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It takes you exactly one turn to your left to find a familiar face. It's the girl from the photo, minus her cool outfit. She wears a bright high visibility vest over a dark shirt and, just like the photo, accessorizes her outfit with stud earrings, a headband, spiked choker, and two rings on her left pinky and middle finger. She's making selections on the payment pad. You get her attention.
"Hey, you're the bus driver, right?" She turns to glance at you, raising an eyebrow.
"Sure, yeah. What's up?"
"Oh, I was on the bus. I fell asleep a little while ago—"
"You were on my bus?" She taps a Mousse County Transport Authority debit card against the card reader. It flashes four green lights and beeps, prompting her to input a PIN. She does so.
"Yeah." Her brows furrow at you as she inserts the nozzle into the fuel tank of the bus.
<span class="mu-s">"I didn't see you in there."</span> What?
"What? I've been there since Burnham Road."
"Going up to Collins?" Your sister's shop, <span class="mu-i">Ms. Wiz</span> is located on <span class="mu-s">the corner of Collins and Shiloh.</span>
"Yeah, Collins. Did we pass it already?" She shakes her head and gives you a sympathetic look.
"Sorry, buddy. You're about six stops too late." Your face falls. You were prepared for the possibility that you slept through a stop or two, but SIX STOPS? You were asleep for an hour, tops. There's no way you fell asleep for five or six.
"No way."
"Way. After I fuel up, I'm headed back to the bus depot. Sorry to have to do this to you, but I can't have you back on again. I was supposed to kick you out at the last stop, but I guess you're not the most... um, noticeable guy in the world." You don't respond. Like, what are you supposed to say to that? She seems to have a similar train of thought as an apologetic look quickly replaces the expression on her face. "Sorry." She can't seem to find a less awkward way to end the conversation, so she just turns back to her endless refueling. She doesn't look interested in talking to you any longer at least.
