Ailana’s Journal—2026-06-18 (Island Kids) (Patreon)

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BUS BUDDY PART 1 by Mateo Alvarez

I like to think of myself as being a careful thinker. Probably, I’m an overthinker

I also like to think of myself as watching out for other people’s feelings. Probably, I worry too much.

I don’t know…

I’ve had something on my mind for weeks now. I was just about to do something about it when Gabe suggested that some people—especially older people who aren’t from around here—might be opposed to mixed-race relationships.

Well, that caused me to slam on the brakes and think about things. Or overthink, as the case may be.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized that if you don’t ask for something to change, the result is the same as asking and being told “no.” Well, I’ve decided that I’m going to go home, clean up, and ask—not one but two questions.

A yes-yes is what I’m hoping for.

A yes-no would make me sad.

And if the first answer is no, then I won’t ask the second question.

I don’t know… does that seem like overthinking or being careful to you?

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BUS BUDDY PART 2 by Mateo Alvarez

I got here a few minutes before Mr. McKenna got home. He saw me when I got out of my truck and waited to see what I wanted.

“Mr. McKenna, I’m Mateo Alvarez.”

He nodded. “I’ve seen you with your folks at church. Brooks has shown me some pictures that you were in.”

“I go to school with Brooks. We ride the same bus.”

Mr. McKenna nodded. “Brooklyn is at work.”

I nodded. “Yes, sir, she gets off in half an hour and I wanted to talk to her about something, but I wanted to talk to you first.”

Mr. McKenna gave me a long look and folded his arms across his chest, but he didn’t say anything.

I went on. “Brooks and I started sitting together on the bus at the beginning of May, and we’ve been going to Youth Group, too. I know you’re strict and have rules for her, and I respect that. I’m a big rule-follower, so before I do anything, I thought I’d just talk to you and make sure I’m not causing trouble.”

“Mateo, what are you trying to say?”

“I’d like to ask Brooks out and see…if maybe we could eventually date.”

“Brooklyn is sixteen. I can’t tell her who to date.”

I nodded and looked down. “No, sir, but you can tell her who not to date. If you’re going to end up forbidding it, I’m not going to stir things up now just to cause problems later.”

“Hmm…” Mr. McKenna put his hands on his hips. “Alright, you have my full attention. Let’s do it this way… You tell me all the reasons I’d say no.”

That was a surprise, but I took a breath and answered. “Well, I’m just a poor Hispanic kid with no real plans after high school. I’ve got some ideas and wishes, but I’m not sure how to make them happen. I’ve not really had a girlfriend that counts, so I don’t know if I’d be good at dating or not, but I’d really like to try. I'm just a plain kid. Not much more.”

“So, that’s why I’d say no?”

“I don’t know, sir… I hope not.”

“What do you mean about a girlfriend that counts?”

“I had a girlfriend in seventh grade for a while, then a different girlfriend during my freshman year for a semester. I don’t think I was old enough for that to mean anything.”

Mr. McKenna smiled. “When I was your age, I had no idea what I wanted to do, either. But I wasn’t smart enough to know that I didn’t know. Is there any other reason I’d say no?”

I didn’t know what to say, so I changed the question. “I’m a good kid. I’m trying to do good things, and I just didn’t want to stir anything up with Brooks that would get her in trouble.”

Mr. McKenna smiled again. “Well, I’m not the one you have to convince. I’d say, given that she’s mentioned you a few times, she’s not going to hate the idea, but I’m no good at guessing what she’s thinking.”

“I understand. I just wanted to clear the air first.”

“Is there anything else?”

Then I thought of something. “I just had an idea… would it be okay if I drove her home—if she wants me to?”

“That’s fine. Just have her text me so I know whether I need to pick her up.”

“Yes, sir. And thank you.”

He smiled again. “Good luck… and…”

“Yes, sir?”

“And when I see your folks at church… no matter what my daughter says… I’m going to tell them they’ve raised a good son. Courageous and thoughtful.”

“Wow… That might make my mom tear up.”

He smiled again. “Well, good luck.”

This time, he headed into the house and I headed to Whataburger.

BUS BUDDY PART 3 by Mateo Alvarez

I was sitting in the parking lot, sweating bullets while I waited for the right time to go inside. I timed it so that it would be just before Brooks’s shift was over.

She saw me come in and smiled—I thought that was a good start.

“Hey, Mateo… what’s up?”

“Do you want a coke or milkshake for after your shift? I’m buying.”

She smiled. “Does that mean we get to sit and drink them?”

“Yeah, that was the idea.”

“What do you want?” she asked.

“I’ll have a coke.”

She rang up two sodas and handed me the cups. “I’ve got to restock a few things, then I can clock out. I’ll take a Dr. Pepper.”

I made her drink and a Coke for me, then took a seat in a booth to wait. That was the longest ten minutes I think I’ve ever spent. She came out and slid into the booth.

I jumped the gun. “Your dad said you can ride home with me if you want to. Just text and let him know.”

She furrowed her brow—low-key, it was super cute—and made a funny smile. “When did you talk to my dad?”

“Just before I came here.”

“What are you up to?” she said.

“Yeah…” I laughed at myself. “So… I guess I got that out of order.”

“Like, everything’s okay at home? This isn’t a bad thing?”

I didn’t know what to think. “What?”

“Like, you didn’t follow the fire truck to my house and Dad sent you to break the news?”

“Wow, Brooks… that’s not… even close.”

“Okay, then…” She smiled, shrugged, and sipped her drink. “What’s the special occasion that I get a visit from you at the end of my shift?”

“I guess I should just say what’s on my mind.”

“Sounds legit.”

“Wow… I planned like ten thousand ways to say this, and now I can’t think of any of them.”

“Is it good news or bad?”

I smiled. “Um… for me, it depends on what you say.”

“Mateo… get to the point.”

“I’d like to take you on some dates and see if… like, if it goes well, maybe we could officially date.”

Her eyes went back and forth as she processed what I said, then she fake-frowned and said, “You asked my dad for permission to ask me out?”

“Not exactly. I asked if he’d get mad if you went out with me.”

“So he said no?”

“He said he wouldn’t get mad.”

She paused again. “You were just at my house?”

“Right before I came here.”

Once more, she paused, tilted her head a little, then said, “Is this because of Gabe and Jenna? Are you just trying to keep up with Gabe?”

That had never crossed my mind. Not once.

“Brooks, this is because for weeks now, I’ve had something on my mind. It started when I came in here on prom night and you invited me to Youth Group. But it really kicked off when you teased me about trying to make you jealous. I was like, wow… What if that was a thing? What if we were together and she really felt jealous?”

She stopped smiling and looked down a little. “Looking back, if I’m honest, I actually did feel a little something when you mentioned meeting Jenna. I was so embarrassed that came out. I figured after that, you’d think I was too weird to bother with.”

“I was ready to say something about us dating—like, I was about to ask—when Gabe came up with that whole White-girl/Hispanic-boy goofiness.”

Brooks looked down at her Dr. Pepper for a second, then looked at me again. “That’s why you talked to my dad.”

I nodded. “If you say yes, I didn’t want you to get in trouble later.”

“If I say yes?”

“To dating me.”

“Haven’t I already said yes?”

I thought back through the conversation. “I’m not even sure I actually asked. I think I just told you I was going to ask.”

“Yes.” She smiled.

“Will you really?”

She looked around the lobby and moved to my side of the booth. “Yes.”

“Okay… wow…”

Then she straight-up broke my brain. She leaned over and kissed me on the cheek.

She didn’t say anything else. She just sat there smiling.

It felt like about seven hours, but it was probably more like seven seconds. Then she leaned slightly against my shoulder. “I started to kiss your cheek on the bus one day, but I stopped myself.”

I smiled even more. “I think now was the perfect time.”

She nodded. “Me too.”

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