The Bus Driver

As I got into his car, he gave me a look and ran his tongue over his lips, like he was showing his appetite. He seemed high, and honestly, I was scared of him. He kept looking for my eyes in the rearview mirror. "You good, Jasmine?" "It's Jade. Yeah, I'm good." "My bad, Jade. You Senegalese?" "No. Why?" "You got the fine face and the smooth skin. That's the Senegalese trademark, the most beautiful women in Africa." "She's not Senegalese," Vitali said. "I am." "You're cute, Vitali. But your friend is something else." What a lack of respect. I didn't know what to say. I just looked out the window to figure out where we were, but with the cold outside and the fog on the glass, I could barely read the road signs. We'd been driving for thirty minutes, and this bad feeling wouldn't let go of me. His phone rang—the Beverly Hills Cop ringtone. "Yeah, bro, I'll be there in twenty. I'm with my girl and her friend." "How long until we get to the party?" I asked. "Not long. Why, you in a hurry to dance?" "No. I have to get home early. My mom's waiting for me." "Your mom knows you came out here?" I didn't want to answer that. It was none of his business. "Yes, she knows. I called her while we were waiting for you in the cold." "You're lying. Your mom doesn't know you're here." "Leave her alone, Frankie, you're annoying," Vitali said. "Who do you think you're talking to? I'm not your friend. I will smack you. Don't play with me, you little bitch." His tone had changed completely the moment I mentioned my mother. Something was off, like he didn't want anyone to know we were coming to his lair. "Don't talk to me like that," Vitali said. He gave her a look that froze my blood. "We'll settle that later, you little—" That's when I understood the trip to the county was going to end very badly for us. Wiping the fogged-up window, I saw we had just passed a train station. "You can drop me here. I'll take the train, I really have to go home." "I'll drive you back after the party." "No, I'm good, my mom's going to kill me. Can you stop here, please?" "Don't start pissing me off. I said I'll drive you back after, so don't bug me. Besides, my boys are waiting for you." "Your boys? What boys? Waiting for me for what?" "To throw you a party." "Uh, okay, I don't get it. I'm getting out here." "We're already here. Too late to turn around."