…hmm THIS ISN’T MY USUAL CAR. IT’S BRIGHTER. FINE. WRONG STOP? NO, I CHOSE IT. YELLOW SEATS. KINDA BOLD, HONESTLY. WHY’S EVERYBODY— OH. RIGHT. DRIVER SAYS, “SCHOOL ROUTE.” I SAY, “PERFECT. I ENJOY INFLUENCE.” HEEL CLICKS. RUBBER FLOOR. BACKPACKS EVERYWHERE LIKE SOFT LITTLE BODYGUARDS. ONE KID WHISPERS, “IS SHE FAMOUS?” I LOOK OUT THE WINDOW. LET HIM WONDER. “ARE YOU A PRINCESS?” THAT’S… A SMALL WORD. BUT THANK YOU. LIV ON THE BUS, DON’T RUSH US ROW THREE, YEAH THAT’S MY SPOT WRONG RIDE? YOU WISH IT WAS. EVEN QUEENS GET CURIOUS. LIV ON THE BUS, HANDS WITH US STICKER CROWN, SUGAR RUSH DETOUR? MAYBE. I IMPROVE THE ROUTE. SOUR GUMMIES? BOLD MOVE. YOU’VE GOT RANGE, I RESPECT IT. “WANNA TRADE?” NO. BUT I ACCEPT TRIBUTE. UNICORN STICKER. PINK. A LITTLE LOUD. THEY STICK IT ON MY SLEEVE— CROOKED. … LEAVE IT. IT’S GROWING ON ME. DRIVER CHECKING THE MIRROR. SIR, FOCUS. THIS IS STILL PUBLIC TRANSPORT. TINY HANDS WAVING LIKE I’M NORMAL. ADORABLE MISTAKE. LIV ON THE BUS, LOOK AT US SEAT TAKEN, NO DISCUSSION WRONG RIDE? NOT LOST. JUST EXPANDING TERRITORY. LIV ON THE BUS, LAUGH WITH US ROW THREE ROYALTY DELUXE IF IT’S A SCHOOL DAY— CONSIDER THIS A GUEST LECTURE. NO THRONE TODAY. JUST GUM WRAPPERS AND SUNLIGHT. SOMEONE’S BRAIDS KEEP HITTING MY ARM. IT’S FINE. I’VE SURVIVED WORSE THINGS THAN GLITTER. MAYBE POWER ISN’T LOUDER. MAYBE IT FITS IN SMALL HANDS. DON’T QUOTE ME. LIV ON THE BUS, SING IT LOUD MISSED MY STOP? I ALLOWED IT. WRONG RIDE? NEVER. I ARRIVED EXACTLY WHERE I MEANT TO. LIV ON THE BUS, STICKER AND ALL NEXT STOP? I’LL DECIDE. FOR NOW I’M GOOD IN ROW THREE. YES. I’M VERY GOOD.
