Seven

The bus pulled to the front of the Shinjuku Train station. Even past eight, many people were walking in and out of the building, boarding and unboarding the train to get to their destination. Mr. Pratt, Mrs. Zean and the other administrators, plus Imai and Hayashi sensei, exited the bus. 

"Leave row by row, starting with the girls side and remember to stay with your partner even once you get off of the bus." Mr. Pratt instructed. The girls began to leave row by row until the entire right side of the bus was empty. "Boys next, let's go." 

The boys side went row by row, exiting the bus and making sure to stay with our partners. Eric and me, went next and I pulled my cell phone from my pocket. Once I got off of the bus, Mr. Pratt handed me a bar code sticker.

"Put that on the back of your phone and keep it there." He said while handing Eric one. "Go and get your luggage from the lower compartment of the bus."

Without waiting on Eric, I stepped forward and grabbed my bag from the bus. He followed, grabbing all three of his Awomri Port suitcases. After Mr. Pratt finished passing out of of the stickers, we followed the adults into the station, making sure to stay together. We watched as he swiped the back of his phone across waist high gate. It beeped green and a small door in front of him opened to let his pass. He turned back to us and nodded his head for us to give it a try. Each of us took turns, swiping our phones to get passed the gate and gain access to the train we were soon going to board. We walked down the stairs to the underground railway and stood as a group in front of the tracks. 

"I will now do another roll call." He announced and we all silenced so that we would be able to hear him. "Conner Walker." Silence greeted the group and a confused look crossed over Mr. Pratt's face. He called his name again, louder, yet there still wasn't an answer.

I looked around at everyone, trying to locate Conner, but I didn't see him. I turned to Wyatt, Conner's partner and tapped his shoulder. He didn't glance up from the game he was playing on his cell phone and only answered me with a hum.

"Where's your partner?" I asked him. 

"How the hell would I know?" He replied still focused on his game. 

"You sat with him on the bus didn't you?" I said, not waiting on an answer. "Didn't you get off with him?" At this, he paused his game and looked up at me. Everyone seemed to gather around us as we squared off with stares. 

"I'm getting sick of your questions." He sighed and ran his hand through his spiky dyed green hair. "I don't know if he got off with me or not. We were both seated last on the bus and I had the aisle seat. Why should it be my responsibility to see if he was right behind me when exiting?"

"You idiot," I said, dropping my bag to the stone floor. "You know how he falls asleep nearly everywhere he goes! Why wouldn't you check to see if he was awake?" 

"Because he's not my responsibility." And with that, he unpaused his game and started to play it again. I sighed in frustration and turned to Mr. Pratt, who looked like he was ready to toss Wyatt on the train tracks. 

"I'm going back to see if Conner is still on the bus." I said before turning and running back up the steps. I used my phone to scan me out and ran outside, searching for the bus. The driver was sitting on the steps, smoking a cigarette as he waited for another job call. 

"Excuse me," I said with a small bow. "Is there anyone left on the bus?" The driver shrugged and took a drag of his nicotine stick. 

"I don't know," He blew the smoke into the air, letting it fog around my head. I held my breath and waited for him to come down from his one second high. "Would you like to check?"

"Please," I bowed deeper. "It would help me greatly." After a few seconds, the driver sighed before heaving his heavy body from the steps. He stepped to the side and motioned inside the bus. I gave him a thanks before ascending into the vehicle. Without hesitation, I traveled to the very back of the bus and sitting right there with his face against the window, was Conner, snoring away with droll trailing down his jaw. 

I shook my head and tapped his shoulder to wake him up. He flinched and opened his eyes slowly, blinking away the sleep. 

"What's up, Kaito?" He asked while wiping his mouth. 

"Everyone is already inside the building waiting on the train." I explained to him. "You were left behind because Wyatt didn't wake you up."

"That b*****d, "He sighed before standing p and stretching. "Let's go then. What time does the train arrive?"

"Let me check," I glanced at my cellphone and nearly wet my pants. There was a text from Yumi and Harrison, scrolling across my screen.

Yumi: Kaito! The train is here!

Harrison: Dude, the train just came! Hurry up with Conner before it leaves. We're already on it!

"S**t, we have to go!" I grabbed Conner's arm and raced from the bus, nearly barreling into the driver. I apologized quickly as we each grabbed one of Conner's bag. As fast as possible, we pushed and shoved past people as we tried to make it to the train. I scanned my phone at the gate and raced ahead.

"Yo!" I turned around and saw Conner on the other side of the gate, looking at it in confusion and fear. I silently cursed and raced back, leaning over to scan my phone once more to let him pass. 

"Train heading from Shinjuku to Shibuya will be departing in 15 seconds." The woman on the speaker announced, sending panic throughout my heart. 

Conner and I practically flew down the steps and turned the corner. The staff and students from the school were waving quickly, telling us to hurry up. With as much energy as possible, I tossed Conner's luggage across the ground, sending it sliding into the train. I raced onto it and turned back to urge Conner. The doors began to slowly close and Conner tried pushing his legs harder. However, Luck was not on his side. His shoelace came undone and he stepped on it tripping three feet away from the doors. I hurried off, grabbed his luggage and tossed it on. With a heave and a shove, I pushed him forward and he fell face first into the train. The doors closed, sealing me from the inside of the train. I hunched over on my knees and watched as my teacher and classmates banged against the door, willing it to open. 

The train began to move forward and I looked at all of their faces, my eye catching one in specific. Yumi held my gaze with worry as the train began to take on speed before it disappeared into the tunnel. I groaned and sat on the ground, trying my best to catch my breath. 

"Well, isn't this just great?" I asked aloud to myself. Without thinking, I laid back on the ground, earning stares and glares from the citizens around me and closed my eyes as I pictured my mothers' face if she found out this had happened. 

The thought made me chuckle.