Minutes Before Sunset by Shannon A. Thompson Page B

suddenly breaking the silence again. His brow was furrowed. “I normally study. Isn’t much of a life for a player,” he joked.
    I bit my lip, curiosity bubbling in my veins. “How many girls have you dated?”
    “Quite a lot,” he said, winking. “I’m addicted.”
    “You’re going to get screwed over one day,” I said, and he smirked.
    “And I’m looking forward to it.”
    We laughed for a few seconds but spun into silence quickly afterwards. I leaned my head against the passenger window and watched the streets fly by. His truck sped past a drug store, and long lampposts stretched light over the street in a blur. We passed our school, and, even in the darkness, I could make out the willow tree’s looming shadow.
    Eric. I remembered how he met Teresa beneath it and frowned. I had no clue what I was going to do about my incompetent homeroom partner. Clearly, he wasn’t going to help me, but I couldn’t do the entire project by myself. It was due in three weeks, and Crystal and Robb had already begun theirs. They weren’t even close to done yet.
    Robb leaned over and tapped my leg, breaking my enraged trance. “See that mansion over there?” he asked, and my eyes adjusted in the darkness.
    Somewhat hidden in a thick mass of trees, a house peered out. A few lights shined through the thorns and lit up the contorted driveway. It was dark and eerie—the kind of house neighborhood kids would only approach on Halloween.
    As we passed it, Robb’s lip curled. “That’s Welborn’s house.”
    My knuckles tightened into a fist. “He’s so rude,” I said. “I tried so hard today, and he doesn’t care at all—”
    “Jess,” Robb interrupted me quietly, and his eyes fogged over. “He used to be a really great guy. Awesome, nice, smart, funny, you name it. He was even there for me when my dog died,” he spoke through a struggled laugh. “He was my best friend until Hannah’s death.”
    “I’m sorry.”
    “I wasn’t asking for pity,” he said, briefly meeting my eyes. He sighed and gripped the wheel. “That Eric is still in him somewhere; I’m sure you can talk him out of it.”
    I held my breath. “Do you really think that?”
    He nodded, but didn’t elaborate, and I didn’t push it. Who was I to judge them? I’d never lost anyone, aside from my biological parents, and I didn’t even remember what they looked like. I knew nothing of death, and, for some unexplainable reason, I was beginning to feel guilty for that.
    “It’ll be okay, Jess,” Robb said, pulling into my driveway minutes later.
    “Thanks,” I said, forcing a grateful smile. “For everything.”
    Before he could continue our night with more conversation, I shut the door. I watched him back out of the driveway, and then I turned to my house. All the lights were on. Fantastic .
    When I opened the front door, my parents met me with folded arms.
    “Jessie Taylor.” My mother’s blonde hair was ruffled. “Where have you been? It’s a school night.”
    I sighed, dropping my bag on the floor. “Studying.”
    “Studying?” She raised her voice, and my father placed a hand on her shoulder. “It’s almost midnight.”
    “It’s eleven.”
    “Don’t argue with me, young lady,” she said, jabbing a finger in my direction. “We’ve been worried sick.”
    “And who was that boy who dropped you off?” my dad asked, peering behind his reading glasses, and my shoulders dropped.
    “His name’s Robb,” I said. “And I was with Crystal and him—studying. We were working on our science projects.”
    “That’s funny, because your teacher called,” my mom said, raising her brow. “She said you haven’t even started.”
    My mouth hung open. I was ready to argue.
    “My partner won’t help me,” I said, and my father waved my excuse away.
    “You’re failing, Jess,” he said, shaking his head back and forth. “We made a deal; if you don’t keep your grades up, then you can wait to research your—”
    “My