Gwynn took a deep breath and counted before releasing. Some random therapist in the past taught him about breathing and counting. While he bitterly regarded therapy as useless quackery, he'd found a use for the breathing techniques. It quieted his mind and helped bring things into focus.

The car made an abrupt illegal U–turn and banked to the left, heading west on Williams.

"So where are we going?" Gwynn asked more to Sophia, but loud enough he might get a response from anyone.

Sophia continued to thrash away to the pounding bass. 

Eric yelled from the front seat, "Big surprise, Gwynn. We're meeting with some more people at the coffee shop on Kennedy, and then everyone's following us to our, uh, final destination." 

Eric raised a hand, which his buddy high–fived with a laugh.

"So am I the only one who has no idea where we're going?" Gwynn started thinking exit strategies.

"Nah. Me and Mike are the only two who know. That's why we're meeting up with everyone else so they can follow. Even Sophia doesn't know what we're up to."

Gwynn found that hard to believe. Sophia never struck him as being the type to relinquish so much control. "Really?"

She smiled and shook her head. "Not a clue. They've been keeping it to themselves for weeks."

"So why didn't I meet you guys at Kennedy with everyone else?"

"I knew the 7/11 was closer to your house. We had to drive this way, so I thought it would be easier," Sophia said.

A hazardous right turn and they were heading north on Kennedy toward some no-name coffee shop managing to survive the chains through the generous support of cheap students who enjoyed paying half the price for coffee and doughnuts. It also helped they had a huge parking lot and never kicked out the dozens of kids hanging out there.

Eric wrenched the car into the lot, causing a half dozen of his classmates to scatter for safety. A who's who of the popular kids from North Field High had congregated. At least two–thirds of the football team, almost as much of the cheerleading squad, and some mix of the basketball team were present. Even their championship volleyball team was there. In all, there had to be thirty or more kids hanging out in the parking lot. This wasn't Gwynn's crowd. In truth, he didn't have a crowd. It made him wonder how many levels of hell he'd see on this date with Sophia.

The car stopped, and Eric turned it off. The sudden silence seemed odd and out of place. Haze jumped out, and his friend Mike stopped long enough to pop the seat forward to allow Gwynn and Sophia to clamber out. Gwynn expected Sophia to dash off and start talking with the other groups of girls. Instead, she turned, her face apologetic.

"I'm sorry I dragged you into this. We should've gone to see a good horror movie instead."

"It's okay." Gwynn inspected the gathering of people with trepidation. Did any of them know him? He knew all of them by reputation. His mind started working, and he couldn't resist the question it kept asking. "Why did you ask me to come along?"

If the question surprised her, she didn't show it. She gave the asphalt an absent–minded kick. "Honestly?"

"Yes. Please."

"I hate it when all these people get together. There's never enough room for everyone and their egos. You've always struck me as being kinda cool. You seem like you don't need to get involved in all the games of who's popular, who's got the best car or clothes or make–up."

"Yeah well, I'm sure I could use some make–up, but my skin's too sensitive."

Sophia laughed. Proving an intoxicating melody to Gwynn.

"See what I mean. You're just... You. You don't need to play all the games these people do. I wanted someone...real. Guess it was kinda selfish. Sorry if you're having a lousy time." Her eyes locked on his, filled with a desperate hope he was not as miserable as she suspected.

"It's fine. If we survive tonight, we'll do a movie next time, okay?"

"What do you mean survive tonight?" She sounded panicked.

Gwynn laughed. "Seriously? Haven't you been paying attention to Eric's driving?"

Sophia laughed, though it sounded nervous and relieved, as though she avoided a taboo subject.

Eric approached with Mike. The two of them were slapping each other on the back, their smiles full of conspiracy.

"Okay," Eric said, "We're good to go. Sophia, Gwynn, back in the car. We're on our way to the night's main event."

The assembled masses made for their cars. Gwynn gave Sophia a small shrug and opened the door for her with a slight bow. "After you Milady."

She gave him a smile and dropped into her seat.

When all four were in the car, Eric headed out. This time, he kept to the limit, allowing the vehicles behind to keep pace. They headed north on Kennedy, heading toward the city outskirts. The subdivisions passed, their streets emptying of sugar giddy trick–or–treaters. It was almost eight. By now, Gwynn figured the ones left in the streets would be the kids too old to be seeking candy.

Mayfield Road formed a near magical boundary. On the South side, the suburbs with their houses and convenience stores surged like a wave right to the lakeshore. On the North side, farmland and wooded areas stretched out. If they continued driving north, they would not hit another city for about twenty–five minutes. In time, supposed "progress" would storm the boundaries and tear them down. Green fields and tall ancient trees would fall to bulldozers and their remains buried beneath concrete.

They drove for another five minutes then turned east on a small side road Gwynn didn't catch the name of. There were no streetlights, but the near–full moon washed the open laneway in an ashen white light.

Sophia shifted in her seat. Her eyes darted about, and she gave her nails a nervous chewing. Eric and Mike were talking up front, so Gwynn moved a little closer to Sophia and kept his voice hushed.

"What's wrong?"

Fear filled her eyes. "We're getting close."

"Where?"

Sophia, wide-eyed, shook her head and drew her legs up against herself.