It was one of those sticky hot days that made every breath feel like a struggle. It almost made Mandy go back to the house to grab her asthma pump, she thought against it as she checked her public transit app, it told her she had about 6 minutes before the next bus came and she really needed to be on it. 'Fuck', she thought as she began to sweat. Her brow was wet already and the humidity sat heavily on her chest, she hadn't been outside for more than three minutes. She made it to the bus stop on time with a couple minutes to spare. She got out her pass and stood close to the stop at the edge of the curb.
She noticed that there were a few familiar faces that morning, people she had seen in passing over the years that she didn't speak to. Her eyes latched onto a stream of bright color going up an arm that reminded Mandy of a latte in a bottle, soft brown, tastes good. She licks her lips and turns to face the street again expecting her bus to be there, it isn't. Her brow furrows and she looks into her bag. The app is already open when she unlocks the screen and she feels what little breath she had leave her in a woosh. She had been looking for the right bus just going in the wrong direction. She's already missed her bus and the next one wasn't coming for another 15 minutes. She'd be a little late for her meeting but nothing serious.
She walked with slumped shoulders to the shade farther onto the sidewalk. Mandy decided she wouldn't stand there and wallow. She had important things to do today and she wasn't going to let her anxiety catch up to her. She swallowed hard as she made to call her editor to let them know she was going to be late. It went over pretty well her editor was understanding and told Mandy that waiting 5 minutes more wasn't going to hurt anything. Mandy sighed in relief and mopped the sweat off her phone and ear. The short conversation making her sweat that much more with nervous energy.
Mandy whispered, "Everything is fine. Just slowly roasting in hell but overall everything's the insect's ligaments," she sighed deeply after her short musing on the day's start. She closed her eyes and let the shade cool her down. As she opened her eyes she turned her head to the side and found light eyes looking at her. She didn't really want the attention but expected it as she wanted to dress for the weather and be comfortable. Her dress was mid thigh with half length sleeves that hugged her elbow. It was made out of a soft blue linen and had pockets on the bust and hips. On someone else her dress was seen as motherly and practical, on her it was something less regarded. Full hips and bust stretching the fabric. Mandy turned her head back and went to rummaging in her bag for her earphones. She didn't hear him walk toward her and didn't see him until he reached out and touched a hand to her elbow. Mandy jumped and pulled her elbow down and held it close to her body.
He was cute and had a nice mouth, a pink tongue darted out and traced a top lip that reminded Mandy of bubblegum. "Um, would you mind giving me the time," his voice was heavy and Mandy thought about the way he might sound between her legs. Mandy felt herself unfurl it was a simple request and nothing creepy. Her phone was in one of the outside pockets of her bag easy to reach, "It's 11:37."
He nodded his head but didn't move away from Mandy. Mandy lifted her hand meaning to go back in her bag and look for headphones. "Do you know when the 12 is coming?" That's the bus Mandy was waiting for she nodded, unlocking her screen and double-checking that the bus would be there by 11:45. He nodded his head and said a low, "Thank you."