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Silence loomed between us I looked over at Nathan He looked ahead at the rain, waiting

“I don't knohat happened tonight,” she said slowly She twisted her hands against the wheel and then fished in her purse for her cell phone She put the purse on the middle console, dialed on the phone with one hand and started the car She switched to reverse and started backing out, holding the phone to her ear

Nathan sat back in his seat, folding his arazed out the , and then looked back at h the rearview mirror

We shared the same questions What happened to you? How did you end up in this car? What in the world do we do now?

So for him, too I could tell He was supposed to be in a car with Luke Where was Luke? Where was the car?

And where was Kota?

Erica spoke into her phone as she turned the car to leave the lot “Kota? Where are you?” Pause Her tone lowered “Don't lie to ht here in my car Don't tell me you're out with her”

I closedout about Nathan kissingon

I had nothing to offer, nothing to help explain this My cheeks were on fire My body shook, not just from wet clothes, but from fear

Suddenly, Erica reached back tome the phone “He says he needs to talk to you”

I took the phone and held it to my ear “Hello?” I breathed into it

“I'll fix this,” he said “Try not to say anything until I get there”

Did I need to tell hi else? Maybe I should warn him about Nathan? “Hey,” I said carefully and then considered what I could mentioned in front of Erica at this moment “Yes, I think Luke has it?” I didn't kno else to tell him I didn't want to mention where Luke was

He paused on the phone “Are you asking me about Luke? I don’t know yet but he’s okay I need to find Nathan”

“Yes,” I said “That I found it”

“Really?” He blew out a breath hard into the phone “Okay, okay Is Nathan okay?”

“Yes”

He paused “Wait, is he in the car with you?”

“Yes”

He gru, please?”

“I know,” I said There wasn't much else I could say She picked us up frorocery store close tostill I wasn’t sure where Silas, Mr Blackbourne and Gabriel were supposed to be, but after all this, I wanted to make sure everyone was okay And where was North?

“Sang,” Erica said in a voice a little too kind for the craziness ere going through in the et ho to have a talk when he does?”

“I heard her,” Kota said “I'”

“It's okay,” I told him Without the ability to say it another way, I just needed hi in the back of the truck”

“What?”

“Him,” I said

He paused “I'm on my way”

He hung up I only hoped he got et word out clearer as soon as possible I passed the cell phone back to Erica, and she tossed it into the cup holder

“I don't understand anything going on tonight,” she said and then checked her rearviewfireworks at the school?”

“What?” I asked “What fireworks?”

She breathed out quickly frouess it wasn't you But all of this is an odd coincidence You walked all the way out here for groceries? Why didn't your parents drive you?”

The lies started on nore her questions completely What Academy protocol was there for a situation like this? “My mom doesn't have a car,” I said

“Sweetie, why didn't you tell me? Or why not wait for Kota?”

My voice cracked as I continued my lie “I didn't think it was that far”