"You are shaking the bus" Antoine said, not looking up from his movie.
"I am not," Alex whispered.
"Your leg," Antoine said. "It is vibrating. You are vibrating like a small, nervous phone. Relax."
"How can you be so calm?" Alex asked. "It is Newcastle. It is... it is huge."
Antoine finally paused his movie. He looked at Alex. His eyes were not smiling. They were serious.
"It is huge," he agreed. "But I am a superstar. I am supposed to be here. You... you are the Professor. You are smart. You are also supposed to be here. The manager trusts you. I trust you. So... just be smart. Be stable. Be the shield. I will be the sword."
He put his headphones back in. "And try not to be sick on my new shoes."
Alex looked further down the bus.
Mark was sitting in the back row. He was not asleep. He was in his own shiny suit, listening to loud music. Alex could hear the thump thump of it from here. Mark was not nervous. He was a weapon, waiting to be fired. He looked... happy.
