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“You should drive us out to your friend’s place” She opened the passenger side door “You’ve got your license now”

We were running late, so I didn’t argue I slid behind the wheel and moved the seat back “You worried I don’t want ?”

She chuckled and rolled her n “No”

“Because I’irl driving him around”

More of her sweet laughter “I know you’re not”

“You get to play co-pilot, then”

“No problem” She studied the directions Eraser had scribbled on a napkin last night “Take a left e reach Main Street Looks like we follow that for a while”

Uncomfortable sensations crawled over my skin That was in the direction of the Castle I didn’t want to be anywhere near that place But I sed the brutal ear

Juliet guided ave us trouble The sign for Zips was sun-faded and covered by years of overgrowth

“I think that was the right back there,” Juliet said

No one was co from the other direction, so I whipped the car around and sped back to the turnoff I took it slow over the gravel and dirt path until we encountered an eight-foot chain-link fence The gate was open but the whole place looked abandoned

“You sure this is it?” I asked

I caught Juliet’s shrug fron above us “Must be the place”

“All right” I continued on the dirt path, finally entering what looked like a parking area In the distance, I spied what looked like stands to sit in, a racetrack and sos

I parked next to a shiny black late’60s Mustang Fastback

“Cool car,” Juliet said

“Eraser’s uncle is supposedly into all kinds of classics”

“Well, he owns a racetrack So that makes sense”

“S out here with me today”

“Why wouldn’t I?” She studied my face for a moment, then hesitantly opened her mouth “I, uh, was happy to meet one of your friends You don’t talk much about what happened when you were…away”

My jaw tightened I didn’t ever want to talk about that “You’re my best friend, Juliet Always”

Her eyes softened “You’re my best friend too That’s why I want you to know you can always tell ”

Wrong The things I’d been through were too ugly to put inside her head “Thank you” I left it at that