You follow Bae to the bus stop outside the college gates. “How long have we got?” She checks the bus timetable. “About eight minutes.”
”If it’s on time,” you say.
”Well, there’s a way to make it arrive early,” she says as she produces a pack of Camel Lights from her bag. She puts one between her lips, before offering you the packet. “Want one?”
You reach out towards the packet but hesitate.
”Quite right!” she says, lighting up her cigarette. “Dirty habit, but the bus now knows that I’m smoking a ciggie, so it will want to interrupt me.”
”The bus knows? But surely you can stub it out and relight it later.”
”Doesn’t taste the same,” she tells you and then points. “Look! Here it comes.” She takes a last drag before stubbing the Camel on the bus stop.
You climb aboard, using the middle doors, and then you climb the stairs to the upper deck. Bae directs you towards the back seats, where she kneels on the seat so that she can see the college recede.
”Have you got a ticket?” she asks.
”Have you?” you ask.
”I’ve got a montly pass.”
”I haven’t got a ticket,” you reveal.
Do you go downstairs to the driver and buy a ticket. (goto 33)
Or do you shrug and style it out. (goto 36)