The school bus was hot.
The school bus was loud.
And worst of all—the school bus smelled like twelve different brands of anxiety sweat and one kid's forgotten Subway sandwich.
Jaanvi, wedged between two debate team duffels and a wall of backpacks, poked her head up like a meerkat looking for salvation.
"Coach Evans," she pleaded, already halfway down the aisle. "Can I please have a whole row to myself? Just one tiny extra seat. I swear I'll be unconscious and silent the entire ride."
Coach Evans didn't even look up from his clipboard.
"No."
"But I—"
Coach Carter turned around from the front seat, popping a Tylenol directly into his mouth.
"No, Vaidya."
"What if I pay you?"
"This isn't Southwest Airlines."
"I'm literally 5'2". I fold up like a napkin. You won't even know I'm there."
"You were yelling about moose custody this morning. We will absolutely know you're there."
Maya snorted from her seat. Leo shouted something about "letting Jaanvi sleep in the luggage compartment."
Jaanvi sighed dramatically and tried again.
"Come on. My neck is already cramping. And Aditya keeps looking at me like I stole his snacks."
That was a mistake.
Coach Evans looked up slowly. A dangerous twinkle in his eye.
"You want your own seat, huh?"
Jaanvi blinked. "...Yes?"
He leaned toward Coach Carter and whispered something. They both smiled—in sync. A terrifying sight.
"You know what?" Coach Carter said, clapping his hands. "New arrangement. Aditya Singh—switch with Leo. You're sitting with Jaanvi now."
"Wait—what?!" Jaanvi sputtered.
"WHAT?!" Aditya's voice echoed at the same time, but his was much more gleeful.
Leo fist-bumped the air like he'd just dodged a bullet.
"Good luck, bro," he whispered to Aditya, grabbing his bag.
Jaanvi narrowed her eyes. "I will sue."
Aditya threw himself into the seat beside her with all the grace of a cat who knew it was unwelcome but didn't care.
"Hi, seatmate," he grinned. "Wanna cuddle or should we build a blanket wall first?"
Jaanvi sighed deeply. "I'm going to ignore you."
"You always say that. You never do."
She pulled her hoodie over her head and turned away.
Aditya leaned closer, his voice low and playful in her ear.
"If you drool on my shoulder, I'm charging rent."
She flipped him off under her blanket.
But he just grinned wider.
Two Hours Later...
Aditya had built a fortress of snacks in the seat pocket in front of them. His phone was on 6% but he was using it anyway. Jaanvi had tried to sleep six different times, and failed all six because:
Aditya kept offering to "read her a bedtime story"
He accidentally played a loud romantic Bollywood playlist when trying to "calm the mood"
He rested his head on her shoulder and pretended to be asleep
Jaanvi finally cracked.
"Aditya. I swear to God. If you touch my blanket one more time—"
"I wasn't touching it. I was... respectfully leaning on it."
She shoved him. He laughed.
But under the blanket she was clutching...
She was also smiling. Just a little.
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