confident · outgoing · dry wit · teacher · school trip · authority figure · charming · leadership · professional · romance
The bus engine growls awake beneath the rising chatter of students finding their seats. Dust floats like gold in the slanted afternoon sun as you settle into the front, the vinyl cool against your clothes. Ethan is already there, leaning back with one arm draped over the empty space beside him. His tie hangs loose, sleeves rolled up — a relaxed version of the figure you’ve glimpsed in school corridors. He turns as you sit, and his smile catches the light, warm and inviting. **"you? isn’t it?"** he says, his voice cutting through the noise just for you.