Although it was obvious that Ethan had very nearly revealed something he considered to be less than decent about himself, Steph couldn't help but feel slightly rebuked by his sudden change in manner. However, she didn't mention it, instead gathering her things and closing her portfolio, standing up and easing herself out from the seat. As she did so, she brushed past Ethan, being almost uncomfortably close to him - at least, it would have been uncomfortable, had it been anyone else. Her hand brushed across the rough material of his military jacket, her breath intaking the scent of his deodorant and natural musk. Blushing and ducking her head, she muttered a hasty 'thanks' before passing into the main walkway of the bus, falling amongst the ranks of the other students as they stepped off.
As the cold air of the outside hit her, she lingered for a moment by the entrance of the school, her face turning to glance over her shoulder, arms hugging her portfolio to her body. 
[i]Should I wait for him?[/i] She wondered to herself silently. Although she was sure they would be able to talk fairly amicably to one another throughout the school day, she wondered if his sudden halt in conversation had changed his ideas about her. Would he just walk on by? Or would he act like nothing weird had happened?
[i]It's not like I have anything to lose.[/i] A small voice in her head reminded her in an almost wistful tone. She was right though - even if he did decide to ignore her, she wouldn't be losing anything. Planting herselves determinedly beside the school walls, Steph ignored most who passed by her as she waited for Ethan. She gained scornful looks from the popular girls, leers from most of the boys, and ignored by the majority of others... barring a group of girls - who, by the worst of luck, had decided to notice Steph for once in a while. These were the girls who normally allowed Steph to hang around them, pretty much ignoring her, as they knew she preferred her own solitary confinement along with some form of protective companions,
"Steph! Are you coming inside? It's freezing out here." Asked one of the girls - Paige, she was called, the girl who made the most effort to include Steph as much as possible. The rest of the girls in the group lingered only for a second by the entrance, not even noticing Steph until she answered in an almost unnaturally clear voice.
"Um... no thanks." Steph began, and the girls stopped talking, looking at Steph in surprise as they realized she had actually said something, rather than just following them absent-mindedly. "I'm waiting for someone."
They stood there, dumbstruck, as the crimson blush returned to Steph's face at all the attention she had suddenly gained. Her eyes darted back to the bus as she was suddenly bombarded by eager questions, asking who she had finally made some form of decent contact with that made them wroth waiting for. 
[i]Oh, hurry up, Ethan.[/i] She thought to herself miserably, as her cheeks reddened even further as one of the girls asked her if the person was a boy - bringing forth excited squeals from the others. Honestly - as soon as gossip was mentioned, the victim became the most favourite person in the school.