All Around the Town




Elizabeth slowly got up, and brushed the dirt off herself. Shakily, she looked at the bus, which was getting smaller and smaller as it drove off. She put her hand to her forehead, and when she pulled her hand back it was covered in blood. She had smacked her head on the pavement, and would probably need stitches.

She gathered up the children, and they walked over to a pay phone. Elizabeth dialed the number of the hospital, and after two rings, Abby picked up.

"Yes, hello Abby," Elizabeth said

"Elizabeth - We heard what happened. We're so glad that you're okay."

"Listen Abby - I need you to get somebody over here. I've got about twenty children, some who need medical attention. We're on....." Elizabeth stopped to look at the sign "23rd street, by the convenience store."

"So everybody got off the bus okay?" Abby asked

"No," Elizabeth admitted, "Dave's still there. Still on the bus..." She cut herself off, and for the first time since she met him, she was worried about Dave.

* * * * * *

While Elizabeth and the children were trying to make their way back to the hospital, Dave was still sitting, in the first seat of the bus, gun held to his head. He swallowed, and breathed deeply. Dave never usually worried about things - he never let things get to him. But he was scared - he knew how much Ed hated him. And he knew Ed wouldn't mind at all if he ended up dead.

Ed had been one of the more popular people, Dave remembered. And for some reason, he had always held a grudge against Dave. Dave racked his brain trying to think why Ed hated him, but he came up with nothing. The two had barely spoken in high school, and when they did, the remarks were always negative.

"Scared, Malucci?" Ed asked cynically "Is the miraculous doctor actually afraid of me?"

Dave ignored the comment. If there hadn't been a gun to his head, he would have made some kind of retort. But seeing as though Ed was in control of the trigger, he didn't want to push his luck.

"Oh - so now you've taken a vow of silence? Please," Ed uttered and drew back the gun, "I know for a fact that you never shut up. So talk!"

"You want me to talk?" Dave responded, glad that the gun was gone from his head, "Fine then - let me ask you a question."

"Oh boy, I get interviewed by the doctor! Fine, what is it?" Ed said with much annoyance in his voice.

"Why do you hate me?"

"You didn't respect me. You didn't listen to me - You talked back." Ed said loathingly

"You gave me no reason to respect you. Sorry that I didn't follow your rules, and I actually thought for myself"

"You're just the same as you always were, Malucci. You need an attitude change," Ed said furiously, "Haven't you learned to not make me mad?"

The bus swerved off the road, and a shot was fired as the bus overturned on the side of the road.



Part 5
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