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"I’," Lila says concernedly "He’s still saying he can’t re for his brother and sister"

"Baby, I know you want to fix everything, including the world," Ethan tells her, "but you ht just have to accept that he ood for him, too Maybe whatever happened to hi his brother and sister? What am I supposed to do about that?"

"You try to find them," Ethan replies simply "If he wants to find them, then he’ll find them whether you help hiht" She pauses "I worry about hih There’s still so much he doesn’t know--that no one knows"

A stretch of silence goes by, and then they start chatting about Kale and his probleripped onto Lyric’s hand until her thurazes the inside ofI don’t already know, but hearing the worry in their voices ht

"Hey, are you okay?" Lyric asks, searchingdown the lump in rip and walk into the living roo off my da on the sectional, the television is on, but the volume is down, and a lamp is on There are stacks of papers and receipts piled on the table, armrests, floor, everywhere really, probably for Ethan’s outdoor touring business, or Lila’s part ti business she runs on the weekends

"Oh, hey, sweetie" Lila and Ethan appear uneasy atin her hand thatour jackets, she sets theout in your roolance with Lyric "But we got bored and ondering if we could go to the Silver Box for a while"

Lila looks at Ethan for his input, but he just shrugs Her gaze glides to theacross the rooht"

"We won’t stay out for too long," Lyric steps in "There’s supposed to be sohtens up at this "Yeah, I actually heard that, too"

Lyric’s green eyes start to sparkle, and I know she’s already conjuring up a plan "Hey, here’s an idea How about you and o with us? That could be fun"

Ethan rubs his jawline,over the idea "That actually could be fun" He drops the papers he was holding down onto the couch cushion and turns to Lila "What do you think?"

Lila sighs as she collects her s "Go have fun Just don’t keep theet ready, Lyric faces o e in like ten?"

I nod

She givesout of the rooh by now to understand that the only reason she left was to give me an opportunity to speak with Lila I’m just not sure what I want to say anyinal plan

"U else" I lower e of the coffee table and pick at a hole infor hteenth birthday is in a few days"

"I was actually expecting you to ask that sooner, and was planning on visiting social services next week" She s to her lips, but beneath the mask of happiness is uneasiness

I’ my brother? Orabout bringing her father and Ethan with us to a club, but I quickly find out once I arrive at her house After so, she convinces Mr Scott to drive his Chevelle and to let us drive her mother’s GTO so we can race to the club It’s a fairly easy win, though, since Mr Scott see secured in the heart of the town, I learn another reason why Lyric was so enthusiastic over taking the parentals Mr Scott is a well enough known h the entrance We stroll right up to the rope where the bouncer waves us in

A crowd is already forh we’re here early The air is hot, suffocating, along with the bodies pressed up againstat such a rapid rate that we end up losing track of Mr Scott and Ethan I just about get split apart froainst rabs hold of my hands, and then wraps them around her waist

I momentarily seize up by her nearness, but then I realize the alternative--let her go and get eaten up by the throng I grip onto her and hold on for dear life

Her hair s, like strawberries with a hint of perfu my eyelashes to lower

"Are you okay?" she asks over her shoulder as she stares at the stage where the band members have started to set up