To be 17

It is 8.30 AM on a monday morning.

She is wearing a snug fit jeans and black and white tee. a few strands pulled back by a clip and held in place. She loooks pretty, very pretty, like any 17 year old should look like.

Her regular bus is late, and she is worried...can't be late to class on a monday.
Her eyes are looking beyond the curve, waiting for that red bus to show up,while she mentally assesses herself -" Do i look pretty enough?"

Just ahead , she sees the bike on the road. winding its way through the traffic. Smartly dressed guy on the bike. But ah! helmet. Will he look at her? She shifts a little, facing the road. The traffic slows down, so does he. She looks farther, pretending not to see him slow down. Traffic moves, he moves, not before looking at her. She glances backwards at the last moment and catches him look at her.

She smiled a knowing, playful smile of the one who knows she is being admired.

Neither of them saw the woman sitting in an auto and watching this little act unfold.
In that moment, she made me want to be 17 again.