Jaxton leaned with his shoulder and burst through the doors, which gave way with a cracking squeak. There was a flurry of gasps from the riders. A few of them took out their phones and recorded as Jaxton tried to storm his way down the aisle towards where Devon sat. Another alarm went up from the bus:

“ATTENTION—NON-STANDARD ENTRY DETECTED. PLEASE SCAN BUS PASS AND PANDEMIC PREVENTION CODE. ATTENTION—”

Some of the riders closer to the driver’s side covered their ears to stifle out the terrible grating alarm. Why did it have to be so loud?

“Will someone shut that damn thing off?”

“It’s an automated system, yelling isn’t going to fix anything!”

“YOU’RE A FUCKING AUTOMATED SYSTEM!”

“Oy…so early, all this shouting is…that’s what I get for taking the bus.”

Noise upon shouting upon noise. The bus driver pawed at a few buttons at the control panel and managed to shut off the alarms and the announcements, but the passengers were now in a thoroughly soured mood. Meanwhile, middle-aged woman continued to put herself in front of Jaxton, barring his way.

“You can’t—you can’t just—just wait a minute!”

“Do not impede my movement.” Jaxton’s face was an unsettling visage hidden beneath a thin smearing of calm. His voice took on odd, simulated tones of authority, as though he were channeling the spirit of a traffic cop. Worst of all was his face: a thin veneer of politeness plastered over frothing, screaming rage. Devon’s skin crawled as Jaxton tried to push past the middle-aged woman who continued to block his way. “I have the right to walk forward. Do not impede me.”

“I will not,” the middle-aged woman said. “You have to get off the bus right now.”

Jaxton’s eyes flashed. “Do not impede my movement. I have the right to walk forward.”

The bus driver turned to Jaxton. “Sir, please scan your bus pass and pandemic prevention code.”

“I will. Just relax,” Jaxton said. “First, I need just need to—“

“No—no! What part of ‘you are not getting on this bus! ’do you not understand?! I was at the bus stop—I saw you and your friends teasing that young man. You are not carrying your nonsense on this bus!”

Jaxton froze for a moment, staring off into nothing for a few painfully long moments, his eyes burning a hole into nothing. Devon couldn’t help but snort. With just a few words, this lady did what he’d been trying to do for what felt like hours.

Suddenly, Jaxton snapped to action and pushed his way towards the back of the bus

“What are you—hey! Ow! What is your—“

Jaxton grabbed the middle aged woman and pushed her down. Some of the riders cried out and recoiled in shock.

Devon, who’d been sitting quiet and trying to avoid Jaxton’s furious glare, leapt up. Enough was enough. He shot up from his chair and marched towards Jaxton.

Jaxton sneered and went to speak. He wasn’t able to finish as Devon reared back a leg and, like a firefighter breaking in a burning door, kicked Jaxton square in the stomach.

Jaxton doubled over, dropping his phone, squealing and wheezing, unable to catch his breath. Devon went over to the middle aged woman and helped her up, leading her back to his seat.

“Ma’am, you OK?”

The middle aged woman nodded, trembling, unable to speak. She held up her hands to steady herself, but even her hands shook.

Meanwhile, on the floor of the bus, Jaxton gasped and choked, gripping his stomach. A trail of saliva dripped from his mouth.

“Assault… see? He did it! That was assault!”

But he wasn’t able to finish his sentence before Devon lifted Jaxton up by his shirt and dragged him out towards bus entrance.

“—hands off me! Get your hands off me!” squealed Jaxton. He grabbed at Devon’s face, clawing and scratching, forcing Devon to let go. In the instant that Devon dropped him, Jaxton took a wild swing at Devon’s face. The riders gasped.

THUNK

His punch missed and landed hard on a jutting metal section of the bus above the window . Jaxton gripped his hand, screaming.

“You broke my hand! screeched Jaxton, howling in pain.

Devon grabbed Jaxton by the poof of his hair and dragged him out of the bus while Jaxton hollered and twisted—while still gripping his shattered hand. With maybe a bit more force than was necessary, Devon chucked Jaxton out of the bus and onto the sidewalk.

He turned to the driver and shouted.

“Go, man! Just go! Just go, please!”