrugged.
Lore’s eyes widened before they bolted to their feet and retrieved their wallet.
“What’s wrong?” Char grabbed at their free hand.
“Sorry, I just remembered something I was going to do an hour ago.” They removed a ten pound note from their wallet and handed it to her. “You won.”
“Won what?” She paused but soon after, her eyes widened. “That.” She sighed. “Keep it.”
Lore slipped it into her jacket pocket. “It’s yours.”
“Fine.” Char sighed. She followed it with a sudden inhale. “Maybe?”
“Maybe?” Lore parroted.
Char shook her head. “I thought she’d turned her music down. Next song.”

Lore closed their eyes for a moment and listened. At first the lyrics seemed like a nonsensical mess of words about gods, slobs and buses but they came into focus as their eyes opened. In that instant, with the lighting and the song, perfection. Lore smiled before turning back to the woman. “Sorry, you wouldn’t mind?”
The woman looked at them confused. She handed Lore her MP3 player without thinking.
“Thanks.” Lore removed their Breacher and connected it to the borrowed device. They rewound the track then took Char’s hand, leading her out to the aisle before moving to the vacant wheelchair seating bay. “You couldn’t press play could you?”
Still unsure of what was going on, the woman again obliged. The music began.

A soft voice started singing. Lore took Char’s hand and placed it on their hip, linking theirs with her other. Under the fluorescent lighting, they started to sway. Time around them froze leaving them and the stranger as the only people capable of moving. As the chorus started, Lore moved in closer. “It might not be our song but it’s strangely accurate.” They spoke softly.
“What’s all this for?” Char didn’t want it to end but still found herself worried by the spontaneity.
Lore hid their face in the hug. “I suppose I’m just worried.”
“About what?” Char pulled away and stopped dancing immediately. She gently manoeuvred Lore’s face to be looking directly into hers.
“About us. About me.” Lore looked as though they were as close to crying as their body allowed. Seeing it, Char couldn’t stop herself emulating it. “I just feel like… without something to distract us from Us, I’ll bore you… I’ll not be enough for you.”
“So you thought you’d try slow dancing on a bus to a Christian sounding pop song?” Char couldn’t help but smile as a tear ran down her cheek.
“Being spontaneous always seemed to work.” Lore shrugged. “I don’t know if I can be enough for you. Be everything you deserve.”
“That’s for me to decide.” Char started welling up again. “It was nice when it happened, I was happy when it happened, but I would be equally happy if it never happened again. If it meant I got to spend the rest of my eternity with you, that’s a sacrifice… No, it’s a pleasure I’m willing and ready to experience.” She locked eyes with Lore. They closed their eyes before giving a tiny nod. She moved her hands to stabilise their face as she brought them in for a kiss; and then another. After a few more kisses, she took a moment to allow herself and Lore to recover. “Just because we don’t have a life or death reason to leave the house, doesn’t mean we’re going to stay inside all day.”
“I’m sorry.” Lore tightened their grip around her. “I feel a bit silly now.”
“It’s alright.” She smiled. “Now, how’s about we go home, pop the kettle on and see what’s on the telly?”
They walked with Char back to their seats, unplugged their Breacher and returned the MP3 player before clicking their fingers. Time resumed and with it, the bus. “That… Sounds like a plan.” Lore concurred.