BUS ROUTE 42

Genre: Modern, Romance, BBW

Rating: G

Summary: Romance blooms between two casual acquaintances on a bus.

“Good Morning Russell, Good Morning Ella’, Good Morning Steven…” Loraine said, as she boarded the bus, as usual.

She had been taking the same route for six years, going to her job as home-care nurse, for a wheel-chair bound woman.

Many people came and went, but these three people, she had seen every morning, unless they were sick or on vacation, since the beginning.

Loraine was a curvy woman whose size fluctuated between a fourteen and sixteen, no matter what she did. She ate healthy and got plenty of exercise. One of the reasons she took the bus instead of driving, was so she could walk almost a mile everyday, to work.

But her doctor said it was no use, it was in her genes. He worried about her getting diabetes, but luckily, because her weight was pretty evenly distributed, not very top-heavy, and she ate healthy, he didn’t worry too much about her heart.

So, Loraine simply accepted her body. She played up her curves and beautiful face. Her skin was the deep brown of good earth, her face and eyes, round, and her small bow-shaped mouth was set off by deep dimples in her cheeks. She wore scrubs, with her favorite sci-fi show patches discreetly pinned on the pocket. Star Trek, Doctor Who, and Battlestar Galactica. Her hair was cut short in layered style, similar to Halle Berry’s old cut. It really made her pretty face stand out.

Ella’ was a petite golden brown woman who always sat next to her every morning, happily bantering about the news and their favorite television shows, and occasionally, the latest juicy novel.

Russell was nice-looking black man, who had been married for ten years. They always inquired about his kids and he proudly told tales of their growth and adventures.

And then there was Steve…

Steven was a computer programmer at TruNet, a large internet conglomerate.

He was the quiet one, listening, smiling, and occasionally making everyone crack up with his on-point, witty comments. Steven was a hipster. With purposely messy brown hair, brown eyes, ironic t-shirts, and a tattoo peeking through his neckline. He was definitely a cutie.

He always smiled a bit at Loraine’s constantly changing patches. He was a fan of all those shows, but he could never find the courage to initiate a conversation with her, about them, especially since no one else in their group did.

Truthfully, he had a bit of a crush on her. Though, he thought she’d never consider him…he being this skinny white guy and all.

Plus, he noticed she always talked with ‘Ella about all these handsome black actors…Will Smith, Idris Elba, Boris Kodjoe…

One day…It just so happened that both ‘Ella and Russell were out sick. This was the first time that had happened in six years.

He gathered his courage and sat next to her.

“I noticed you wear all those pins.” He said, quietly.

“What? Oh yeah…I collect them when I go to conventions.”

“You go to conventions?”

“Well, yeah.” She said surprised, he would be surprised. “ComicCon, Sci-Con, and of course, I never miss a Star Trek convention. That’s my favorite.”

“Wow…I mean, I knew you were fan, but…wow. I go to conventions, too…It’s strange we’ve never crossed paths there.”

“Well, they are pretty big.” She said, her dimples showing as she smiled.

“I have every season and every episode on DVD, from the original, all the way through Voyager…Enterprise, sucks too much for me, to even consider getting that one.”

Steven laughed at that one. He agreed.

They past the time easily, talking about specific episodes and the turns in the plot they liked most.

They even ventured into other genres, books they’d read, and rare, cultish, films they’d seen. He was really impressed with her knowledge…

“Oh, my God!” She announced “I’ve missed my stop!”

The bus driver pulled over between stops, so she could get off and make up the difference. Today, she’d be walking a full mile.

“Thanks” She said to the bus driver, and as she got to the bottom step, she said. “Nice talking to you, Steven.”

~~~~

Susan was her client and good company. She was a pretty blond woman who was paralyzed from the mid-chest down. She was pretty independent, but she needed help bathing and taking care of some other basic needs.

She had been down on herself, a bit since the car accident. She didn’t think she’d ever have a shot at her dream-life of marriage and children. Her doctors had said it was a crap-shoot, and even dangerous in her condition.

Loraine absently talked about Steven… “You know that, skinny white guy from the bus, the one, I told you about?”

“Yeah.” Susan, said, interested.

“He’s into sci-fi too, like me!”

“Duh” She said. rolling her eyes. “He is a computer geek!”

“Well, I don’t work with computers.”

She laughed…”You know what I mean. Most of those guys like sci-fi. It’s almost a given. Truthfully, I’m surprised you haven’t broached the topic, before today.”

“I honestly didn’t think he’d be interested in talking to me about anything, but he’s really cool.”

Susan interrupted…”-You LIKE HIM!”

“No, I don’t.” She said, waving her off.

“Yes, you do! I can tell…” She said using her one functional hand to flick the switch to move her chair closer to her.

“He must like you, too…” Loraine rolled her eyes, in disbelief. “He’d never be interested in someone like me…”

“Okay…” Susan said, thinking quickly…”Who started the conversation, him or you?”

“Well, he did, but that doesn’t mean…”

Susan laughed. “Oh, yes it does…” She said smiling.

“Listen, this is what you do…Next time you get on that bus, you watch him, but from the corner of your eye. If you catch him looking back…Guess what? He likes you.”

“Okay” Loraine said, taking up her challenge. “We’ll see, who’s right.”

~~~~

The next morning she greeted everyone as usual. This time, she noticed Russell was still out sick.
So, ‘Ella plopped down beside her, as usual and happily began to recount last evening’s news.

She found herself drifting through-out the conversation. “Uh, Huh.” She said absently.

She was checking Susan’s theory and sure enough…Even when she stealthily looked over from the corner of her eye, she noticed, he was looking back.

“Lori, are you listening to me??”

“What? Oh yeah, sure.”

‘Ella twisted up her mouth and narrowed her eyes, suspiciously.

‘Ella’s stop came up and she said her good byes.

After a few moments, Steven got up and sat next to Lori, again…This time she blushed profusely.

He asked her if she’d read the latest issue of the graphic novel version of Hitchhiker’s Guide.

“No.” She said, shyly… “I haven’t got that one yet.”

“Well, here…” He said reaching into his backpack. “You can have mine.”

“Oh no, Steven.”

“It’s okay…I’ve already read it. Plus, I’ve got another copy at home.” He lied.

He pushed it into her hands and they had a bit of a moment.

“Listen.” He said, fiddling with the back of his hair… “I’m having a viewing party with a few of the guys at work…You wanna come?”

She sucked her lips a bit deepening her dimples and finally said. “-When is it?”

“This Saturday…I’ll give you directions, tomorrow?” He said hopefully.

She inhaled…”Will there be any other girls there?”

“Of course, Greta, Hannah, and you’ll love meeting Roberta she’s an even bigger Trekkie, than you are.”

“Well…Okay.”

“Great!” He said just as his stop was called. He was beaming, as he left the bus…

Lori sighed…

The bus-driver looked back and smiled, shaking his head.

~~~~

When she got to Susan’s place. Susan was excited.

“Oh My God Lori!!…My other hand moved!” She said, her eyes wide…

“Well, that’s great!” She said, knowing it was likely a spasm and meant nothing, but not wanting to crush her hopes.

“So…That means I can get a physical therapist, right?” She asked.

Lori sighed heavily. “Susan, you know, it has to happen more than once…”

“I know, I know…but it’s a good sign, right?”

Lori shook her head, saying… “You know, it is.” …as she leaned down and took her hands. “I really think it is.”

“So, what happened with you and the cutie from the bus?”

“What?”

“Oh, you didn’t think I’d forget, did you?” She said slyly…

“Well, he was looking at me…”

Susan squeed…

“-And he gave me one of his comic books…”

Susan squeed again…

“-And he invited me to a viewing party, on Saturday.”

“And of course, you’re going!!”

“Yeah.” She said nodding.

“Loraine, you know if I could, I’d be hugging you, right now.”

So, Lori bent down and hugged her instead.

The next morning Lori got on the bus as usual, but Steven plopped down beside her, not as usual.

He asked her about last night’s episode of Doctor Who. She was so relieved to have someone to talk to about it, she practically jumped out of the seat, with excitement.

“-Yes!!” She said excitedly.

“Did you see when the Tardis almost exploded??”

“Yeah! -But I knew that wouldn’t happen.” Lori said waving it off.

As they sat there talking, Ella’ got on the bus, her eyes wide. She seemed almost almost offended that Steven had taken her seat, so she sat in his usual seat, next to Russell.

She tried to make conversation with him, but they had nothing in common. Plus, Ella’ was itching to tell Lori about the lastest juicy news about Angelina Jolie.

Finally, Steven reached into his backpack and brought out a crumpled bit of paper, printed from GoogleMaps, which Lori could’ve easily retreived for herself, she thought. But she kept her mouth shut about it.

“Here it says, make a slight left, but you should just keep straight. Just look for the Gollum in the front yard.”

Lori had to laugh at that one. “Gollum? You’re kidding…”

“No. A friend of mind made it for me.”

“That’s rad.” Lori said, genuinely meaning it.

Then she snapped her fingers…”Oh, I almost forgot”…She reached into her large bag and pulled out Steven’s Hitchhiker’s Guide comicbook. It was still in pristine condition.

“I finished it last night. I don’t need to keep it.” She said.

He took a deep breath and took it back. “Thanks, Lori.”

Both Russell and Ella’ began to notice the ease of their conversation, they were practically listening to every word, though they didn’t really understand all the sci-fi talk.

Steven was always last to get off the bus, so, Ella’ left first looking rejected.

Russell didn’t much care, either way, so he simply thanked the driver and waved at them both.

Lori almost missed her stop, again.

~~~~

When she got to Susan’s. She could see her eyes, were wide…

She dropped her bag and ran to her… “Susan! Susan! What’s wrong?”

“I’ve been having this weird tingling all through my chest…I’m scared.”

“But Susan! This IS a good sign! Major sign that we’ve been looking for.”

“Really?” She said breathing heavily…”So, I should see a doctor, then right?”

“Yeah!”

Susan’s eyes began to roll up into her head…

“OhGawd!!…Susan? Susan!” Lori went into auto-pilot.

Lori was strong and toned from all of her exercise and work with her patient…She gently moved her out of her chair and propped her legs up…She made sure her airway was clear and that she was breathing, and then called the ambulance.

~~~~

Lori stood in the waiting room with Susan’s father…

“Thank you, Loraine.”

“She’s my friend.” She said.

He gave her a worried smile.

The doctor came out of her room.

“She’s stable…but she had a mini-stroke. The spasms she had, temporarily constricted the blood flow to her brain. But she’s awake and talking. There doesn’t seem to be any permanent damage.”

“So, can we see her?” Her father asked.

The doctor placed an assuring hand on his shoulder and smiled. “Yes, of course.”

~~~~

“Lori” She said…”Come here. I want you to see…”

And Susan breathed deeply, all the way down through her diaphragm and lower belly…

“Do you see this?”

“Yeah.” She said shaking her head, awestruck.

Her father stood by her side covering his mouth, his eyes glistening.

“That’s good..Susan,” Lori said stroking her head. “That’s really good.”

“And I can move my other shoulder…Just a little bit…”

It was barely perceptible, but she did…And that was it, her father broke down. His lips trembled, as tears rolled down his face.

He sat heavily in the chair next to her and grabbed her hand…”We’re going to get you moving again…”

~~~~

It was the day of the viewing party. Everyone was required to bring their favorite cult movie. There would be a drawing to find out which three movies they would see.

Lori spotted Steven’s yard-Gollum and chuckled, shaking her head. She was dressed in a pair of jeans and a royal blue baby-doll top that just barely showed off her ample cleavage.

She parked her Escort and slowly walked up to the house. She could hear the buzz of many people inside and her stomach did a few flip-flops.

Lori had brought Suspiria.

She took a deep breath and rang the doorbell.

“Hang on!” Steven yelled “I’ve got to get the door!”

Steven smiled broadly when he saw it was Lori.

“Lori!” He said, “I’m glad you made it….Come in.”

Despite the buzz she heard, there were only about eight people there. He introduced her around.

“This is Greta.” He said, gesturing to a small brunette in glasses. She took her hand…

He introduced the rest. All told, five guys and four girls. Hannah turned out to be a giggly redhead who began to rattle off about Star Trek, immediately.

“Okay! Everybody’s here!” He announced. “It’s time for the drawing!”

Everyone, put their DVD’s into the bag… He drew out, the original Star Trek, at which Hannah jumped, squealed, and grabbed Lori’s shoulders, The Thing and Suspiria, at which Lori clapped a bit.

Hannah was trying to draw her into a seat next her, but Steven waved her over…

”I saved you a seat.” He said, smiling…

Some of the party-goers raised their eyebrows. “I’ve never seen Suspiria.” He said.

“Oh, you’ll love it…Very colorful.” Lori said smiling…

~~~~

About midway through the movie, Lori cringed into Steven’s chest…Steven took the opportunity to put his arm around her.

They stayed like that, through the rest of the movie.

Lori went to the bathroom and then headed into the kitchen for a soda.

This whole situation was so intimidating to her, because her last boyfriend was psychologically abusive. He’d call fat, call out her flaws, and generally make her feel like shit, until she couldn’t take it anymore. She finally walked out after enduring that for two years.

Steven however, had dated all kinds of women, at least size-wise…He had no preference there…Well, except one. He didn’t like girls who were too skinny.

Steven came in after her, getting a beer. “Hey Steve, I’ve always wondered what that tattoo is on you neck there?”

“Oh this?” He said baring his right shoulder a bit…It’s a Celtic symbol see? It extends all around my back.” He said, lifting up his shirt. She reached out and hesitated…“ Go, on you can touch it. I got it about two years ago.”

They looked up at each other and smiled a bit.

“I’ve got one too…But mine’s small.”

She lifted up her pant leg a little and there was a tiny black widow spider on her ankle.

“That’s different.”

“Well, I got it because I was bitten by one, when I was a girl…It put me out of commission for while.”

“Wow.”

“So, I got a tattoo of it, here where I was bitten.” Steven leaned in and touched it. Lori got a chill.

She leaned back against the counter and noticed Steven checking out her cleavage.

Normally that would piss her off, but it was okay with Steve. It made her feel a little more in control of things…

“Listen, Steve?”

She said bringing his eyes, back up to her face… “I was wondering…Did you want hang out again?”

He blinked with a sly smile. He was impressed. Confidence, was definitely a turn on, even if it was late-coming.

“Sure.” He said taking a swig of his beer.

“Oooh, how about an outdoor indy flick, next Saturday?”

“They’re showing the Coen Brothers at the Westmore…”

“Alright.” He said. “I’ll pick you up.”

~~~~

The week flew by. With Susan in the Hospital she could stay home and veg out. Which she did, occasionally checking in on Susan to make sure she was progressing and thinking about her upcoming date with Steven.

…Steve, who hadn’t made her feel less than beautiful once.

Lori spent the whole day second-guessing herself in her outfit…The boobs, the boobs, they were always the issue.

She was afraid she was either covering up too much or letting it all hang out. It was difficult to find a happy medium. She was just happy that she had a number of good bras.

She’d been measured once and found out that her supposed Double D was actually an E.
Yeah, you can’t find that at your local lingerie store.

She called her girlfriend, Melodia to come over and give a second opinion. Melodia was a tall, quiet, girl, who was so skinny it looked like a stiff breeze might blow her over, but she’d known Lori since high school and knew her style very well.

“Okay, Lori…It’s just a movie. Understated, but clean and classy is always best.” Melodia practically whispered.

Lori shook her head.

“Calm down…” She said placing an assuring hand on her shoulder. “You’re shaking. It’s just a date.”

“I know…but if this doesn’t go well, I still have to see him every morning…And it has been awhile.”

Melodia raised an eyebrow…”I doubt that’s the real reason you’re all, excitable.”

“In all this time, that I’ve known you.” She said, as she sorted through a few possibilities.

“…I’ve never heard you talk about this guy, save for a brief mention…Now, why would that be?” Melodia said in mock consideration, scratching her chin.

Before Lori could answer…She continued. “I think, it’s because we sometimes avoid the things we think we can’t have.”

Lori sighed, deeply.

“That jerk, Darren really did a number on you…You’re due some good fortune on this front.”

“Yeah, I hope so.” Lori said, as she continued to bump her ends with her curler.

~~~~

Greta sat in the middle of Steven’s living room sofa distantly watching Mystery Science Theater.

“You know, no matter what you wear, you’ll be fine, Steven…” She droned.

“Four years, four years…Through countless bad dates, I’ve always wondered what it might be like with Lori. She’s always been, so great to everyone, you know? She’s a sane decent person who loves all the geeky things I do and she’s beautiful. I just don’t want to screw this up.”

“-Oh My God, that’s gross!” Greta shouted.

“-What?!”

“Oh, worms just came out of this chick’s face…Nevermind…How’s it going in there?”

Steven left his room, smoothing down his shirt.

“Okay, how’s this?” He stood tall, for her assessment.

Greta, adjusted her glasses and shook her head. It was just another variation of the same thing he wears all the time, a black logo’ed t-shirt, this one had mathematical symbol for pi and a pair of worn jeans. Even his hair had that same carefully mussed look it always had.

“You look great, stud.” She droned… “Just don’t forget the Wrigley’s and bring her something nice.” She said, pulling out her own cinnamon flavored pack.

“Now, get going! I want to get home before this thing is over.” She said gesturing at the TV.

~~~~

“Okay, Riverdale drive…Second to the last house on the left…Green shutters…” Steven mumbled.

He pulled into her driveway and took a few deep breaths. He took the well-chewed gum out of his mouth and wrapped it in it’s wrapper.

Finally, he walked up her sidewalk and rung her doorbell.

“Just a minute!” Lori shouted.

She checked herself in the mirror one last time and took a deep breath. She settled on her favorite blush colored top and dark blue jeans. She wore a pair of pretty ballet flats and delicate earrings to dress it up a bit.

Melodia had suggested those details.

Lori rubbed her lips together, distributing the wine-colored gloss on her mouth and opened the door.

Steven smiled shyly…

“Lori, you look great.”

“Thanks.” Lori darkened.

“I, uh, brought these for you.”

“Tulips…That’s unusual…”

Steven stammered. “Well, I thought -You don’t seem like the roses typ-“

“-You were right.” Lori inhaled the delicate fragrance of the violet blooms. “Let me put just put these in some water…You can come in.”

Steven stepped through her threshold and was impressed with the odd collection of rare toys, posters, and dvds of different sci-fi shows on display….And a bookcase full of classic sci-fi authors, from Phillip K. Dick to Asimov.

He was fiddling with her Enterprise model, when she reappeared with the tulips in a tall glass of water.

It slipped from his hands…and broke into three pieces.

Steven was mortified.

“Oh God. I’m sorry, Lori.” He dropped to the floor and retrieved the pieces. “Can I replace it?…”

Lori went pale…It had been signed by all the original cast members, two of whom were now dead.

“…It’s okay.” She said, but he could tell, it wasn’t.

What a great start, he thought.

The phone rang… Ordinarily, she would just let it ring and head out, but she was pretty shell-shocked by her broken memento. Another voice was what she needed right now.

She picked up the reciever.

“Hello?”

“Hi!”

“Susan! How are you?”

Steven sat on her couch, tenatively.

“I’m much better…I just wanted to tell you, I’ve been assigned a physical therapist and he’s…
really nice.”

Lori smiled broadly…

“I’m calling about your beau.”

Lori fiddled with her hair and turned away from a watching Steven. “Yeah, I’m uh…heading out, so….”

“-yes!” Susan wooted, as quietly as she could. She had picked up the unspoken message.

“Well, then get I’m getting off the phone, I’ll catch up later… Then you tell me, EVERYTHING.” Susan said.

“Okay, Susan… As long as you go first.”

“-Bye!” Susan sputtered as Lori clicked the reciever.

She felt a bit better…

“How is she?” Steven asked.

“Better than I thought…” Lori said, a wry smile on her face.

“I’m ready. Let’s go.”

~~~~

They arrived to gently slopping grassy hill where dozens of couples were already sitting, behind the auditorium that was the Westmore. In warm weather, it became an outdoor theater.

Steven unravelled a battered blanket and helped Lori down, taking her hand as he did.

Then he stood up, nervously. “What do you want from the concessions stand?”

“Just a coke and popcorn, please.”

Lori sat on the blanket and felt her heartbeat pick up as she watched him go.

~~~~

Steven stood in line and ran his ran through his hair, thinking he’d already ruined this date.

“I’ve got to make this up to her, somehow.” He thought.

~~~~

Steven came back with a huge bucket of popcorn, two cokes, and napkins.

“Thanks.”

He sat next to her as the screen darkened…The sky was at that beautiful moment when the last bit of the sun leaves the horizon.

As they watched Marge bend over the snow, Lori leaned on Steven’s shoulder. He let out a breath he didn’t know he had been holding and held her in a comfortable embrace.

He felt she at least, had forgiven him, but he would still find some way to make up for his blunder.

Time flew by…During intermissions, they swapped observations on their favorite moments.

As Everett proclaimed his love for his estranged wife, Lori looked up at Steven. Steven bent down and kissed her. The world dissappeared and all that existed in that moment, were the two of them.

…Even as the audience laughed at Everett’s swift dismissal.

~~~~

They walked from the grass, hardly noticing that they were now, somehow holding hands.

Steven opened the car-door for Lori and let himself in.

“I love the Coens.” Lori said, grinning. “I had a great time, tonight.”

“So did I.”

~ by Raven White on April 14, 2008.