"Go on," I said gently, giving her a reassuring push toward the bus door.
She nodded, offering me a tight smile before stepping aboard, disappearing into the safety of the yellow vehicle.
I stood there for a moment, watching her leave, feeling a pang of protectiveness in my chest. As long as I was around, nothing, no one would make her feel that way again. Not on my watch.
But as the bus pulled away, I turned back to face Karen, who was still standing there, arms crossed, lips tight with anger. The defiance was still in her, but now there was a hint of fear, too. She didn't know what I was capable of, but she would learn.
Karen finally spoke, her voice low and dripping with venom: "You think you've won, don't you? You think you've shown me who's boss?" She paused, taking a step forward, her eyes flashing with a newfound sense of purpose. "Well, I'll make sure everyone knows what you did here today. This isn't over. Not by a long shot."
I didn't flinch. "You can try," I said, my voice calm and measured. "But it won't work. You can tell whoever you want, Karen. But you're not going to get the result you're hoping for."
Her eyes narrowed, and for a moment, I saw something dark flash across her face—something dangerous, something I wasn't entirely sure how to interpret. But I didn't have time to dwell on it. My focus was on her words, her threats, and the realization that this wasn't just going to blow over. Karen wasn't the type to back down easily, and I knew that what had just happened—the power shift between us—wouldn't sit well with her.
She stared at me for a few moments longer, her mouth working as if she was trying to find the right words, before she finally huffed and turned, walking away without another word. She didn't even glance back, but I could tell that deep down, she was already planning her next move. She wasn't done, and I knew it.
I waited a moment, watching her retreating figure before turning and heading back toward my house.