Minutes Before Sunset by Shannon A. Thompson Page A

out.”
    Crystal nodded. “The drunk ones.”
    My mouth hung open. “You two drink?” I asked, reminding myself that I barely knew my two closest friends. “Like alcohol?”
    They turned to me and grinned. “What else can you do here?” Robb laughed. “The parties are the best.”
    “The clubs are even better,” Crystal agreed.
    My cheeks burned. “I didn’t know you had any.”
    “We don’t,” she said. “But the next town over does.”
    “My friend, Zac, makes fakes,” Robb said, leaning back with his arms behind his head. “We can get in anywhere.”
    I swallowed my nerves. “But aren’t you a little young?”
    Crystal waved her hand in my face. “You’re never too young for journalism.”
    Robb rolled his eyes. “I got her a fake, so she could beat her mom’s news stories.”
    “And if you want the best stories, you have to go to the best places,” Crystal said, beaming behind her bleached hair.
    “That’s when she realized how much fun clubs could be.” Robb laughed, his chest rising beneath his red shirt. “Alcohol is better than sweets any day.”
    I cringed. I generally avoided alcohol. Warping my mind didn’t appeal to me.
    “Relax, Jess,” Crystal said, pinching my arm. “It’s not a big deal; we’ll take you sometime.”
    I ignored her and stared at Robb. “I thought your parents were strict.”
    He raised his brow. “Who said they ever catch me?” he asked, suddenly checking his watch. “But I should get out of here before my parents freak.”
    My heart pounded. “What time is it?”
    “Eleven.”
    “What?” I leapt from Crystal’s bed and grabbed my things. “I’m late.”
    Crystal blinked. “So call them.”
    I searched my pockets, and my entire body sank. “I left my phone at home.” That explains why they weren’t blowing up my phone.
    “Weirdo.”
    I frowned at her. “It’s a bad habit.”
    “Relax,” Robb said, stepping between us. “I can drive you.”
    Before I knew it, I wrapped my arms around him. “Thank you,” I said, shying away before he could reciprocate my touch.
    When I looked at him, he was grinning. “Let’s go.”
    I threw on my jacket. “See you at school, Crystal.”
    She waved, not even bothering to walk us out, and we rushed to Robb’s blue Chevy Suburban. As soon as we were buckled in, Robb took off, and I gripped the seat.
    “Sorry if this is a burden,” I said, knowing he knew where I lived. He already drove me to school twice, yet I was oblivious about where he lived. “I hope my house isn’t out of the way.”
    “You’re not a burden, Jess,” Robb laughed, pointing to Crystal’s neighbor. “But I live right there.”
    My stomach sunk. “I’m sorry.”
    “Don’t be,” he said. “My parents can’t mind if they’re asleep.”
    I watched his unlit house disappear behind us. “Why are they so strict anyway?” I asked, hoping to find someone to relate to. “Grades or something?”
    Robb chuckled. “My grades are perfect. Believe me, they make sure of that.”
    Our conversation stopped, and Robb fiddled with the radio controls on his steering wheel. He briefly looked away, but quickly returned his focus to the main road. Then his hand pushed against the console, and his radio turned off. “They’re strict, because they’re paranoid.”
    “About what?”
    He shrugged, but it was stiff. “Stupid teenager stuff.”
    Clearly, he didn’t want to elaborate.
    “Mine are too,” I said, attempting to lighten his mood. Ever since my mother told my father I wanted to look for information on my biological parents, they hadn’t been the same. They tiptoed around the subject as if I’d leave them the instant I found a long-lost uncle, twice removed. Like that was going to happen. I was beginning to believe an extended family didn’t even exist, yet I hadn’t bothered looking. Because I was afraid and didn’t want to find out I was born practically alone.
    “I’m barely let out on weekend nights,” Robb said,