Hayden slipped her fingers into the pockets of her green jacket, and shivered as the wind tore through her dark hair. Quickening her pace, she rushed down the sidewalk until she spotted the beacon of the bus shelter at the end of the block.
Her tennis shoes scurried across the ground while she rushed towards it. Once she slipped inside, a triumphant breath escaped her. Settling down onto the bench, she turned to smile politely at the man who had made himself comfortable by sitting on it sideways at the other end.
"Cold night, huh?" he greeted her.
Shivering again in response, Hayden nodded. "If I knew it was going to get this windy out I would have worn a thicker jacket."
A slight smile tilted his lips upward. "You would freeze to death in no time wearing just that," he said motioning towards her apparel.
His hands were buried inside the pockets of his long, black, wool trench coat as he said it, and one half of the coat gaped open as he pointed at her without removing his hand.
Glancing down at her wrist watch, Hayden checked the time. It was three minutes past eleven. Only seven more minutes until the bus was due.
"I think I'll survive. Just a few more minutes until my chariot arrives," she said with another smile.
Her words made a chuckle escape him. "Your chariot. I like that."
Hayden tucked her dark hair behind her ear before glancing towards him. "It's my savior right now while my car is being fixed," she informed him.
Lifting his brows, he nodded. "What's wrong with it?" he wondered aloud.
"It needs a new transmission."
Tilting his head back for a moment, his response was quick. "Ah."
When he said nothing further, Hayden reached into the pocket of her jacket to pull out her cell phone. Glancing at the face of it, her brows furrowed before she shook her head, and placed it back into her pocket.
"Something wrong?" he asked her.
With another polite smile, she shook her head. "Nothing worth mentioning," she replied vaguely.
"Boyfriend problems?" he asked with a smirk.
Scrunching her nose, Hayden suppressed a laugh. "Not exactly."
"Ex boyfriend problems?" he inquired with a chuckle.
"Something like that," Hayden replied mysteriously.
Biting the side of his lip he nodded again. "Some people just don't know how to let go."
"We decided to stay friends," she admitted. "He's just being a little more friendly than I had hoped for."
"Been there," he returned companionably. "How long were you together?"
Hayden glanced towards the ceiling of the shelter as she gave it some thought. "About a year?" she finally answered. "Maybe a little less?"
"That sounds about right," he replied. "Takes about that long to get sick of someone when they're not the right person."
His response made her face crinkle with amusement. "That's kind of a harsh way of looking at things, but I suppose it's not that far from the truth."
Tilting his head to the side, he shrugged. "I'm a realist. I don't like to beat around the bush, or pretend."
"That's a good way to be," she said in response. "It just means that you're honest."
"I'd like to think so," he said in agreement.
"What's your name?" she suddenly asked.
He seemed to hesitate for a moment before he finally responded. "It's Zach. What is yours?"
"Hayden," she replied automatically.
"That's kind of unique. You have a pretty name. I approve."
A small laugh escaped Hayden as she looked at him. "Thanks for your support."
His lips twisted in amusement before he nodded. "Anytime."
Another shiver passed through Hayden's frame as she leaned forward. "Where is this bus? I'm going to be a popsicle in no time if it doesn't show up soon."
"It will come," he said with certainty. "You just have to be patient."
"I've never been known for that," she told him with a smile. "I'm probably the least patient person in the world."
His lips tilted derisively. "Give it some time. You'll learn eventually."
His strange words made Hayden lift a brow, but she soon became distracted as two large headlights began traveling up the road.
"Oh good. It's coming," she sighed in relief. "Damn thing was taking forever."
Her large grey eyes watched as it slowly began it's ascent up the hill, chugging along like the tortoise in a race. When it finally reached the corner where the shelter resided, Hayden got to her feet, and stepped in it's direction.
"Time to trade in one box for another. Ready to get out of this cold?" she asked with another smile.
Zach grinned in response as he looked up at her from where he sat. He was still leaning with his back against the shelter wall, and had made no move to rise.
His knees were still bent, and his feet were still flat on the bench as she waited expectantly. When he reached out to take her hand in his, Hayden looked down at him in surprise.
Gently, he pulled her towards him, and reached out to wrap his fingers around her other wrist. When her brows knitted in confusion, his grip suddenly tightened, and he pulled her forward until she fell into his lap.
A gasp was torn from her throat, and a scowl began to form on her face as she looked up at him. "What the hell are you doing, Zach?"
Instead of responding, he reached into the pocket of his long coat, and pulled out a pair of handcuffs. Slapping one end around her wrist, he quickly attached the other end to the railing at the top of the bench. When it was secured, he slipped out from under her, and stood to approach the bus.
Hayden was stunned as she gazed at the metal casing around her wrist. There were eight inches of chain that separated one from the other. Pulling at it in horror, it clanked against the railing as her shocked eyes traveled to her captor.
He stood patiently before the bus doors, and when they parted, he waved at the driver in greeting.
"We're good," he informed her with a smile. "A friend is coming to pick us up. You can go."
The black woman eyed him for a moment before responding. "You know this is the last pick up for the night, right?"
Zach nodded. "I know. We'll be fine. Thanks."
Turning away from her, the bus doors closed, and he stepped back towards the shelter.
Hayden's eyes widened at his approach. Jumping to her feet, she leaned forward as far as her restraint would let her. Then she took a deep breath, and began to shout.
"Wait! Don't leave! Help!"
The sound of the bus engine was loud as it pulled away from the curb. Pausing on the sidewalk, Zach turned casually to look at it before swiveling back to her. "You should have been louder. I don't think she heard you."
Hayden's wide, grey eyes grew fearful as she looked at him. "What are you going to do to me?" she asked him tremulously.
Standing beneath the street light, she could see his face more clearly, and her chest filled with trepidation when his impassive blue eyes met hers. For an endless moment they just gazed at one another, and then he shrugged before stepping towards her.
