18 Truths by Jamie Ayres Page B

perfect attendance award every year until Conner died. But today, ditching classes seemed like the right plan.
    “And go where?” Her gaze bounced from me to Nate to the surrounding area. “This is Black Mountain. You drive five miles and you end up right where you started. Not exactly a lot to do here. Besides, I don’t even know you.”
    She stood, digging in her purse, looking for something. I assumed she searched for her keys, anxious to get away from me.
    “All the more reason we should hang out today. My brother and I are new in town. We could use a friend as much as you.”
    Grace backed up a step. “I never said I needed a friend. I said I needed cake.”
    “You know, I saw a shop called Hey Hey Cupcake on the way to school. We should go there and get you a red velvet cupcake.” Even I could hear the desperation in my voice, but I crossed my fingers, hoping she’d say yes.
    She smiled. “They do have really good cupcakes.” Finally, she found her car keys in one of the front pockets of her purse. “But I’m driving. Dad would kill me if he knew I got into a stranger’s car. Besides, you scare me.”
    I nodded. Technically, the license I’d obtained a few months ago didn’t count since the test happened during my Limbo timeline, and Nate had never gotten his back after the accident either. And I didn’t blame her for being scared of me. Truth was, I think I would’ve bolted by now. Grace had no reason to trust us. Not yet anyway.
    We headed to the parking lot together. No campus security stopped us from leaving, not that I was surprised. None of this was real.
    As she drove down the highway,
All Apologies
by Nirvana blared from her stereo.
    “Wow, George Lucas called. He wants his sound system back.”
“Excuse me?”
    “Olga is a huge Star Wars geek,” Nate informed her from the back seat. “I’ll apologize now for all her references.”
    I turned around and stuck my tongue out at him like a good sister would. “I just meant you have a really nice stereo for an older car.”
    “The stereo is a recent upgrade, a birthday present from my dad. Music is the only thing I care about these days.”
    “Well, here’s a fun twist for your viewing pleasure.” Nate leaned forward, resting a forearm on each of our headrests. “I was the lead vocalist and guitarist for an indie rock band when we lived in Michigan.”
    Grace raised an eyebrow. “You don’t say? What was the name of your band?”
    “Cantankerous Monkey Squad.”
    She snorted. “That’s a pretty ridiculous name.”
    “That was Conner for ya.” My stomach clenched painfully at my unexpected use of his name. I tried to hide my pain, but Grace didn’t seem to miss much.
    “Ex-boyfriend?”
    I nodded in agreement because she was a stranger who didn’t know any better and because the idea of Conner as my boyfriend made the pain go away a little bit. Then, I remembered Nate. He had slumped back down in his seat.
    After a few seconds of silence, except for Kurt Cobain’s lyrics about screwing everything up, I couldn’t take the heavy anymore. “This song is kind of depressing. Do you mind changing it?”
    Grace rolled her eyes. “Fine. Here, take the wheel.”
    “What? I can’t take the wheel! That’s the first rule Mom told me when she taught me how to drive. The driver always keeps both hands on the wheel. Two and ten o’clock.”
    “Well, my mom wasn’t around to teach me how to drive. Taking my hands off the wheel now.”
    I shrieked as she let go and then opened her center console. “I know I have the new Coldplay CD in here somewhere. Is that upbeat enough for our seven minute drive?”
    Trying to keep my hand steady, I gave a tight nod.
    “You look terrified. Are you always this high-strung?”
    Was Grace teasing me already? Maybe this was a good sign. Friends tease each other.
    “You know, the rule isn’t two and ten o’clock anymore.” Nate’s voice was carefree again, apparently over my Conner