Page 45 of Forever Finn

Garrett opens his mouth to say something but is interrupted by a loud beep. We all turn to look as an old-fashioned red double decker bus chugs down the road. It looks like it drove straight out of the 1980’s with its curved edges, little square drivers cab on the right-hand side at the front and open back. It putters along the winding lane, nearly taking up the whole narrow road, with the exhaust sputtering and backfiring loudly in a puff of grey smoke.

“What the fuck?” Jesse blinks as it pulls up and parks beside us.

The driver’s window drops down and a cheerfully grinning and familiar face appears.

“Kyan? What the hell is this?” Jesse’s mouth falls open.

“It’s Hank.”

“It’s a bus,” Jesse answers slowly.

“Yeah, well, I figured if Wyatt’s going to rush across the country to declare his undying love, it should make a statement.”

“Not if the statement isplease return to junkyard.”

“Hey Hank has feelings you know.” Kyan reaches out of the window and pats the side panel affectionately. “Got him for a steal too. Wonder why the guy was selling him so cheap?”

The bus backfires again and emits another smoggy cloud.

“It’s a mystery,” Jesse says straight faced.

“There is no way this is going to get us to… wait where are we going?” Beck asks, eyeing Hank suspiciously.

“London.” Kyan grins, reaching up and tugging the bell pull, which emits a merry little tinkle. “All aboard the party bus.”

“Party bus?” Beck stares at the bus. “It’s practically a senior citizen.”

“Uh, guys.” Nat fumbles with my legs again. “Wyatt’s not getting any lighter.”

From my vantage point, I see further on down the road to what looks like a photographer, and we seem to have caught his attention.

“MUGHHHNNHHBUGH!” I yell from behind the duct tape.

“What?” Nat looks down.

“URGHMMNNJHH!!!!” I say again, trying to point with my eyeballs at the photographer who has now been joined by a cameraman and someone with a microphone.

“MMMHHNGGGHH!!!!!!” I try again.

“Maybe we should take the tape off his mouth?” Nat suggests.

“Actually, I think he’s trying to warn you about the reporters heading this way,” Colin says calmly, pointing behind them.

They all turn, eyes widening.

“On! On! Everyone get on the bus,” Jesse yells urgently.

“Hank,” Kyan states stubbornly. “You call him by his rightful name, or you’re not allowed on board.”

“Oh, for Fu– everybody on board Hank!” He throws Kyan a reproachful glare, heaving my upper body toward the opening at the back of the bus, giving the others no choice but to follow seeing as they’re holding onto my legs.

Jesse might not look like much, but he’s got a lot of upper body strength thanks to his job of wrestling wriggling dogs who don’t like to get their shots.

Colin and Garrett climb on board followed by the others. As we get inside, Jesse, Deacon, Nat, and Beck collapse onto the side bench with me spread out across their laps with my ankles bound and arms crossed and taped to my chest like Dracula in his coffin.

“Took you guys long enough. I thought you were having a tea party out there you’d neglected to invite me to,” a smooth voice says dryly, and I tilt my head back to see Jin sitting comfortably in one of the seats idly, leafing through a magazine.

“Move.” Deacon tries to wriggle out from underneath me.