Crippled in Crimson

I sighed in frustration as I slung my purple and lime green backpack onto my shoulder, making my balance lurch as the backpack's weight turned into mine. I had carried three textbooks home last night, along with five binders and many a piece of loose paper. Man, was the walk to the bus stop going to be unpleasant.
With a heavy heart I climbed aboard the Lion,(my nickname for the school bus), and dropped into the first seat, limbs already flimsy with exhaustion.
Linda, the bus driver turned to look at me while the bus was stopped."Rough morning?" She asked.
I slumped in my seat."Not any worse than yesterday." I grumbled.
Linda tsked in sympathy, turned back to the road and began driving to the next stop. Linda had always been my friend, she has been a good listener when i needed someone to complain to, and just an overall kind person.
I grabbed my homework and started to work on it. With three hours of homework to do last night, I hadn't finished it anyway. Life was tough for me.
The bus halted to a stop, and a carefree Jillian sat down. She smiled at Linda for good measure, than plunked down in the seat next to me.
"Soo..." She asked, eyes glimmering with mischief. " Guess what?"
I knew Jillian very well, she was always a fun demon with no conscience but a wonderful attitude. I decided to guess something very "Jillian".
"You poisoned your brother and now he thinks your sister did it?" I get doing my homework, not meeting her green-eyed gaze.
"I wish. Hmm...Maybe I should... Amber your a genus!" She squeaked, wrapping her arms around me in a temporary embrace.
I shook my head, yet a smile found its way onto my lips. "Your sister got you a dog for complimenting her on her sweater."
Her eyes widened in shock, then turned into sinister slits. Her whole expression narrowed. "How did you know?"
"I don't know! I was just guessing randomly." I combed my thick black hair, still furiously scribbling answers onto my worksheets.
"Well... I guess I can forgive you."
I sighed in exasperation, wondering how on earth I was going to deal with her for another hour. The bus doesn't move very fast, and when many other people come on, it gets really loud, and of course, Jillian manages to shriek at the top of her lungs to try to talk to me. Oh, God, I just want some quiet.
The bus suddenly screeches to a stop and Linda smiles, with shock in her ancient blue eyes. "
"And hello there." She welcomes the stranger into the bus. The mysterious person steps around the corner and...
It's Vickie.
Vickie, of all people to come on the bus. Vickie, with her ever flirtatious shirts and shorts. Vickie with her died hair and artificial smiles. Vickie,all of her unleashed. Jillian pretended to barf beside me. I had to agree. When Vickie scanned the bus and her gaze settled on me, her dark brown eyes went black. No light escaped. Her face moulded into a mask of steel as she sauntered ever so gracefully towards me.
"I think it's high time I talk to you, Amber Fionly."