The Bus Stop Kids

By Zack Codso

In 2005, four teens who were best friends as children when they met at their bus stop by the water tower, but grew apart throughout high school. Their worlds start to collide when serial killer, Ryan Sears, is released from prison and starts going to college the next town away. Billy, the Good Kid, is indifferent about getting involved in with what's going on, even though he's planning on going to the same college next year. Taya, The Sweetheart, is out to prove Ryan is guilty and is behind all the mysterious deaths that started up after his release. Nick, The Cool Cat, is angry to learn that Ryan is dating his younger sister and corrupting her more every day. And Carter, The Bad Boy, has his own reasons for getting close to Ryan, while trying to keep his recovery affloat.

 

While dealing with every day teen issues, such as sex, violence, substance abuse, social cliques, peer pressure and... con-art? They slowly start to find that they only thing they needed to survive their senior year is each other.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Zack Codso
• Release date: Apr 27, 2020
• ISBN: 9781386888420

Zack Codso

Zack Codso is from Winchendon, MA and works as a bus driver for a nonprofit school system. He enjoys skipping school, taking his best friend's dad's Ferrari out for a joyride, and singing in parades. He may have his own fears about moving forward in the future, but the sportos, motorheads, geeks, sluts, bloods, wastoids, dweebies, d***heads - they all adore him. They think he's a righteous dude.

Book preview

Ch. 1 Who’s Who At The Bus Stop

SOCIAL NETWORKS, SMART phones, online college classes, numerous fads that were literally up and coming after that 1 year. A whole new world and their whole lives were right in front of them, but they didn’t need some new craze they didn’t even know about to get them through their senior year of high school. They needed something else they didn’t know they needed... each other. Everyone says You’re in high school, these are the best years of your lives. If you asked a teenager when their lives really started, surely some of them would say it was about 3rd grade over a spontaneous game of tag. It was September of 1995, at a school bus stop by the old water tower in the small town of Mullentown, Massachusetts, where four kids met and played everyday before and after school.

Taya Cunningham, a girl born in Portugal and adopted at birth by a lower middle class family, lived on the street were the lake was. Donnie Carter, a boy raised by a working class single mother, lived in the apartment building across from the bus stop. Nick Jordan, the older of 2 kids in a lower middle class Black American family, lived closer to the highway, but his parents preferred the safer bus stop. And Billy Carpenter, son of an encouraging, loving, working class family, lived just down the road from the water tower.

That day at the bus stop was the first day of the 3rd grade for the four kids. What started off as a spontaneous game of tag that Billy started, became an inseparable friendship between them at school and after school. Because Taya, Carter and Billy’s birthdays were around the same time over the summer, they always had a party for all 3 of them, and Nick would get three gifts from his friends so that he wouldn’t be left out for having an April birthday. Sure, things changed as years went by, such as Carter and his mom moving into a house downtown, Billy getting involved in more school activities, Taya getting prettier, and Nick getting cooler. But as far as they were concerned, best friends were forever. Middle School and the start of adolescence made them need more effort. That’s when the cliques got discovered.

Billy loved playing guitar with Carter, but had a whole football team waiting to hang out with him. Nick liked doing crazy guy stuff with Billy and Carter while Taya told them how stupid it was, but he was always invited to a party. Taya loved the three boys she called her best friends, but every other boy in school was lined up to ask her out. Carter liked one on one time with each of them or hanging out in a group... but he was always in trouble. But somehow time was found in middle school, and they still had their birthday party.

Then came High School. They always talked if they were in each others classes. They would always hang out in groups, but never just the 4 of them like in the old days. Nick and Taya even tried dating for a short time, but it only lasted 2 weeks. Grade by grade, they were growing apart.

Billy Carpenter became a teen poster child. A star football player, highest grades in school, throw in the fact that he was an excellent guitar player and how could you ask for a better kid? He had elaborate plans of graduating and going to Smith’s University in Arlyn, Massachusetts, the town next to Mullentown, for music. With the good life he was leading, it was looking pretty good for him.

Taya Cunningham was that girl that every boy in school wanted. Not just because she was beautiful, but because she was as sweet as they got. She also planned on going to Smith’s University for journalism. Out of the four friends, she was the only one who really made an effort to keep talking to them. She was in all the same honors classes as Billy, hung out with some of the same people as Nick, and made time to give Carter a friend when he needed one because he always did the same for her.

Nick Jordan was always a smart kid, but he never applied it because he had plans already. After high school, there was a club in Arizona waiting for his uncle to sign over to him. Any big party on a Friday night in Mullentown was most likely going on at Nick’s house. This only happened more after his father died the previous year because there was no one home on the weekends except for him and his younger sister, Kim. He got along with Billy fine and flirted with Taya just for fun, but him and Carter went from cool to butting heads often due to a grudge Nick’s been holding for the past year. None of the other friends knew why, but Nick felt Carter should know why he was upset with him.

Even though this year Carter was clean cut, sharp dressed and driving a nice new car, everyone in school still referred to him as The Junkie. The reason why is because junior year he developed an addiction to heroin. He was just as big of a mess when he spent the rest of the school year detoxing, but what’s the difference between using and detoxing, right? ‘He’s still a train wreck so he’s still on drugs’, they all believed. No one really knew what Carter was up to outside of school, even before the addiction. He was more of a loner at school without his childhood friends, even though he was always seen with a pretty girl outside school. Sure, he would talk to all of them when he was at all the same school events, but if he wasn’t with The Good Kid, The Sweetheart, or The Cool Cat... what was The Bad Boy doing? If they only knew...

With everyone being at school, they didn’t see the breaking news on TV. A young man by the name of Ryan Sears, was being released from prison. In 2003, Ryan was accused of being a serial killer known as The White Pony. The White Pony was known for luring women in with his cocaine, so that they would become reliant on him, and he would rape and kill them. Ryan Sears was arrested in Arlyn, Massachusetts after the double murder of sisters, Kylie and Samantha Sutherland. But when the real White Pony confessed to all the previous murders, it was decided that there wasn’t enough evidence on Ryan to hold him up in prison.

When asked what he wanted to do now that he was a free man, he said, I think it’s time for me to get an education. I was accepted into Smith’s University before being wrongfully accused. I’m going to dedicate my degree to my beloved Samantha Sutherland and her younger sister, Kylie.

Everyone in court believed Ryan Sears was wrongfully accused. Almost everyone in Massachusetts will believe what they hear on TV. But is it nearly enough to make everyone in the small town of Mullentown believe that Ryan Sears wasn’t The White Pony? After all, he was going to college the next town away...

Ch. 2 Fall 2004

IT WAS SEPTEMBER OF 2004 and the first day of school at Mullentown High. Billy got off the bus and went over to the parking lot to say hi to the rest of the football team. They were psyched to see their favorite running back on campus. Before catching up with the rest of the team, he decided to walk over to the guy in the nice silver Lexus.

How’s it goin’, Nick? Billy said.

Nick looked out his window and said, Billy Carpenter, what’s up, bro?

Senior year, man. The big one.

Yeah, I hear ya’. How was your summer?

Not bad, not bad. Looked at a few colleges and spent a week at the beach. It was a good time.

Cool. Yeah, I went out to Tucson for awhile so my uncle could show me the ropes for next year. The club looks pretty sweet, Nick looked around, thinking of more to say to his old friend, You see Carter at the beach? I saw him fueling up, he said he was spending the summer out there. Should’ve seen the car he was driving.

No, actually, I haven’t seen him at all. I wonder what he’s been up to, Billy responded as Taya walked over.

What’s up, cutie? Nick joked to Taya.

Hey, Nick, Taya responded while rolling her eyes playfully, Billy, did I seriously see you waiting for the bus this morning? I would have given you a ride if you needed one.

Yeah, my damn truck was acting weird this morning so I walked to the water tower, Billy embarrassingly remarked.

I can take a look if ya’ want. I’ve been workin’ on cars and trucks all summer for my friends, Nick offered.

Billy looked over at the crowd he originally intended to walk over to after hearing Nick refer to new people as ‘his friends’ and looked back at Nick, Well, let me get back to ya’. I’m gonna catch up with the guys.

See you in class? Taya asked him.

Yeah, I’ll see ya’, Billy said as he walked off.

So, how was Arizona? Taya asked Nick.

Pretty cool. Even got to manage the club myself for awhile, Nick awkwardly responded.

Cool, Taya hesitated and asked, How’s your Mom been?

She’s... keeping herself busy. It’s good for her, ya’ know. It’s better for her to keep her mind off of things. Kim’s still workin’ on that, he explained. An awkward silence occurred and they exchanged See you laters and Taya made her way inside. As Nick got out of his car, a shiny, black, 2005 Porsche 911 Carrera Turbo convertible parked in the spot next to him. It was Carter, sitting in his car to finish his cigarette and his coffee and presenting himself in a fashion far different than last year.

This a 2005? Really lovin’ the Porsches, huh? Nick said.

I’ve always wanted one. It’s nice to finally have one, Carter said as he took a drag of his cigarette.

This is the second one I’ve seen you in since 3 months ago. Shit, it’s only the second one I’ve seen in Mullentown, Nick cracked.

That’s ’cause the Mullz is a Mustang town. Love the Mustangs, but I gotta get outta’ here eventually, right? Carter cracked back.

You white boys and your Mustangs, Nick joked, and then he got serious, Well, new car, new look. You got one year to make up for a lot of bullshit. Those things gonna get you by the whole time?

It’s a start. Ain’t that what today’s supposed to be? Carter casually responded.

See you inside, Nick said out of dissatisfaction and walked off.

While Carter sat in his Porsche smoking the rest of his cigarette, he overheard everyone’s comments left and right. ’Look what the junkie’s driving’, ’You think he’s selling drugs now?’, ’What period do you think he’s gonna puke from jonesing his fix?’. He had no idea who his friends were, but this time he didn’t care. This year he just wanted to do good in school and focus on the after school activities that covered his insurance.

Taya and Billy got their lockers ready and talked about what classes they had. After a pause, it was time to get more interesting.

So, I’m sorry to hear about you and Stacy, Taya said to Billy.

Eh, it was a set up for failure anyways. What about you? Any new men in your life? Billy asked her.

Not really. I mean, Stacy’s dad asked me out a few times, but you know. Standards, Taya kidded.

"Taya Cunningham’s Standards. Where’s that book sold? We men could learn a thing or two," Billy joked back.

Taya got ready to say something significant, something that had been weighing on her since last year. Perhaps even longer than last year. But she got distracted when she looked down the hall, No way, is that Carter?

Carter walked over to Taya and Billy. He finally saw people he was happy to see.

Taya, Billy. Sorry I missed our party this summer. Happy Birthday, Carter said.

You too, buddy, Billy responded, "I heard you spent your birthday at the

beach this summer. I must have just missed ya’."

Yeah, I rented a bungalow right on shore. I miss it already, but it’s just what I needed, Carter explained.

You still keeping... you know, Billy hesitated.

I’ll be six months clean next week, Carter said without hesitation.

You look a lot better now, Taya stated in support.

"Thanks, I feel a lot better. It took awhile, but I really do."

Taya smiled at the two of them and made her way to class. Billy turned to Carter and asked, So seriously, how does a seventeen year old living with his working class single mother suddenly show up with a brand new Porsche on the first day of school? I took a summer job and worked my ass off and still don’t have enough for the PRS guitar I’ve been saving for. Shit, I don’t even know how I’m gonna fix my Blazer.

I had a few jobs for awhile. You’d be surprised how much work I found at Hampton Beach over the summer, Carter explained.

What kind of work? Billy asked.

Everyone needs a little help here and there.

I’m just curious, man. If you’re driving a 2005 in 2004, you must be making some decent dough. Maybe I could help you out on the job here and there.

I don’t know, man, I don’t think you can handle this kind of work. It’s pretty out of your world.

It’s our senior year, maybe I need that. Besides, you’ve seen this guitar.

Carter paused, looked around, and smirked, You bring up a damn good point. Plus it’s been what, two years since we’ve really hung out? Friday night, come out on the town and see what I’ve been up to.

Ch. 3 Another Night In The Office

FRIDAY NIGHT, CARTER sat in his car with the top up smoking cigarettes and waiting in the parking lot of a downtown dive bar. He sat and watched the door, waiting for someone to come outside. Just as he was about to turn on the radio, his phone rang. The call was from a man named Charlie Moreno. Charlie was a retired police officer who took a job as the head prison guard in the Mass State Prison because retirement sucked the bullet out of the barrel. In his youth, Charlie was connected with the mob, but